Meringue Bakery’s 2023 Gingerbread House Contest

Calling all bakers and decorators! For the first time, Meringue Bakery is having a gingerbread house contest!

When

  • Friday December 15th – Saturday December 16th: Contestants drop off a completed gingerbread house to Meringue Bakery.
  • Sunday December 17th – Friday 22nd 3:00pm: In-person voting is OPEN!
  • Friday December 22nd (Around 4pm): Winning pieces will be announced

Categories

  • Youth & Family (Ages 5-17)
  • Adult (Ages 17+)

Entry Fee

$20.00. All entry fees will be 100% donated to local charities. The $20 entry fee is paid at drop off along with your gingerbread house.

All entries will be given a free $10 credit towards any purchase at the bakery.

Gingerbread House Contest

Prizes

Youth & Family Category:

Grand Prize: 2-hour private baking class with Jen Barney (to be used January-March of 2024) & $50 gift certificate for Meringue Bakery.

2nd Place: $25 gift certificate to Meringue Bakery.

3rd Place: $25 gift certificate to Meringue Bakery.

Adult Category:

Grand Prize: 2-hour private baking class with Jen Barney (to be used January-March of 2024) & 1 apron (valued at $95).

2nd Place: $25 gift certificate to Meringue Bakery.

3rd Place: $25 gift certificate to Meringue Bakery.

Category Guidelines, Youth & Family VS Adult:

  • 1
    Youth and Family is a broad category and it can be a single minor completing one piece or it can be a family unit submitting one piece. We ask that all decorating in the youth & family category be done by minors, not adults. Adults can help with the baking, construction, and logistics. However, this category is meant to showcase youth creativity and decorating.
  • 2
    Adult category can only be completed by one single adult in each category.

Official Rules:

  • 1

    Register online or email meringuelacrosse@gmail.com. Please let us know your name(s) and category you plan on entering.

  • 2
    Each entry is $20. 100% of all proceeds will go to a local charity. The $20 will be paid when you drop off the completed piece.
  • 3
    Meringue Bakery will not be processing any entry fees through the bakery register, so all payments must be made by cash and done in-person.
  • 4
    All competition pieces must be delivered to Meringue Bakery to be placed on display from December 17th – 21st. Any person who visits Meringue Bakery during this time can vote on their favorite gingerbread house in each category. See Voting Rules below for more details.
  • 5
    The winning houses will be announced around 4pm on Friday December 22nd.
  • 6
    Each contestant is encouraged to take home their piece after December 22nd. All remaining gingerbread homes left at the bakery will be discarded on January 1st.
  • 7
    Entry fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. 100% of each entry fee will be given to a local charity in January of 2024.
  • 8
    Any design/house space can be used. All designs must be original.
  • 9
    Meringue Bakery has rights to any images that are taken of the gingerbread homes or images of contestants.
  • 10
    Gingerbread houses will be displayed throughout the bakery. Each piece will be described as a “Youth & Family” or as “Adult”. Names on each piece will be kept private during voting.
  • 11
    Each contestant can leave an anonymous optional index card describing their piece. It can include a description of the piece, techniques utilized, and any inspiration notes. This can be left next to your display so voters can read about your piece.
  • 12
    Decorating should not have any licensed characters. Decorating can not have any vulgar or inappropriate decorating. Meringue Bakery has a right to not display any pieces that may have vulgar/inappropriate/ or licensed characters on it.

Gingerbread House Regulations:

  • 1
    Each piece has to be no wider than 10”X10”. It can be no higher than 15 inches tall. If you need cardboard, ask the bakery and we can give you a complementary 10X10” cardboard.
  • 2
    All components of the gingerbread homes need to be edible except for the base board/cardboard.
  • 3
    All pieces must be finished before being delivered to Meringue Bakery.
  • 4
    Meringue Bakery is not responsible for any damages that may occur while onsite and will not make any repairs.
  • 5
    Any electronics used need to be battery operated and free standing with a switch or remote. We will not guarantee outlet access. Bakery staff will not be responsible for maintaining any electronics. We will not be in charge of replacing batteries.

Voting Rules:

  • 1
    Each visiting person can vote 1 time per day in each category for free.
  • 2
    Paid voting is allowed: Each visiting voter can pay for ONLY 1 EXTRA VOTE PER DAY for an additional $5.00. 100% of all paid voting will go to local charities. Cash will only be allowed for paid voting as Meringue Bakery will not be processing any donation money through their bakery register. For example, a visiting person can vote for 1 youth/family category and 1 adult category for free per day. They could also pay for an additional 1 vote for $5.00 for 1 gingerbread house of their choosing.
  • 3
    Meringue Bakery staff are not allowed to vote.

Donations

Meringue will be taking a tally from each contestant to see where they would like the final donation to go. Meringue Bakery will pick the top requested charities and make a donation in January of 2024.

Registration

Name(Required)
Please let us know your name(s) and category you plan on entering.

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