We’ve all heard of sandcastle competitions, but have you ever heard of a gingerbread competition? If not, it’s high time for a getaway trip to Peddler’s Village in Pennsylvania, where your holiday spirit will get a sweet kickstart with their annual Gingerbread Competition and Display.
This gingerbread competition has been a tradition since 1984. Each year, participants enter gingerbread creations in categories ranging from “Traditional Holiday Gingerbread” to “Reproduction of a Movie or TV Set.” There are separate categories for professionals, students, and kids. Judging takes place in mid-November, but all entries are displayed through the first week of January for the public to come and see.
Winners of the competition walk away with cash prizes up to $350 for the first-place winner of most categories, so you know they take this competition seriously. This year’s winning creations include “North Pole Pastry,” “Vincent van Gogh’s Bedroom, Arles, France, 1889,” and “A Christmas at Hogwarts.” Click here to view these gingerbread masterpieces.
Admission to see the gingerbread display is completely free—you just have to wait in line, so come on a weekday or weekday evening to beat the weekend rush. And if you want to stay a few days, you can book a spot at the nearby Golden Plough Inn, try food from the holiday food trucks and cozy restaurants, and enjoy the other holiday activities the village organizes throughout the month of December (including the incredible light display featuring over one million lights each evening).
If you’re still looking for a dose of merry and bright, Pennsylvania’s Peddler’s Village is the place to be.