The 5th Annual Simcoe County Gingerbread House Contest took place on Saturday, November 29, 2025, at the Lakeshore branch of the Innisfil ideaLAB & Library. Hosted by the Rotary Club of Innisfil, this beloved community tradition brought together incredible holiday talent alongside a craft sale, a Rotary bake sale, a holiday quilt raffle, and charity calendar sales benefiting local health facilities.
🏆 2025 Category Winners
Top honors were awarded to the following master builders:
Adult Hobbyist: 1st: Warren Letson | 2nd: Sharon Buckwell
Adult Teams: 1st: Anne Sadler
Beginner: 1st: Carriere Clan | 2nd: The Golden Duo
Youth: 1st: Iris McAlpine
Kid Bakers (Group 1): 1st: Sloan Gilchrist | 2nd: Odin McAlpine
Kid Bakers (Group 2): 1st: Anaisha Swain | 2nd: Annabelle Druery
Gingerbread Kit: 1st: Kayla Goodwin
⚖️ The Judging Panel
Entries were evaluated by a specialized four-member panel, highlighted by prominent Food Network alumni:
Beatriz Muller: Master "gingerneer" and 2018 Food Network Gingerbread House Contest grand prize winner.
Teresa Araujo: Culinary artist and 2021 winner of the Food Network’s The Big Bake.
Sydney Hardie: Chair of the Innisfil Arts, Culture and Heritage Council.
Janet Morozuk: President of the Rotary Club of Innisfil.
📝 Core Rules & Judging Criteria
To ensure structural integrity and festive artistry, entries adhered to strict guidelines:
Edibility: Except for the plywood base, all components had to be 100% edible.
Composition: Creations required a minimum of 75% gingerbread, with visible sections left un-iced to showcase the baking.
Materials: Synthetic materials (such as Styrofoam) were strictly forbidden, though advanced sugar-craft was highly encouraged.
Standards: Masterpieces were evaluated based on dimensional pressure piping, 3D scale balance, 360-degree viewability, and creative narrative storytelling.
Are you planning to build an entry for the upcoming 2026 contest, or would you like details on how to attend or register as a local event vendor?