ASHEVILLE, N.C., Nov. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The
29th Annual National Gingerbread House Competition
returned in person at The Omni Grove Park Inn after a virtual 2020,
making this the first time in two years Gingerbread
artists, of all ages and backgrounds, came together to showcase
their one-of-a-kind creations. More than 120 entries of
over-the-top Gingerbread designs – across all categories – were
submitted from around the country, for an opportunity to win a
piece of $25,000 in cash and
prizes.
A star-studded panel of judges, consisting of renowned food,
arts and media professionals, evaluated each creation based on
overall appearance, originality/creativity, difficulty, precision
and consistency of theme, with each entry required to be 75 percent
Gingerbread and 100 percent edible.
The 2021 panel featured Carla
Hall, celebrity chef, author and TV personality;
Nadine Orenstein, curator of the
department of drawings and prints at the Metropolitan Museum of
Art; Cheryl Forberg, James Beard Award-winning chef and dietitian;
Mark Seaman, the culinary
applications chef for Barry
Callebaut; Geoff Blount,
chef, program chair of baking & pastry arts at ICI of
Myrtle Beach; John Cook, executive pastry chef at The Omni
Grove Park Inn; Steven Stellingwerf,
pastry chef, author and teacher; Aaron
Morgan, executive pastry chef at the Stable Café on The
Biltmore Estate; and lead judge, Nicholas
Lodge, the author of over one dozen sugar art books and
instructional DVDs; and many others.
The 2021 winning entries in the categories of adult, teen,
youth and child include:
Grand Prize Winner, Adult: The Merry Mischief Bakers,
"Christmas 'Round the World" – Phoenix,
AZ
Adult Second Place: Grier
Rubeling, "Gingerbread Nutcrackers" – Cary, NC
Adult Third Place: Bill & Cheryl Filion, "A Spin on Christmas" –
Medina, OH
Teen (ages 13-17) First Place: Courtland High German
Program, "Elves After Hours" – Spotsylvania, VA
Teen Second Place: Emma
Rhinehart, "Santa's Study" – Columbia, TN
Teen Third Place: Abigail
Woerner, "Holly Jolly
Christmas" – Concord,
NC
Youth (ages 9-12) First Place: Lolajay Wilson, "Picture
Perfect Holiday" – Asheville,
NC
Youth Second Place: Emmalyn
Frost, "Upside Christmas" – Knoxville, TN
Youth Third Place: Alana
Armenti, "Winter Wonder
Wheel" – Simpsonville,
SC
Child (ages 5-8) First Place: Parker Webster, "Zoom with Santa" – Greenville, SC
Child Second Place: Glitter Girls, "Santa & Friends
Christmas Pets" – Blue Ridge,
GA
Child Third Place: BMP Smart Cookies, "December 26th" Black
Mountain, NC
While the Competition returned to an in person format for 2021,
the hotel has maintained a virtual component for everyone to enjoy
the Gingerbread masterpieces. See how to get involved below.
Fans At-Home Can Tune-in Virtually:
- 12 Days of Gingerbread: A new way of celebrating
The National Gingerbread House Competition winners for all to
enjoy. From Dec. 1- 12, one winner
per day will be announced, via social media, with the Grand Prize
Winner being revealed on Dec. 12
(National Gingerbread House Day!). Tune in via Facebook
(@omnigroveparkinn) & Instagram (@omnigrovepark).
Ways to See Gingerbread Creations in Person:
- Gingerbread Display: In true holiday spirit, The Omni
Grove Park Inn will be displaying all Gingerbread creations from
Nov. 28 through Jan. 2, 2022 after
3 p.m. on Sundays and anytime Monday
– Thursday to drive-on visitors. The display is open to in-house
guests 24/7. A $25 per car self-park
fee will be charged for drive-on, day guests with a portion of the
parking proceeds going towards the following local nonprofit
organizations: United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County; American Legion Baseball Post
#70; Meals on Wheels of Asheville
and Buncombe County; Asheville City Schools Foundation; Horizons at
CDS; Children First/Communities in Schools; Asheville Museum of
Science and Camp Watia Camper Scholarship Fund. Since 2013,
The Omni Grove Park Inn has contributed over $575,000 through the Holiday Parking Program,
supporting the local community and not-for-profit partners in
Western North Carolina.
- The Great Gingerbread House: The Great Hall at The Omni
Grove Park Inn has been transformed into a holiday destination,
with a life-sized Gingerbread House modeled after the historic
hotel. Guests can enjoy house made hot chocolate, a specialty craft
brew in partnership with Highland Brewing, and sweet treats by the
glow of the iconic Grove Park Inn fireplaces.
Travelers interested in viewing the show-stopping holiday
designs and planning a festive retreat can book the Gingerbread
Holiday Package for stays through Sunday,
Dec. 30. The package includes luxurious accommodations, the
breakfast buffet in the Blue Ridge Restaurant per registered guest,
one Gingerbread cookie per registered guest and overnight valet or
self-parking (one vehicle per room). Guests can also pay it forward
this season via Omni Hotels & Resorts' Say Goodnight to Hunger
program, which includes a donation to MANNA FoodBank for every stay
at the resort.
To reach the Gingerbread Hotline for the latest on all things
Gingerbread, call (800) 413-5778. To view images of the complete
list of winning Gingerbread displays, visit here. Images of winning
entries from last year's competition are available here.
For more information or to make reservations, call (800)
438-5800 or visit
www.omnihotels.com/hotels/asheville-grove-park.
About The Omni Grove Park Inn
Set in the idyllic Blue Ridge Mountains and just minutes from
downtown Asheville, N.C., The Omni
Grove Park Inn provides a one-of-a-kind escape for modern day
travelers. The award-winning, 513-room resort originally opened in
1913, showcases a wide range of Arts & Crafts furnishings from
Stickley and Roycroft throughout guest areas, guestrooms and
suites. Following the renovation of the Vanderbilt Wing in 2013,
The Inn revealed the redesign of the historic Sammons Wing's 204 guestrooms in 2017. The
world-class Spa is an experience like no other, with 43,000 square
feet of subterranean space and an array of unique treatments
incorporating indigenous elements. The resort's historic 18-hole
Donald Ross golf course is
considered among the top golf experiences in North Carolina, and the Sports Complex
includes indoor and outdoor tennis courts. The Inn also focuses on
local ingredients and chef driven menus in their four signature
restaurants, each offering panoramic views of the Blue Ridge
Mountains. The Omni Grove Park Inn is well suited for meetings,
weddings and events, with 26 meeting rooms and two ballrooms
totaling over 58,000 square feet, including the Skyline Room and
Mountain View Terrace. The Inn's newest event addition is the Seely
Pavilion with 3,260 square feet of function space, exposed trusses,
and six pairs of picturesque, floor-to-ceiling doors and windows,
offering breathtaking views of the surrounding mountain range. To
get additional information or book accommodations, visit
omnihotels.com or call 1-800-The-Omni.
About Omni Hotels & Resorts
Omni Hotels & Resorts creates genuine, authentic guest
experiences at over 50 distinct luxury hotels and resorts in
leading business and leisure destinations across North America. With more than 21 iconic golf
courses and multiple short courses, 24 award-winning spas featured
in dynamic locales nationwide, every Omni proudly opens its doors
to share the true spirit of its destination. Reflected through
local color, personalized service, unique wellness options,
signature restaurants and creative culinary offerings, Omni leaves
a lasting impression with every guest and a heightened level of
recognition and rewards delivered through its Select
Guest® loyalty program. Omni is committed to reducing
hunger and is on a mission through its Say Goodnight to Hunger
initiative to provide millions of meals each year for food banks to
feed children, families, and seniors in communities in which it
operates. Through its partnership with Shared Hope International,
Omni is dedicated to the education and training of its associates
to help combat human trafficking. Omni Hotels & Resorts is the
official hotel of the PGA TOUR® and PGA TOUR Champions. For
information or to book accommodations, visit omnihotels.com or call
1-800-The-Omni.
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SOURCE The Omni Grove Park Inn