Relive Holiday Memories with our annual Gingerbread House Contest!
November 29–December 30
Open Daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Theme for 2024: Holiday Memories
Programs and Events
Gingerbread House Workshop
Saturday, November 9, 11am & 1pm
Gingerbread Reception and Awards Party
Friday, December 6, 5:30–7:30 pm
Family Favorite Cookie Swap
Saturday, December 14, 1–3 pm
Gingerbread Smash
Saturday, January 4, 1 pm
Extended Gingerbread Hours:
Saturday, December 7 open until 9 pm for Shop & Stroll
Friday, December 13 open until 8 pm
Friday, December 20 open until 8 pm
Tips and Tricks Tours: December 13 & 20, 5:30–6:30 pm
Member-Exclusive Viewing:
Wednesday, December 11, 9–10 am
Wednesday, December 18, 5–6 pm
Gingerbread viewing, refreshments, and gift wrapping
Community Judge’s Awards
It’s always such a difficult job to judge the Gingerbread Contest. Let’s give our judges a round of applause for their hard work!
- Joe Almeida, Facilities Manager, City of Portsmouth
- Joanna Kelley, Assistant Mayor
- Lance Tsantoulis, Department of Public Works
- New Hampshire Art Association
- Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce
- Kennebunk Savings
- Avery Insurance
- Bangor Savings Bank
- Devine Millimet
Gingerbread House Raffle
Win a gingerbread creation to take home as a holiday centerpiece! Raffle tickets are $1, and winners will be notified on December 17, and they may pick up the house won on Sunday, December 22 between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm, or on Monday, December 23, between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm.
Help Support Preservation in Portsmouth with a Cookie Plaque
Help support Portsmouth Historical Society and the Portsmouth Advocates’ efforts to preserve our historic architecture. Just like the plaques in our Historic House Plaque Program, you can buy a cookie plaque for your gingerbread creation! Just $5 for members, and $10 for non-members.
If you live in an historic home, check out the Plaque Program. You can start the process of commissioning a plaque and research the history of your house!
Can’t wait!
Hi I work in child care can I do a gingerbread with my students age 3 to 5
Absolutely! We would love to have you enter. There’s a multi-generational category or a kids category that you could enter the house under.
What days are the exhibition and are tickets required?
The exhibition is open daily (with some disruption for the holidays). We are open 10 a.m.–5 p.m. most days. Tickets are not required for this free exhibition. Hope to see you there!
What time does your event start on Friday, November 29? We want to come and see the gingerbread houses.
Doors open at 10 a.m. We always have a line waiting outside the door to come in and see this fun holiday event.