Niagara Falls Culinary Institute

Gingerbread Village Competition

The Niagara Falls Culinary institute is proud to be hosting our annual Gingerbread Competition in conjunction with the Ginger Village Event. This year’s competition promises to be bigger and better than ever. We hope entering a gingerbread house or stopping down to see the creations is on your holiday to-do list.

There are seven categories to our competition (Professional, Amateur, High School, College 1, College 2, Middle School & Children’s) Online registration is only a click away.

Official Rules and Information

Entry Forms
1. Fill out an official Entry Form at our website no later than Monday, December 2, 2024.
Attach a 3” x 5” card listing your name, address, and phone number on the underside of each entry.
Creations must fit on a 20” circular or square display board. It is highly recommended that the display board be constructed out of at least 1/2 inch thick MDO (Medium Density Overlay). Height can be no more than 24.”
Entries will be judged in seven (7) categories:
1. Professional Division
2. Amateur Division
3. College 1 Division
4. College 2 Division
5. High School Division
6. Middle School Division – Grades 6-8
7. Children’s Division – Grades k-5
All entries must be brought to The Niagara Falls Culinary Institute on Thursday, December 5th, 2024, between 9:30 am and 4:30 pm.
Please note all parts of Gingerbread House must be edible. (No foil or paper wrapping on candy) Gingerbread Houses may be mechanically enhanced.
Final judging will consist of four categories:
1. Use of Gingerbread & Color
2. Originality/Creativity
3. Adherence to Guidelines
4. Detail in Decoration
Judges’ decisions will be final
The Ribbons will be laid out and the winners will be announced on Facebook, on December 6th. Gingerbread Competition 2024 prizes will be mailed out the week of Monday, December 9th.

Disclaimers

1. SUNY Niagara/NFCI will not be responsible for any damage that occurs to the structures.
2. Entry into the contest will be deemed consent for use of entries, names, and photos of entrants in all media for advertising and/or promotion purposes.

What Division Do I Compete In?

Professional Contestant is any graduate of a Baking & Pastry Arts Program or a baker or pastry chef/cook who is working in the industry. Amateur Contestant is any individual ages 14 and above who has no formal baking and pastry arts training and is not working in the industry at any level. (If an individual is currently enrolled in a baking and pastry or culinary arts program, they must enter in the student division: Not as an Amateur). College 1 Contestant is any individual currently enrolled in a baking & pastry or culinary arts program and still within their first year of a 2-year program or within the first 2 years of a 4-year program. College 2 Contestant is any individual currently enrolled in a baking & pastry or culinary arts program and still within their 2nd year of a 2-year program or within the 3rd and 4th year of a 4-year program. High School Student Contestant is any student enrolled in a BOCES Culinary Arts or Baking and Pastry Arts program or any high school program involved with food production. Many of the local high schools offer elective classes in family and consumer science that deal with culinary arts. A student enrolled in this type of class must enter the high school division. Freshman – Senior in HS. Middle School Contestant – is any student who enjoys building & decorating gingerbread. Grades 6, 7, 8. Child Contestant is any child ages K-5 grade, who enjoys building & decorating gingerbread.

Competition Prizes

Professional Division 1st Place: $500 Visa Gift card 2nd Place: $250 Visa Gift card 3rd Place: $100 Visa Gift card Amateur Div. 1st Place: value of $560 Private Community Education Class for 8 2nd Place: value of $150 Chef’s Table Dinner for 6 at Savor Restaurant 3rd Place: value of $70 dinner for 2 at Savor Restaurant College 1 Division 1st Place: $300 Visa Gift card 2nd Place: $200 Visa Gift card 3rd Place: $100 Visa Gift card College 2 Division 1st Place: $300 Visa Gift card 2nd Place: $200 Visa Gift card 3rd Place: $100 Visa Gift cardHigh School Division 1st Place: $300 Visa Gift card 2nd Place: $200 Visa Gift card 3rd Place: $100 Visa Gift card Middle School Division 1st Place: $100 Amazon Gift card 2nd Place: $50 Amazon Gift card 3rd Place: $25 Amazon Gift card Children’s Division 1st Place: $60 Gift Basket 2nd Place: $40 Gift Basket 3rd Place: $20 Gift BasketProfessional Division 1st Place: $500 Visa gift card 2nd Place: $250 Visa gift card 3rd Place: $100 Visa gift card Amateur Div. 1st Place: value of $560 Private Community Education Class for 8 2nd Place: value of $150 Chef’s Table Dinner for 6 at Savor Restaurant 3rd Place: value of $60 dinner for 2 at Savor Restaurant College Division 1st Place: $1,000 scholarship* and $300 Visa gift card 2nd Place: $1,000.00 scholarship* and $200 Visa gift card 3rd Place: $1,000.00 scholarship* and $100 Visa gift cardHigh School Division 1st Place: $1,000 scholarship* and $300 Visa gift card 2nd Place: $1,000.00 scholarship* and $200 Visa gift card 3rd Place: $1,000.00 scholarship* and $100 Visa gift card Children’s Division 1st Place: $100 Amazon gift card 2nd Place: $50 Amazon gift card 3rd Place: $25 Amazon gift card*Winners will receive a voucher for a scholarship to the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute/ SUNY Niagara that is non-transferable with no cash value. Scholarships have a value of up to $500 per semester and up to $1,000 total. The scholarship funds can be applied for the academic year starting in the Fall 2024 or Fall 2025 semesters.

Gingerbread Cookie Kit

Who Doesn’t love decorating cookies for the holidays? NFCI Cookie Kits include two gingerbread men cookies with frosting, a plastic knife, and sprinkles. Cookie kits can be purchased at the reception desk of NFCI located at 28 Old Falls Street in Niagara Falls during Gingerbread Village hours. Take-home cookie kit -$10/each

Contact

Niagara Falls Culinary Institute 28 Old Falls Street Niagara Falls, NY 14303 Phone: 716-210-2525 Our reception desk is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (EST).

Gingerbread Competition Rules