6th Annual • December 2026
Gingerbread House Contest
Stroll downtown, find the gingerbread houses, and vote for your favorite, all while raising awareness of our mission of safe and stable homes for our neighbors.
How to vote
Find the houses
Use the map to visit any of the downtown host sites, Dec 5–20.
Note your favorite
Cast your vote
Winners announced live on YouTube and social media, [date and time]. Watch here
Host Sites
- The Aroma Labs
- Bimbo’s Pizza
- The Black Arts & Cultural Center
- Earthly Delights at Amy Zane
- Gazelle Sports
- The Spirit of Kalamazoo
- Uncle Buddy’s Toy Stash
- Rocket Fizz
- Discover Kalamazoo
- The Station
- The Epic Center
- Colors & Cocktails
- Cherri’s Chocol’art
- MRC Artworks
- Kzoo in the Mitten
- Honor Credit Union
- Spice and Tea Merchants
- Pop City Popcorn
- Kalamazoo Public Library
- The Radisson
- 1st Source Bank
- Kalamazoo Climate Crisis Coalition
- Abonmarche Byce
- Kalamazoo Candle Company/Zero
- Climb Kalamazoo
- Bee Joyful
- HighDive Kitchen + Bar
2026 Builders
- The Kalamazoo House Bed & Breakfast
- MRC Artworks
- Kzoo in the Mitten
- CARE Collective
- The Kalamazoo Promise
- Paul Marquardt
- KVCC Culinary Students
- Brandon Mendoza (The Morning Dish inside The Radisson)
- Advia Credit Union
- WMU Dining Services
- Kalamazoo Counseling and Wellness
- 1st Source Bank
- Inform Architecture
- Atlas Counseling and
Psychotherapy Services - Kalamazoo College Advancement and Parkhurst Dining
- Kalamazoo Climate Crisis Coalition
- Tom and Sandy George
- WMU Government Relationships and External Partnerships
- Brianna LaBelle-Hahn & Jordan Uhlian
- Disability Network
- Kzoom
- HighDive Kitchen + Bar
- Kzoo Cream
- Kalamazoo County MDHHS Foster Care Home Licensing
- Duncan Aviation
- WMU Libraries
- Julie Harlan/ Jaqua
- The Rackley Family
2026 Local Celebrity Judges
Nancy Loftis
Advia Credit Union
Clarence
Lloyd
Soutwest Michigan First Chamber
Hon. Jen Strebs
Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners
Michelle Pittel
Consumers Energy Helping Neighbors Program
Jay
Morris
Midwest Communications
Have a question about Homes for the Holidays?
Judges’ Choice Professional
Judges’ Choice
Amateur
Iconic Structure
Pop Culture
Imagine Kalamazoo
Fantasy
People's Choice
1st place
People's Choice
2nd Place
People's Choice
3rd Place
Award Categories
- Judges’ Choice Professional
- Judges’ Choice Amateur
- Iconic Structure of Kalamazoo
- Pop Culture
- Imagine Kalamazoo
- Fantasy
You decide the rest. The three entries with the most public votes take home People’s Choice first, second, and third place.
Past Winners
2025 Winners
Professional Builder Entry
Brendon Mendoza from
The Morning Dish
Radisson Plaza Hotel
Amateur Builder Entry
Inform Architecture, displayed at Gazelle Sports
Iconic Structure
Kalamazoo College, displayed at Kalamazoo Candle Co.
Pop Culture
Tom George, MD displayed at Aroma Labs
Fantasy
MRC Artworks, displayed at MRC Artworks
Imagine
Kalamazoo Climate Crisis Coalition, displayed at KCCC
People's Choice 1st
Brendon Mendoza from
The Morning Dish
Radisson Plaza Hotel
People's Choice 2nd
Disability Network of Southwest Michigan, displayed at the Epic Center
People's Choice 3rd
Advia Credit Union, displayed at Colors & Cocktails
2024 Winners
Professional Builder Entry
Brendon Mendoza from
The Morning Dish
Radisson Plaza Hotel
Amateur Builder Entry
Kalamazoo Counseling & Wellness
The KalamaZOO
Iconic Structure
WMU’s Office of University Advancement
WMU Heritage Hall
Pop Culture
Sandy and Tom GeorgeÂ
Noah’s Ark Scene
Fantasy
HighDive Kitchen + Bar
Interior Bar Scene
People's Choice 1st
Brendon Mendoza from
The Morning Dish
Radisson Plaza Hotel
People's Choice 2nd
Erin Schultz from Schultz’s Treat Street/Schultz Sweets
Lighthouse
People's Choice 3rd - Tie
Advia Credit Union
Wintery Village Scene
People's Choice 3rd - Tie
WMU Dining Services
Interior Bakery Scene
Thank you to our 2025 sponsors
Presenting
Santa
Elves
Rudolph
Adopt-a-Home
Sponsor the sweetest event on the block.
