Find out how you can vote in the Pueblo Gingerbread House Contest

Run, run as fast as you can and catch the Pueblo Gingerbread House Contest at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. 

“It is our 15th annual Pueblo Gingerbread House Contest, and it started just as a way for families to have some fun during the holidays,” Monique Silva, guest experience director at the IPCC, said. 

The contest is open to the community with a few guidelines, such as representing Pueblo-style architecture or a dwelling, like a church, in any of the 19 Pueblos, she said. 

“People get very creative,” Silva said.

Only edible pieces are allowed in the buildings, and structures are often crafted from gingerbread or graham crackers. Details can feature chile ristras, people, animals and more. 

“This year, I was very impressed. Just being able to see how some of them are not only one story, they’re three stories, and they also have dancers and individuals,” Silva said. “I know there’s a church that was made this year, and they included a priest and the traditional dancers outside.”

The contest has about 30 entries, and voting for a favorite gingerbread house is open to visitors through Jan. 4. 

“A lot of our gingerbread houses are wonderful, and a lot of people take a lot of time and energy to make these wonderful,” Silva said. 

The contest has five age-based categories and offers cash prizes to the top three winners in each.

Throughout the categories, there are differences, she said — the younger kids focus more on Pueblo houses, while the older groups are more detailed. 

“It’s an exciting thing that if they’re putting their hard work into it, then they get a prize at the end,” Silva said. 

Silva said the kids’ categories help raise awareness among younger generations about the 19 Pueblos.

“It’s a big part of our culture, and I think it’s great for them as part of the holidays to just be involved with the communities,” Silva said. 

Silva said participants can learn about the historic buildings associated with the Pueblos just by participating in the contest and re-creating them. 

Year after year, people come in, drawn by the craftsmanship of the entries, she said. 

“People are just always amazed at all of the wonderful work done,” Silva said. 

Elizabeth Secor is an arts fellow from the New Mexico Local News Fellowship program. You can reach her at esecor@abqjournal.com.