Grove Park Inn cancels National Gingerbread House Competition for 2024 due to Hurricane Helene devastation

Organizers of the annual National Gingerbread House Competition have canceled this year’s event due to the damage from Hurricane Helene.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Asheville and the surrounding communities have struggled to recover, leading to Grove Park Inn’s decision to cancel the competition. It was supposed to be the 32nd year for the event.

“We are saddened that we cannot come together formally this year to honor their ginger-works-of-art, but we eagerly look forward to welcoming them back to the hotel in 2025 to celebrate their creativity and passion once more,” the hotel wrote in a news release. “The 2025 National Gingerbread House Competition entry form and display viewing information will be available on this page starting July 25, 2025.”

There is still a way to participate in this year’s holiday festivities.

On the hotel’s Facebook page and on its Instagram they will post some of this year’s gingerbread creations Dec. 1 – 12, 2024.

For an in-person feel without the competition, the hotel will still be festively decorated to give guests that holiday spirit. Note that only registered resort pets are allowed, and any outside animals are not permitted. For those that still want to create a gingerbread home to be shown in person, they can choose to have theirs displayed at local businesses in Asheville with some shown at the Omni Grove Inn, they just won’t be professionally judged.