Get ready to show off your creativity (and sweet skills)!
Join us for the Chester County Welcome Center’s 1st Gingerbread House Contest!
All members of the public are invited to participate by entering one of three categories:
Adult, Teen, or Children.
The holiday season is almost here, and everyone is invited to take part in Chester County’s Brandywine Valley Gingerbread House Contest. The deadline for entries is November 17, 2025. Contest details are below.
Winners / Prizes
All entries will be voted on by our guests. The winners will be posted on BVCC website by December 19, 2025. Prizes will be available for pickup on January 3-10, 2026. See prize descriptions below.
Prizes
1st Prize Adult
- $200.00 Amex gift card
- Longwood Garden 5 membership
- (2) entry passes to Winterthur
- (2) entry passes to Nemours
- (6) tickets to Uptown! Knauner Theatre
- Eclat chocolate
2nd Prize Adult
- $100.00 Amex gift card
- Longwood Gardens –(4) tickets
- (2) entry passes to Winterthur
- (2) entry passes to Nemours
- (4) tickets to Uptown! Knauner Theatre
- Eclat chocolate
3rd Prize Adult
- $50.00 Amex gift card
- Longwood Gardens –(2) tickets
- (2) entry passes to Winterthur
- (2) entry passes to Nemours
- (2) tickets to Uptown! Knauner Theatre
- Eclat chocolate
Teen Prize
- $50.00 Amex gift card
- 4 tickets to Uptown! Knauner Theatre plus $100.00 toward Uptown! Studio
- $50 Arcade card from Arnold’s Family Fun Center
- 2 Movie tickets for Oaks Center Cinema
- Kilwins goodies
- Bridge Street
Youth Prize
- $50.00 Amex gift card
- 4 tickets to Uptown! Knauner Theatre plus $100.00 toward Uptown! Studio
- $50.00 Arcade card from Arnold’s Family Fun Center
- 2 Tickets to American Treasure tour
- Kilwins goodies
- Bridge Street chocolate goodies
Community Business Partner
- 1st Place Trophy
Entry Forms
There is no fee to enter. The deadline for completed entry forms is November 12, 2025. Only one entry per person or group per category.
Entry Drop Off
Completed gingerbread creations must be brought to Chester County’s Brandywine Valley Welcome Center inside the Historic Chester County Courthouse at 21 W. Market St, West Chester, PA (next door to Mercato, and across the street from Wild Honey Salon) between November 19-26, 2025, between the hours of 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. All entries must remain in the Welcome Center for display from November 28, 2025 through January 3, 2026. If an entry is removed from the Welcome Center by the entrant prior to the close of the display, the entrant will forfeit eligibility to win prizes.
Gingerbread Display
Entries will be displayed at the Welcome Center from November 28, 2025 through January 3, 2026. The Welcome Center reserves the right to remove any entry which begins to look in disrepair.
Pickup
All entries must be picked up between January 3-10, 2026, between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. Any entries that are not picked up by this time will become the property of the Welcome Center.
Dos & Don'ts
Gingerbread Size Specs:
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All entries must not exceed the size and weight limitations. Result will be disqualification and will not be displayed.
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All entries must be mounted on a sturdy piece of plywood display board.
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The maximum size for display boards is 14”x 14” with a maximum height of 16”. We are excepting up to 25 entries.
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Teens and Kids Category: display boards’ maximum size is 12”x 12” with a maximum height of 12”. We are excepting up to 25 entries.
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Weight is not to exceed 40 pounds.
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The display board should be a part of your design and be size appropriate to your creation without exceeding the maximum size limits.
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Only one entry per person or group per category.
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Please attach a 3”x 5” card on the underside of your display base listing your name, address, email address, telephone number and the category you have entered.
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The main structure must be constructed of gingerbread.
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Yes, you can have non-visible interior supports: Non-edible materials may be used for non-visible supports.
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No, you cannot include movement, lighting or other electronic or battery-operated components in the construction or decoration of the entry. PLEASE NO SOUND.
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Make sure that everything visible on your entry MUST be edible: If you have candy in the wrapper, remove the wrapper to show it is edible. No visible structural materials, such as cardboard, Styrofoam or plastic ornamentation. Exception: The edges of the display board on which your entry is mounted can be visible.
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Your gingerbread creation must be sturdy in order to qualify for displaying. The Welcome Center reserves the right to remove any entries that deteriorate.
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This Gingerbread contest is a family-friendly show. The Welcome Center reserves the right not to display an entry that is deemed offensive, controversial, inappropriate, religious, political, or poorly constructed and may remove entries based on guest complaints or damage.
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The Welcome Center is not responsible for any gingerbread creations on display.
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TIPS
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Make sure nothing is still wet and everything is secure.
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Keep in mind your gingerbread masterpiece will be on display for approximately 6 weeks. Please make sure everything is secure and the weight distribution is even to prevent falling pieces.
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Remember to incorporate the holiday season in your design.
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