Relive Holiday Memories with our annual Gingerbread House Contest!
November 29–December 30
Open Daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Holiday Hours
Christmas Eve open 10 am–2 pm
Christmas Day Closed
December 26-30 open 10 am– 4 pm
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
Holiday Hours:
Christmas Eve open 10 am–2 pm
Christmas Day Closed
December 26-30 open 10 am– 4 pm
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!
Adult Category
The adult winner is Greenhouse at Snug Harbor Farm by Alex Lewis, Ali White, Doreen Lewis.
Honorable mention goes to first-time entrant Ellen Forget’s Forget-Me-Not.
Multi-Generational Category
The Whaleback Lighthouse, a beloved Portsmouth landmark took home the honorable mention. Made by Hunter, Jason, and Susan Kindstedt.
A real-life camping trip was the inspiration behind the The Reisdorfs’ award-winning Bus Adventure.
Teen Category
The winner is Winter Wonderland by Elin Maffee and Zola Pezzetti.
We are so happy to have these fantastically creative teens entries!
The award for honorable mention goes to Karalynn Daughan’s Sledding Party at Home.
Youth Category
We are always impressed by our youngest bakers… and curious how much candy was consumed in the making of these entries.
Our youth winner drew inspiration from Strawbery Banke’s Puddle Dock Barnyard, made by Cole Dinulos.
The Students of the Children’s Garden’s Children’s Garden Express took home the honorable mention.
Business or Organization Category
Having picked up a few construction tips and trick at our Gingerbread Workshop the Portsmouth Believer’s Church, Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, won an honorable mention.
Make-A-Wish New Hampshire’s Libby Giordano took home the prize for her striking blue and white Holiday Bed and Breakfast.
Staff Picks
Portsmouth Historical Society staff selected these two first time entries to celebrate their ambitious and delicate construction, their ambitious use of gingerbread techniques, and a creatively thematic approach to material selection.
Linda Roth’s Christmas at the Greenhouse takes home Best FirstiTime Entry for her ambitious and soaring construction and attention to deatil.
An honorable mention also goes to Rockport Shack + Schooner Olad by Kenna Sloane for some incredible sugar work and the very clever use of nori, a savory ingredient we haven’t seen used in the Gingerbread Contest before.
Best in Show
The Judges’ Award for best in show goes to the massive North Pole Gingerbread Factory by Libby Giordano.
A close runner-up was the incredibly detailed Holiday Memory: Twas the Night Before Christmas by Lindsay Carroll. Be sure to take a close look through each of the windows when you visit, you might just be surprised about all you may find.
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.
Is the Gingerbread contest open on Christmas Eve? And, if so, what are the hours?
Yes, the exhibition will be open 10-2 on Christmas Eve.
Thanks so much!
How wonderful and creative these are! Congratulations to all.