Enjoy 14 days of family-friendly activities inspired by the spice of the season – Ginger!
Gingerbread Cookie Decorating
December 7, 2024 at 10:30, 11, and 11:30 am
Join us on Saturday, December 7th for a morning of delicious cookie decorating. Each ticket holder may decorate a gingerbread person cookie of their very own using sugary icing, sprinkles and other delicious adornments. Will you nibble on your creation or take it home? The choice is yours!
Gingerbread House Decorating Event
December 7, 2024, 1-3 pm
Nothing is more festive than the family-friendly fun of making a gingerbread house together.
Save yourself from a sticky, messy kitchen by building your house in our function hall. Gingerbread kits from Henry’s are available for purchase at registration, or you may bring your own pre-baked pieces. What else is included: A 10″ x 14″ cake board, royal icing, a selection of decorative candies, sprinkles, and food items to personalize your design, and optional powdered sugar snow for dusting. If you have a specific design idea, please feel free to bring any other edible building materials.
Come in to make your gingerbread house anytime between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Decorated houses may be brought home the same day – or you can enter them in the Gingerbread House Contest!
Gingerbread House Contest
Drop-off December 7, 2024 BY 4 pm
This December, we invite you to add some spice to the museum by taking part in our Gingerbread House Contest. Structures other than houses are welcome, too!
You may construct your confectionary creation at home or join us on Saturday, December 7th for an afternoon of gingerbread house decorating. All contest entries must be received by 4pm on December 7th.
Scroll down for contest details, or learn more and register at the link below.
Gingerbread House Photo Booth
December 7 – 21, 2024
Snap a silly photo using some sweet props this holiday season in our lobby photo booth!
Included with admission during museum hours.
Sensory Spice Challenge
December 7 – 21, 2024
Does your nose know? Sniff a selection of spices set up in our lobby snack area to see if you can identify the ginger among the other seasonal favorites.
Included with admission during museum hours.
Gingerbread House Contest People’s Choice Voting
December 8 – 13, 2024
View the houses on display and cast your vote for your favorite to win the People’s Choice Award!
Gingerbread House Contest Judges’ Voting & A Visit from Mrs. Claus
December 14, 2024
Our panel of expert judges will vote on the Gingerbread House Contest entries. Be among the first to see the results when you join us for a visit with Mrs. Claus!
P is for Playdate and M is for Museum
December 13, 2024
Included with Admission | Free for Members |Free for Residents of Hamilton, Wenham, Manchester and Essex with Advanced Registration through Early Childhood Partners
Join in this month’s M is for Museum and P is for Playdates program at the Wenham Museum!
Our P is for Playdates friends will read Gingerbread Friends by Jan Brett
Our M is for Museum friends will read Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett
Following each read aloud we will create a gingerbread craft.
These programs have been designed to address MA curriculum standards for Pre-K in Reading and Literature, Science, Personal and Social Development and Peer Relationships.
Sponsored by
Early Childhood Partners via Mass. Department of Early Education & Care and the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District
Gingerbread House Contest Entries on Display
December 8 – 21, 2024
Contest entries will be on view until Saturday, December 21st. On Saturday, participants may pick up their houses.
When visiting the museum during this time, we encourage you to support our food drive for a local food pantry.
‘Tis the Season of Giving
When attending any of our December programs, please consider bringing a donation of food in support of the Acord Food Panty in Hamilton. Food donations will be accepted throughout the 14 Days of Gingerbread. Cash donations are also welcome.
The pantry is looking specifically for the following types of donations this season:
- Baking Mixes
- Hot/Cold Cereals
- Canned Meals (Beef Stew, Chef Boyardee, Chili)
- Canned Hearty Soups
- For canned goods, please note that cans with pull tabs are easier for those in need to open if they do not have a can opener.
Register Online Nov. 5 – Dec. 1
Drop-Off Dec. 7
People’s Choice Voting Dec. 8 – Dec. 13
Judging Dec. 14
Pick-up Dec. 21
Contestants may enter in the following categories:
- Individual Youth 10 & under
- Individual Youth 11 – 17
- Individual Adult 18+
- Family
- Business/Organization
- Small Group (e.g., Scout group, church group, etc.)
Online registrations are required and will be accepted until Dec. 1.
Gingerbread House Contest Reservation FormDownload a printer friendly PDF copy.
2024 Gingerbread Contest Rules
The museum reserves the right to reject entries that do not abide by the official contest rules.
Gingerbread House Contest Reservation Form2024 Wenham Museum Gingerbread House Contest Official Rules and Guidelines
- All entrants agree to these rules and guidelines when submitting an entry.
- There is no entry fee for houses decorated at home, however an optional donation to support museum programs is appreciated. There is a fee for anyone who wishes to participate in our gingerbread house decorating event on December 8th to cover the cost of provided supplies and house kits.
- Physical entries may be dropped off during regular museum hours on Saturday December 7, 2024. Pre-registration opens on November 5, 2024. No physical entries will be accepted without a pre-registration form having been completed.
- The contest is open to all ages, as well as small groups and businesses. Please indicate which submission category best represents your entry.
- The main components of all entries must be constructed of Gingerbread.
- The term “house” is open to interpretation. Be imaginative, be creative, and stretch the boundaries of what you can construct. For example, “houses” can also be barns, birdhouses, lighthouses, airplanes, ships, or other dwellings.
- Design, bake and decorate a gingerbread creation. Gingerbread kits are allowed as a starter, but it is highly encouraged that kits are transformed to make your entry unique.
- All entries must be submitted on a sturdy 10” x 14” base. Heavy cardboard, foam core or wood are suitable materials. The base needs to support the weight of your entry without any bowing to allow for transport and display.
- The entire design, except for the base and other than noted exceptions, must be made of edible materials. The main structure should be mostly constructed of gingerbread and icing; unwrapped candy, cookies, crackers, cereal, pasta, and any other food items may be used for details and embellishments. Lollipops may have plastic, wood or paper stems or sticks. Toothpicks and small dowels may be used for structural integrity if fully concealed. Styrofoam and other support materials are not permitted.
- Use Royal Icing only (no buttercream). Buttercream will turn rancid. All materials used in the assembly and design must be able to be kept on display at room temperature for at least 2.5 weeks.
- How you use the 10” x 14” base is up to you. Your structure may take up the entire space or you may choose to have “landscape” or “environmental” elements with a smaller structure. Do not add any decorations or icing to the outer edges of the base. The edges must be kept clean for handling during transport and display.
- Please give your entry a name/title. The museum will display your name/group, entry title, and submission category alongside your entry.
- Entries will be judged on December 14th, allowing one week for People’s Choice votes to be cast. People’s Choice votes may be submitted via in-person ballot only. Award categories, excluding People’s Choice, will be judged on originality, imagination, cohesive design, construction, baking, and overall design. Winners will be announced on December 14th. Entrants do not need to be present to win.
- Winners will receive award ribbons and bragging rights.
- All entries need to be picked up during regular museum hours on Saturday, December 21, 2024. Entries not picked up by 4pm on December 21st with be discarded.
- By submitting an entry to this contest, permission is granted to the Wenham Museum to use your name, likeness, and entry in photographic or video form in a newsletter, website, social media, or other promotional purpose.
Stay tuned for our list of local judges.
Our panel of three expert judges will consider originality, imagination, cohesive design, construction, baking, and overall design when awarding prizes in several award categories.
The People’s Choice Award is given for one entry across all submissions and is voted on by museum visitors in-person. Be sure to visit the display of houses between Dec. 8 and Dec. 13 to vote for your favorite.