Welcome to the 5th Annual
December 5 - December 20, 2025
Downtown Kalamazoo
Tis’ the season to spend time and have some fun with those you love the most.
Our downtown holiday contest is sure to leave you filled with holiday glee, all while we raise awareness about Community Homework’s mission to empower our neighbors, and to maintain safe, stable, and sustainable homes for generations.
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
Visit one of nearly 30 downtown retail sites in-person to view this year’s gingerbread house entries from Sunday, Dec. 5 to Saturday, Dec. 20. Santa hat is optional!
(Voting period is Dec. 5 - Dec. 13)
Step 2
Download the PDF map to find the authorized display sites or pick up a printed version at one of the participating downtown retail locations.
Step 3
Use your contest map and jot notes about your favorite gingerbread house entries. A sign with a unique ID # will be displayed next to each gingerbread house (ex. #5).
Step 4
Once you view all the entries, scan one of the QR codes or visit this page again to vote for your favorite entry. One vote is permitted per email. Voting is live Dec. 5- Dec. 13
Step 5
The top “voter getter” will be crowned as the 2025 People’s Choice Award winner.
Step 6
Our celebrity judges will view all the entries and select winners for the following categories: Professional Builder Entry (Judge’s Choice Top Honors), Amateur Builder Entry (Judges’ Choice Top Honors), Iconic Structure of Kalamazoo Now & Then, Pop Culture, Imagine Kalamazoo, and Fantasy.
Step 7
Visit our Social Media Pages on Dec. 17 to see who the 2025 contest winners are during our live broadcast!
2025 AWARD CATEGORIES
Judges’ Choice
Professional
Judges’ Choice
Amateur
Iconic Structure
Pop Culture
Imagine kzoo
Fantasy
People's Choice
1st place
People's Choice
2nd Place
People's Choice
3rd Place
2025 Participants
Host Sites
- The Aroma Labs
- Bimbo’s Pizza
- The Black Arts & Cultural Center
- Earthly Delights at Amy Zane
- Gazelle Sports
- The Spirit of Kalamazoo
- Uncle Buddy’s Toy Stash
- Rocket Fizz
- Discover Kalamazoo
- The Station
- The Epic Center
- Colors & Cocktails
- Cherri’s Chocol’art
- MRC Artworks
- Kzoo in the Mitten
- Honor Credit Union
- Spice and Tea Merchants
- Pop City Popcorn
- Kalamazoo Public Library
- The Radisson
- 1st Source Bank
- Kalamazoo Climate Crisis Coalition
- Abonmarche Byce
- Kalamazoo Candle Company/Zero
- Climb Kalamazoo
- Bee Joyful
- HighDive Kitchen + Bar
Builders
- The Kalamazoo House Bed & Breakfast
- MRC Artworks
- Kzoo in the Mitten
- CARE Collective
- The Kalamazoo Promise
- Paul Marquartdt
- KVCC Culinary Students
- Brandon Mendoza (The Morning Dish inside The Radisson)
- Advia Credit Union
- WMU Dining Services
- Kalamazoo Counseling and Wellness
- 1st Source Bank
- Inform Architecture
- Atlas Counseling and
Psychotherapy Services - Kalamazoo College Advancement and Parkhurst Dining
- Kalamazoo Climate Crisis Coalition
- Tom and Sandy George
- WMU Government Relationships and External Partnerships
- Brianna LaBelle-Hahn & Jordan Uhlian
- Disability Network
- Kzoom
- HighDive Kitchen + Bar
- Kzoo Cream
- Kalamazoo County MDHHS Foster Care Home Licensing
- Duncan Aviation
- WMU Libraries
- Julie Harlan/ Jaqua
- The Rackley Family
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 2025 local celebrity judges’ panel includes:
Nancy
Loftis
Advia Credit Union
Clarence
Lloyd
Soutwest Michigan First Chamber
Hon. Jen Strebs
Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners
Michelle Pittel
Consumers Energy Helping Neighbors Program
Jay
Morris
Midwest Communications
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 Kick-Off Event
- This event has passed.
2022 Homes for the Holidays Awards Broadcast
- 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
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 - Tie
Advia Credit Union – Wintery Village Scene
People's Choice
3rd place - Tie
WMU Dining Services – Interior Bakery Scene
Past Contests
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 2025 sponsors
Presenting Level
Santa Level
Elves Level
Rudolph Level
Adopt-a-Home
