The Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa Announces the Return of the National Gingerbread House Competition
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (July 15, 2025) — Holiday magic is coming back to the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa’s highly anticipated 2025 National Gingerbread House Competition, the largest and grandest gingerbread house display in the nation, will take place on November 17. This year’s competition marks a poignant return, standing as a powerful symbol of Asheville’s resilience and community strength in the wake of Hurricane Helene in 2024.
“Following the unforeseen impact of Hurricane Helene, The Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa is overjoyed to welcome back the National Gingerbread House Competition,” said Bethany Cobb, Director of Marketing at The Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa. “For over three decades, this beloved tradition has filled our halls with creativity, holiday magic, and heartfelt craftsmanship, and we are thrilled to see the competition’s strong and triumphant return.”
Founded in 1992 with a handful of community entries, the National Gingerbread House Competition has grown into a premier event, attracting elite pastry artists, culinary visionaries, and enthusiastic hobbyists alike. The grandeur of the event has been spotlighted by major networks such as NBC’s TODAY Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, The Food Network, and The Travel Channel. It is renowned for its high level of competition and rigorous judging criteria, led by an esteemed panel of diverse judges comprised of professionals from the culinary and media industries.
The National Gingerbread House Competition registration will be open from July 25, 2025 through November 10, 2025. The competition will be held on Monday, November 17, 2025, with an awards ceremony following in the Grand Ballroom. Judging is closed to the public. The awards ceremony is reserved for contestants and their families only. The official Gingerbread display at the hotel begins on November 18, 2025 and will continue through January 4, 2026.
All competition entries will be showcased exclusively at The Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa — and guests are invited to plan their holiday getaway around this magical experience, where each creation is a stunning testament to the talent and imagination of competitors.
During the holiday season, from October to December, The Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa supports local nonprofit organizations in Buncombe County, North Carolina, by donating a portion of its parking proceeds. Since launching the program in 2013, the hotel has contributed over $1.1 million through this spirited initiative.
Additionally, The Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa is bringing a touch of holiday magic to summer with its “Gingerbread in July” offer, running from June 30 through July 31. Guests can enjoy 15% off accommodations along with a festive selection of treats and perks, including a classic gingerbread cookie, a sweet treat from Marketplace, a keepsake ornament, daily access to The Morning Table Buffet at Blue Ridge—each provided per registered guest—as well as complimentary parking for one vehicle per room per night. Booking the “Gingerbread in July” package is the perfect way to get a head start on holiday cheer this summer.
High-res imagery and b-roll from the 2023 competition can be found here.
For more details on the 2025 National Gingerbread House Competition, visit the website here. To make a reservation at The Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa, call (800) 438-5800 or visit the website here.
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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, guest rooms 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 accommodation, 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 hotels and resorts in the most popular leisure and business destinations across the United States, as well as in Canada. With 26 iconic golf courses, including multiple short courses, 25 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 of America. For information or to book accommodation, visit omnihotels.com or call 1-800-The-Omni.