This year’s event, on display from Dec. 8 through Jan. 1, will be the Lafayette Hotel’s second Gingerbread house contest in a decade. (Photo provided)

This December the smell of gingerbread returns to the Lafayette Hotel. Purple icing castles and sugar cube lighthouses to gingerbread tree houses and “candy” candy stores. This year’s event, on display from Dec. 8 through Jan. 1, will be the Lafayette Hotel’s second Gingerbread house contest in a decade.

“The return of this event is a wonderful opportunity to establish a family tradition of either making a gingerbread house together or coming to the Hotel to see all the imaginative creations,” said Sheila Rhodes, General Manager of the Lafayette Hotel. “The Hotel has created a Gingerbread Village for many years in the past, with some exceptional creations. After a long hiatus, we’re bringing back the tradition!”

The contest itself has three categories: Youth–ages 9-14 years; Adult – ages 15 and up, and Company Sponsored–employee created. Each category will receive a first, second and third place award. Winners will receive gift certificates for a weekend stay at the hotel, certificates for the Gun Room Restaurant, and other prizes.

The cumulative scores of three judges will determine contest winners. Each entry will be judged on several criteria including originality, creativity, pastry work, and attention to detail. Judges for this year’s competition will be local designers, artists, and business owners.

The competition is open to everyone except Lafayette Hotel employees and their families. Entry forms can be obtained at the Lafayette Hotel’s front desk. Completed gingerbread house entries must be submitted to the hotel by Dec. 4.

Rhodes says the event was an annual attraction in the past that she would like to see become a yearly event into the future.

“We are very pleased to have had such a good response in the past and look forward to growing this event into something special for the Historic River Cities. This will be both a fun time and an attraction for visitors to our community.”