- Let's head to The Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville where gingerbread meets creativity at the National Gingerbread House Competition.

[bright festive orchestral music] - The National Gingerbread House Competition began over 30 years ago, and it was really small.

It was a small group of individuals that got together to just celebrate the holidays.

And over 35 years, it's grown from this small group to over 235 entries in 25 states in an age range from five years old through adults.

It's amazing.

[bright festive orchestral music] - This is a time of year where a group of people who enjoy making gingerbread houses get to actually come together and meet each other again.

People come up with the most amazing pieces of art every year.

It's just excitement every year.

[bright festive orchestral music] - I think that the Omni Grove Park Inn is such an amazing place to hold this competition, because it's such a blend of history and memories.

[bright festive orchestral music] - We have over 80 illuminated Christmas trees throughout the property, we have a giant great gingerbread house in the lobby, and it really just feels like you're stepping into a magical wonderland when you walk through our doors into the Great Hall.

[bright festive orchestral music] - And so, you have this beautiful historic inn layered with this competition that has really grown over the years, and you have that kind of combination of people who have been competing for over 20 years, and then you have our newest competitors that are coming for the first time.

So it's that blend of old and new together, and then layered in with the holiday season and the beautiful fireplaces and the beautiful trees.

It just creates such wonderful memories for our visitors.

[bright festive orchestral music] [lively orchestral festive music] - I've been judging gingerbread for about nine and a half years now, this is my ninth year, and this is probably honestly the best year I've ever seen since I've been here.

They really brought it, the competitors were the most we've ever seen, so many new competitors, I think that's just amazing, and it's great for our community, it's great for the gingerbread.

And to see their best foot forward was what we wanted to see, and they really put it out there, just amazing pieces, cleanliness, and structure, and new ideas.

It was very impressive.

[lively festive orchestral music] - It's fun and exciting, and the best part about it, it doesn't feel like you're competing against everybody, it feels like you're celebrating with everybody, celebrating their piece, them celebrating your piece.

And whether you win lose, it doesn't make any difference, we're just happy that everyone's here.

[lively festive orchestral music] - The community is so great.

I mean, all these ladies, you saw us all hugging each other, because we're all friends and we share ideas, and, you know, boost each other up, and it's just fun even if you don't win.

But when you win, it's really cool.

[chuckles] [lively festive orchestral music] - So anybody that comes to see them, the top 10 pieces in all of the categories are all on one floor, and you can just walk from the beginning of the hallway and around, and you just marvel, and then you come down to this lower level, ballroom and below, and that's where all the rest of them are.

And it's just amazing to see the artistry, the creativity, the difference, because there is no theme, everybody gets to do whatever they wanna do.

[lively festive orchestral music] - I think what's so interesting about working here at the Omni Grove Park Inn is that, over time, the National Gingerbread House Competition has really become a part of the identity of the end.

And it's really talked about all throughout the year, it doesn't matter if we're in July, or if we're in October, or if we're in December, people remember coming here to see the gingerbread houses, and they ask about when they're coming no matter when they visit, and that's really special to me.

- The National Gingerbread House Competition will be on display at the Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville through January 4th, 2026.

The Omni Grove Park Inn is at 290 Macon Avenue in Asheville.

To find out more, give them a call at 800-438-5800, or go online to omnihotels.com.