Gingerbread villages, clock, dragon take over Asheville inn
Gingerbread artists from across the country and beyond gathered in Asheville on Monday to show off their holiday creations for the National Gingerbread House Competition.
The competition, in its 26th year, had 195 entries.
Creations were judged on appearance, creativity, difficulty, precision and consistency of theme. Entries had to have been at least 75 percent gingerbread.
Judges included sugar artist Mark Seaman, Nadine Orenstein, a curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Nicholas Lodge, who has written multiple sugar art books, and celebrity chef Carla Hall.
Julie and Michael Andreacola, of Indian Trail, won the grand prize for adults with their piece showing Santa working on his sleigh.
Catherine Beddall, of Canada, won second place for adults for her gingerbread cuckoo clock.
The Courtland High School German Club, of Virginia, won first in the teen category for a small gingerbread village, complete with a trolley. Gabriella Arthur, of South Carolina, won second for a dragon with blue scales and purple wings.
Winners shared more than $25,000 in cash and prizes at the Blue Ridge Mountain retreat.
All gingerbread pieces will be displayed at the Omni Grove Park Inn from Nov. 25 to Jan. 4.
