Gingerbread Rules

Darnall’s Chance House Museum 

 Annual Gingerbread House Contest and Show

The winners of the Viewer’s Choice Awards (determined by the visitors) each receive $350!

2011 Contest Divisions

Adult Division: Individual adult, age 17 years & up
Child Division: Individual child, age 8-16 years

In addition to prize money the Darnall’s Chance Gingerbread Committee will award ribbons for 1st Place, 2nd Place & 3rd Place in each division.

The Viewer’s Choice Awards (which are awarded to one adult and one child entry) will be selected by viewer voting and each winning entry will receive $350.

Rules (applies to both divisions):   

1. Any architectural structure - real or imaginary - is eligible for entry (i.e. house, train station, bridge, ship, lighthouse, spaceship).
2. Entry must be original - no gingerbread kits allowed.   
3. Entry must have major components (such as walls and roofs) constructed of gingerbread (no graham crackers, cookies, etc.).
4. All components must be edible. For example, foil or plastic wrapped candies must be unwrapped; contestants may not use lollipops with paper or plastic stems etc.
5. You may add electric lighting to your entry.
6. Entry must have been constructed in 2011.
7. Entries will be judged on Originality, Overall Appearance, Choice and Use of Materials and Difficulty of Design.
8. The entry must be delivered in completed form attached to a plywood base enabling it to be freestanding. Bases no bigger than 24" L x 18" W. Entries may not be taller than 26" H. Bases must be completely concealed with an edible product (however, the sides of the base do not have to be concealed with an edible product).
9. Participants must register for the competition by November 4, 2011. Entry forms may be obtained by calling Darnall’s Chance House Museum 301-952-8010, by stopping by the Museum located at 14800 Gov. Oden Bowie Dr., Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 or by downloading an entry form. A registration fee of $5 is due for each show entry.
10. All entries must be delivered to the Museum during the hours of 12 noon-4 pm on November 20, 2011. The entries will remain on display at the Museum from November 25–December 11, 2011. Entries must be picked up on December 11, 2011 after 5 pm (no earlier).
11. The Museum reserves the right not to display an entry, if the entry is not considered of show quality.