Rules
Qualifying to Enter
The competition is open to everyone. There is no fee to enter.
To be eligible for competition, a signed
entry form must be received by email or regular mail prior to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 25. Entries that are not pre-registered will not be accepted.
The gingerbread houses may be dropped off between 9 am and 5 pm at
Alta Oakridge on Monday, November 30 or Tuesday, December 1, 2009.
Entries may be submitted by individuals or by teams of up to 5 people.
Ages
(Team age is determined by the oldest member of the team.)
Adult - ages 18 and over
Youth - ages 17 and under
Construction Requirements
Size must not exceed 24 inches high, 24 inches long, and 24 inches long. Entry must be placed on a board base. We suggest using 1/2" or 3/4" plywood as a base for your entry. If you wish to install "legs" on the underside of your base, the legs are considered as a part of the base and should not cause the entry's height to exceed 24 inches.
Write your name, address, and entry number on the underside of your base.
Except for the base, entries must be constructed and composed completely of edible materials. The main structure should be primarily composed of gingerbread. A layer of aluminum foil may be used to protect the base and paint and/or ribbon may be used to decorate the outside edge of your plywood base (not to exceed the length and/or width of the base). Any entry with non-edible components will be automatically disqualified.
Edible materials are not limited to sweets. No artificial display materials, such as Styrofoam or interior lighting, are to be used in the construction or decoration of the entry. Candies must be unwrapped and free of non-edible materials such as lollipop sticks.
All entries must be solely constructed by the individual(s) entering the competition. Youth competitors may be supervised, for safety precautions, by a parent, legal guardian, or classroom teacher (eg.: assisting in operating the stove/oven). However, all entry design, construction, and decoration must be done solely by the individual(s) entering the competition.
Design
Although Alta Oakridge's holiday competition is titled "The Raleigh Gingerbread House Competition," entries are not limited to the structure of a house. Competitors are welcome and encouraged to uniquely design their entry for the competition, as long as the entry is in keeping with the rules and judging criteria.
Alta Oakridge reserves the right to refuse any entry deemed inappropriate.
Judging Process
Judging will be held from December 5-10. A formal awards ceremony announcing the winners will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 11.
Entries will be judged on five criteria: Overall Appearance, Originality and Creativity, Difficulty, Precision, and Consistency of Theme. (Theme should be the competitor's own and consistent throughout the entry. There is no required theme for the competition.)
All rulings by the judges are independent and final. They are in no way influenced by Alta Oakridge staff or affiliates. In the event of a tie, the Competition Call Judge will be called upon to break the tie.
PrizesAdults (age 18 and over):
- First place: $300
- Second place: $200
- Third place: $100
Youth (under age 18):
- First place: $250
- Second place: $100
- Third place: $50
Schedule of Events
Wednesday, 11/25/09
Monday, 11/30/09 and Tuesday, 12/1/09
- Entries must be delivered to the Alta Oakridge Retirement Community main lobby between 9 am and 5 pm.
Wednesday, 12/2/09 - Sunday, 1/3/10
- Display of gingerbread houses.
- Viewing is open to the public from 9 a.m. through 5 p.m. daily.
- Visitors must check in at the front desk.
Friday, 12/11/09
Monday, 1/4/09 - Tuesday, 1/5/09
- 9 am - 5 pm. Houses may be picked up from Alta Oakridge.
- Entries which are not picked up by 5 p.m. will be disposed of.
Entry FormClick for format desired:
PDF or
MSWord