A contest featuring Globally inspired Gingerbread houses as a way to celebrate other cultures and to promote world peace. Too often we become bogged down in our own little world – forgetting about the rich tapestry of culture beyond our own borders. This contest serves as fun way to connect across continents.

Inspiration can come from anywhere in the world… perhaps you’d like to make a house with grass on the roof, an ice castle, mud and straw hut, a log cabin, or skyscraper …. the choice is yours. For inspiration, please see this gallery of houses around the world and the world’s strangest houses. After you read the rules, you are ready to enter the contest. Fun!

4 Prize Packages:

Grand Prize Package:

• $100 cash
• $100 to charity of winner’s choice
• La Mer Collection Italian Leather Bali Stud Wrap Watch (value $135)
• One year subscription to AFAR Magazine

2nd prize:

• $75 cash
• $75 to charity of winner’s choice

3rd prize:

• $50 cash
• plus $50 to charity of winner’s choice

Best in Tulsa:

Update: the local prize package was won by a local Girl Scout Troop; read about the winner.

Tulsa area residents may also enter to win this prize package, including:

• The gingerbread house to be in a featured display at Philbrook Museum
• One (1) year Family membership to Philbrook (value $65)
• Two (2) tickets to the Treeview Party on Friday, November 18, 2011 (value $150)

Important Dates & Deadlines:

August 20, 2011 – December 16, 2011: Contest is open for submissions.
November 9, 2011: All “Best in Tulsa” entries must be uploaded by this date in order to be eligible for display at the Philbrook Museum and for the “Best in Tulsa” prize package.
December 16, 2011: Deadline for all other entries.
December 19, 2011-December 23, 2011: Finalists will be announced.
December 26, 2011: Winners announced.

Tulsa Residents: 

The best entry from the Tulsa area will be featured at the Philbrook Museum’s 27th Annual Festival of Trees at a special display. The winner will also be awarded a family membership to Philbrook (value $65) and two tickets to the Treeview Party on November 18, 2011 (value $150). The gingerbread house will be auctioned off to raise money for Philbrook. To be eligible, please select Tulsa on the entry form and note early deadline: November 9, 2011 Please also note that the house must adhere to the Philbrook’s guidelines on dimensions etc. [Guidelines]

Judging:

Houses will be voted on by a panel of judges. They will be scored on the following criteria (on a scale of 1-5):

– Overall design
– Creativity
– Difficulty & Technique
– Neatness  & Precision
– Adherence to theme of Gingerbread for Peace and Globally inspired structure
– How much does the essay relate to the theme.

Judges: 

Amanda Hesser & Merrill Stubbs from food52
Jenny Buccos from Project Explorer
Dan Noll & Audrey Scott from Uncornered Market
Karen Chan from Globetrotter Diaries 

Complete Rules: Please read our complete rules before entering.