For the fourth year, we are inviting downtown retailers to join us in celebrating the season!

If you have a storefront window and would like to host a gingerbread house, read on to apply.

Are you a business without a storefront in the immediate Market Square area? You can submit a house in the “Business/Organization” category of general registration. Click here!

A gingerbread house in a storefront window

Retail Partner Requirements:

  • Retailers must be within walking distance of Market Square.
  • Retailers must have a prominent storefront window space large enough to accommodate a 15″x15″ gingerbread creation.
  • Retailers must keep the gingerbread creation and accompanying label on display between Nov. 24 and Dec. 23.
  • Retailers must agree to stamp/initial scavenger hunt “maps” of participants.

How It Works:

  • We will include a maximum of 20 retail partners.
  • Scavenger hunt participants will have to collect stamps/initials from 80% of retail partners (if we have 20 partners, they will have to collect 16 of 20).
  • Each creation will have a small label with a QR code linking to an information page on the PHS website.
  • PHS will provide stamps and a few maps to retailers; maps will also be available at PHS and for download on our website.
  • Completed forms will be returned to PHS for entry into a raffle made up of gift cards and merchandise donated by participating retail partners and the Museum Shop.
A gingerbread house in a storefront window

Portsmouth Historical Society agrees to:

  • Inform the retail partners if they will be receiving a house by October 27
  • Deliver a gingerbread house (unless retailer agrees to provide their own) on Wednesday, November 22.
  • If a retail partner is providing their own house, it is subject to the same rules as all registrants, namely that all materials must be edible (with the exception of string lights), and the base must be no larger than 15” x 15”.
  • Provide a limited number of scavenger hunt maps for the business to distribute to their customers.
  • Provide stamps to mark participants’ scavenger hunt “maps.”
  • List the business name and website on our scavenger hunt map and on the PHS website and on our social media accounts.

The applicant understands that completing this agreement does not guarantee participation, as Portsmouth Historical Society does not yet know the final number of houses we will have to distribute.