Welcome to the 5th Annual
December 5 - December 13, 2025
Downtown Kalamazoo
Tis’ the season for some fun with those you love the most (or just yourself if you’re more of the Grinch type this holiday season). No judgments here.
Our downtown holiday contest sure to leave you filled with holiday glee, all while we raise awareness about our non-profit’s mission to provide critical home repair support for homeowners in our community.
Our downtown holiday contest is sure to fill you with holiday glee while we raise awareness about our non-profit’s mission to provide critical home repair support for homeowners in our community.
Plans for our 2025 Gingerbread Contest are underway. We can’t wait to share updates for the coming year and how community members can get involved as a sponsor, host, or participant.
Here’s how to participate in this year’s contest in Downtown Kalamazoo:
Step 1
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2024 Winners
Professional Builder Entry
Brendon Mendoza from The Morning Dish – Radisson Plaza Hotel
Amateur Builder Entry
Kalamazoo Counseling & Wellness – The KalamaZOO
Iconic Structure
WMU’s Office of University Advancement – WMU Heritage Hall
Pop Culture
Sandy and Tom George— Noah’s Ark Scene
Fantasy
HighDive Kitchen + Bar – Interior Bar Scene
People's Choice
1st place
Brendon Mendoza from The Morning Dish – Radisson Plaza Hotel
People's Choice
2nd place
Erin Schultz from Schultz’s Treat Street/Schultz Sweets – Lighthouse
People's Choice
3rd place
WMU Dining Services – Interior Bakery Scene
Advia Credit Union – Wintery Village Scene
2024 Participants
Host Sites
- Abonmarche Byce
- Bimbo’s Pizza
- Cherri’s Chocol’art
- Climb Kalamazoo
- Colors & Cocktails
- Dessert First
- Discover Kalamazoo
- Earthly Delights at Amy Zane
- Gazelle Sports
- Honor Credit Union
- Kalamazoo Public Library
- Kzoo in the Mitten
- LUXE Gift Shop & Boutique
- Mason Jar Plant Shop
- MRC Industries artWORKS
- Outfront Kalamazoo
- Pop City Popcorn
- The Radisson Plaza Hotel
- Rocket Fizz
- Spice and Tea Merchants
- The Aroma Labs
- The Epic Center
- The Grazing Table
- The Spirit of Kalamazoo
- The Station
- Uncle Buddy’s Toy Stash
- 1st Source Bank
- Bee Joyful Shop
- Hilton Garden Inn
- Kalamazoo Candle Company
- HighDive Kitchen + Bar
Builders
- Abonmarche Byce
- Advia Credit Union
- Brandon Mendoza, The Morning Dish
- Can-Do Kalamazoo
- CARE Collective
- Climb Kalamazoo
- Hemlock Media
- HighDive Kitchen + Bar
- Kalamazoo Candle Company
- The Kalamazoo House
- KVCC Culinary
- Kzoo in the Mitten
- Mama’s Flour Power Bakery
- Mason Jar Plant Shop
- MRC Industries artWORKS
- Outfront Kalamazoo
- Paul Marquardt
- Sakhi Vyas/WMUK
- Sandy and Tom George
- Schultz’s Sweets/Treat Street
- The Kalamazoo Promise
- WMU Gov’t Affairs
- Bee Joyful Shop
- Kalamazoo Counseling & Wellness
- Hilton Garden Inn
- WMU Arts & Sciences
- WMU Advancement
- 1st Source Bank
Meet Our local celebrity judges
Entries will be judged by a panel of local celebrity judges and trophies will be awarded for each category winner. Our 2024 local celebrity judges’ panel includes:
Dann
Sytsma
Crawlspace Eviction Improv
Hon. Julie Rogers
State Rep., 41st District
Jessica Thompson
Bee Joyful Shop
Clarence
Lloyd
SWMI First Chamber
Nancy
Loftis
Advia Credit Union
KIDS 14 & UNDER CONTEST
(ONLINE ONLY THROUGH DECEMBER 19)
Take part in some virtual holiday family fun and submit an entry to compete in the ‘Kids 14 & Under’ Award category. Our ‘Kids 14 & Under’ gingerbread house award category is available Online only. Have an adult submit your entry by email only.
- Review the 2023 Contest Rules PDF (here) prior to starting on your gingerbread house entry.
- Have fun making your gingerbread house masterpiece! Festive holiday music is optional.
- Send us photos of your entry no later than Tuesday, December 19 at noon.
- Have an adult email us at GingerbreadHouseKzoo@communityhomeworks.org. Attach your images. You can also email any questions to this email address.
- Make sure to include the name and age of the builder (ex. Santa C., Age 8) and a title of your entry (ex. Exchange Building). An auto-reply email will bounce back to confirm we received your email.
- A special judging committee will select this year’s award winner.
- Visit our YouTube Channel on December 21 at 6 PM to see who won this year’s Kids 14 & Under Award. Honorable mention entries will also be spotlighted.
Events
- This event has passed.
2022 Homes for the Holidays Awards Broadcast
December 22, 2022 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
- Each category winner will receive a custom produced 2022 trophy.
- The photo of the 2022 Gingerbread Masterpiece will be hung in the Hall of Fame at Community Homeworks’ headquarters and will be featured in next year’s promotion.
- Downloadable certificates will be provided to all kids and families who participate.
Categories include:
- Iconic Structures in Kalamazoo
- People’s Choice
- Judges’ Choice (2022 Gingerbread Masterpiece)
- Kids 14 and Under
Gingerbread House Building 101: A Virtual Workshop
Sorry Netflix, the Great British Bake Off has nothing on us this holiday season. Join our team and celebrity chef, Ralph Humes, to learn tricks and hacks to make a gingerbread house too good to eat. Whether you are a seasoned competitive builder or a first-time novice, these episodes will provide the confidence to create an edible holiday masterpiece. Be sure to watch these workshops and enter our official contest.
Part 1: Building FUNdamentals
Part 2: Decorating & Details
Thank you to our 2024 sponsors
Presenting Level
Elves Level
Rudolph Level
Adopt a Home Level
Omni Community Credit Union
