Delicious dwellings: Home bakers show off their skills during the Pueblo Gingerbread House Contest
Visitors at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center can cast their votes for their favorite entries in the annual Pueblo Gingerbread House Contest.
Judging will be open through Jan. 5, 2025, and winners will be announced on Jan. 7, 2025.
The contest is made up of five categories: seniors (age 62 and older), adult (ages 17 and older), teens (ages 13-16), children (ages 9-12) and children (ages 5-8).
Prizes vary for each category and run from $300-$100 for first place, $200-$75 for second place, and $100-$50 for third place. Photos of last year’s winners can be found at indianpueblo.org/pgh.
About 50 entries will be part of this year’s event, which is celebrating its 14th year.
“People can come in every day that we’re open and vote on those categories,” said Monique Silva (Isleta Pueblo), director of guest experience at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.
Contestants cannot be professional bakers and had to meet certain criteria to enter their gingerbread houses. Entries had to be entirely edible and representative of a pueblo village, house, community, church or historic dwelling. The houses also had to fit on a 24-inch by 24-inch display due to size limitations.
“It’s amazing seeing all of the hard work that these people put into it, because first off, doing it is not easy,” Silva said. “It’s nice because these houses are a little bit different because they represent the Pueblo culture. I think that’s why a lot of people come and enjoy seeing all the entries because each of them does represent something related to the Pueblo culture.”