The Complete Guide to the Great Annapolis Gingerbread Houses (2025)

A Feast for the Eyes and the Imagination

Every year, the Great Annapolis Gingerbread Houses event transforms downtown Annapolis into a lovely town of culinary works of art. The event shows off amazing works of art created exclusively of gingerbread, from detailed gingerbread mansions to unique candy patterns.

The event honors the skill and imagination of gingerbread home builders and is open to both professionals and amateurs. The Great Annapolis Gingerbread Houses turn the city into a festive paradise, giving tourists a chance to feel the Christmas spirit via these amazing culinary works of art. For families and anyone with a sweet tooth, it’s definitely one of the fantastic things to do in Annapolis.

This guide has all the information you need, whether you’re going to see the displays or make your own gingerbread home. Take a look at Zavros Place for additional seasonal highlights and local activities. They have customized guides and insider advice to help you make the most of your visit.

For the Spectator: Where and When to View the Houses

A. The 2025 Viewing Schedule and Location

• The Specifics

The Great Annapolis Gingerbread Houses show for 2025 will be open from Saturday, November 22, 2025, to Friday, December 19, 2025. The official site says that the exhibit will be open from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

• The Venue

The Annapolis Visitors Center, at 26 West Street, Annapolis, MD 21401, has all of the gingerbread homes on display. There is no need for tickets to see the event; it is free.

• Best Time to Visit

If you want to have the most relaxing time (with fewer people and easier photos), go on a weekday in the middle of the morning or early afternoon. This schedule avoids significant visitor traffic on weekends and in the evening since the exhibit operates during normal daylight hours.

B. Finding the Houses: A Mini‑Tour of Annapolis

• The Full Display

The Visitors Center on West Street has all the submissions for the 2025 contest in one place. This means you won’t have to go to various residences in Annapolis to view them all.

• If Distributed (Not the Case in 2025)

Current sources say that in 2025, the residences will not be spread out among several enterprises or places. Instead, they are all on display at the Visitors Center. So, instead of a walking path, plan a single, simple stop to see the whole exhibit.

Photo Tips

• Use the hours of 10 AM to 4 PM to get the most intricate details and natural color of the gingerbread buildings.
• To show off architectural details and ornamental aspects, try taking pictures at eye level.
• The exhibit is within the Visitors Center, so don’t use a bright flash. Instead, utilize ambient light to keep the warm, cozy Christmas mood.
• There are usually fewer people on midweek trips or early weekday afternoons, which makes it easier to take pictures without people in them.

C. The Judging: How the Winners are Chosen

Categories & Eligibility

• The event was open to all kinds of entries, not only homes. You may enter any creative construction, including a church, barn, cathedral, lighthouse, train, or even an aircraft. Graham crackers or gingerbread may be used to make the primary framework.

• All of the decorations, such as candies, cereal, cookies, pretzels, almonds, and so forth, must be safe to eat. You can’t bring anything that doesn’t need to be refrigerated, such as wrappers or lollipop sticks. The basis for entries must be firm and sturdy, and it may be no bigger than 24″ × 24″. 

Public Voting (People’s Choice)

• People may vote on their favorite exhibit. Voting was available from Sunday, November 23, 2025, until Sunday (closed now), December 7, 2025, at 3:30 PM (toady), You can still vote. Hurry up! The winners, chosen by a combination of judges and public voting, will be unveiled on Sunday, December 7, during the Annapolis Chocolate Binge Festival.

Final Display & Pickup

• Finalist houses will still be on show until Friday, December 19, 2025, after the judgment is over. By 5:00 PM on Saturday, December 20, 2025, all submissions must be picked up.

Prizes

• The prizes for the contest are: $200 for first place, $100 for second place, and special awards like “Fan Favorite” (based on public voting) and separate rewards for kids (under 12).

For the Contestant: Entering the Gingerbread Competition

A. The Official 2025 Contest Rules Summary

The primary purpose of the Great Annapolis Gingerbread Houses competition is to encourage people to be creative by making gingerbread houses that can be eaten. People have to build a home that is 100% edible. You can’t use anything that isn’t food, like plastic or metal. Also, the baseboards, which are the building’s foundation, should be built of strong, substantial, edible ingredients like gingerbread or graham crackers. The deadline to register was Friday, November 15, 2025 (online registrations is closed now)

B. Prizes, Categories, and Builder Perks

Cash Prizes

First place in each category will get $200. Second-place and third-place winners in each category will also earn cash prizes. Also, there are special prizes for groups like the “People’s Choice” award, which is based on votes from the public, and the Children’s Category.

Who Can Enter?

• There are varying levels of talent in the tournament; thus, it is split into numerous categories:
• Professional: For those who have been baking for a long time or are professional designers.
• Amateur: For those who are not professionals, yet are interested in the subject.
• Kids (under 12): Getting the next generation of gingerbread artists excited.
• Youth (13–18): For those who want to see how good they are at the competition.
• Novelty: This category awards the most creative submissions that are most unique or outside the box.

Builder Perks

• Recognition: The winners in each category will be honored in front of everyone at the awards event.
• Free Tickets to Events: Contestants may get free tickets to the Annapolis Chocolate Binge Festival, where the winners are revealed.
• Special Events: Some builders can be asked to take part in public workshops or demonstrations of gingerbread construction over the holiday season.

Logistics and Accessibility

Parking Near the Venue

People going to the Great Annapolis Gingerbread Houses event may park in neighboring garages on West Street and Main Street. The Annapolis People Center is at a prominent location, so many people who stay in surrounding hotels or eat at local restaurants may walk there.

• If you’re joining the contest and need to drop off your gingerbread home, you may park at the Visitors Center drop-off spot just in front. The Park Place Garage, which is a short walk from the site, provides easy and cheap parking for anyone coming from far away.

• Tip: Parking may be hard to find at busy times, particularly on weekends. To be sure you obtain a place, try to arrive early on weekdays. There are more parking spots in the Clay Street Parking Garage, which is a five-minute walk from here, if the parking lot is filled.

Accessibility

People with disabilities may easily get to the Annapolis Visitors Center.

• Strollers: The place is stroller-friendly since the halls are large and there are ramps to make it easy to go about. Families with little kids may easily go around the display.

• Wheelchair Access: The Visitors Center is completely wheelchair accessible, and some elevators make it easy to go to various parts of the facility. There are also toilets and dining places that are handicapped accessible.

Family Activity

The Great Annapolis Gingerbread Houses event is a great free thing for families to do!

• Zero-Cost Viewing: You don’t have to pay to see the gingerbread houses, which makes them a great choice for family outings. This event is a terrific way for families to get together, whether they want to have fun in the day or experience some Christmas magic.

• Kid-Friendly Fun: Kids of all ages will love the bright colors and creative patterns. Plus, people may vote in the People’s Choice voting for their favorite home, which makes it more fun for everyone who comes.

Conclusion: Inspire Your Inner Baker

The Great Annapolis Gingerbread Houses contest is a fun aspect of the Christmas season. You may either enjoy the amazing designs of the gingerbread houses or gain inspiration for your own masterpiece. Individuals from all across the area come to this event to show off their baking skills and creativity of individuals of all ages. People in Annapolis adore this event because they get to see these delicious pieces of art and compete in a fun way. If you missed the registration period this year, no worries, give it a try next time.

Don’t just watch; get in on the fun! If you’re feeling inspired, check out the official submission form for this year’s contest on the official website. Tell us about your favorite gingerbread house from the past and create your own for 2025! The Great Annapolis Gingerbread Houses contest is a fun opportunity to spread Christmas cheer through creativity, whether you’re a pro baker or a first-time builder.