EVENT | ALBUQUERQUE
Find out how you can vote in the Pueblo Gingerbread House Contest
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Run, run as fast as you can and catch the Pueblo Gingerbread House Contest at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.
鈥淚t is our 15th annual Pueblo Gingerbread House Contest, and it started just as a way for families to have some fun during the holidays,鈥� Monique Silva, guest experience director at the IPCC, said.
The contest was open to the community. According to official entry guildines, submissions 鈥渕ust be representative of a Pueblo village, house, community, church, or historic dwelling, etc.鈥�
鈥淧eople get very creative,鈥� Silva said.
Only edible items are allowed in the buildings, and structures are often crafted from gingerbread or graham crackers. This year鈥檚 entries featured chile ristras, people, animals and more.
鈥淭his year, I was very impressed. Just being able to see how some of them are not only one story, they鈥檙e three stories, and they also have dancers and individuals,鈥� Silva said. 鈥淚 know there鈥檚 a church that was made this year, and they included a priest and the traditional dancers outside.鈥�
The contest has about 30 entries, and voting for a favorite gingerbread house is open to visitors through Jan. 4.
鈥淎 lot of our gingerbread houses are wonderful, and a lot of people take a lot of time and energy to make these wonderful,鈥� 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 鈥� the younger kids focus more on Pueblo houses, while the older groups are more detailed.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an exciting thing that if they鈥檙e putting their hard work into it, then they get a prize at the end,鈥� Silva said.
Silva said the kids鈥� categories help raise awareness among younger generations about the 19 Pueblos.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a big part of our culture, and I think it鈥檚 great for them as part of the holidays to just be involved with the communities,鈥� 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.
鈥淧eople are just always amazed at all of the wonderful work done,鈥� Silva said.
