A city skyline with tall skyscrapers and a curved bridge in the foreground, depicted in shades of gold.
Gingerbread Wonderland Twin Cities logo with decorative heart and swirl accents on a black background.

Norway House’s

Saturday, November 21st - Thursday, January 7th

  • A Christmas-themed gingerbread display with trees, snow, a star, and a small boat labeled 'Dame Ocrazy' with gingerbread cookies.
  • Gingerbread house decorated with icing, candy, and gumdrops, surrounded by small trees, with a vintage red toy truck nearby, on a snowy display.
  • Gingerbread house decorated with colorful candies, with a Peanuts character Snoopy on top, set against a snowy mountain backdrop.
  • Gingerbread house decorated for Christmas with a snowy landscape and miniature trees in the background.
  • Miniature model of a farm stand labeled 'Poppy Acre Farmstand' with a pumpkin decoration and small pumpkins inside, set on a snowy surface with other small models nearby.
  • Gingerbread house decorated for Christmas, with a ladder, trees, and other festive decorations, set on a snowy scene.
  • Gingerbread house on a snowy surface, decorated with colorful candies, candy canes, and icing, with a small tree and wooden fence in front and a wooden bridge in the background.
  • Decorated gingerbread houses with Christmas theme, surrounded by small artificial snow-covered trees, with train cars in the background. The gingerbread houses have colorful icing and festive decorations.
  • Gingerbread display of a ship with white icing and red decorations, surrounded by snow-covered trees and miniature gingerbread pieces, in a winter scene.
  • Decorated gingerbread house with a stove and gingerbread figures, surrounded by winter-themed decorations including a snow-covered landscape, snow man, and holiday ornaments.

WONDERLAND QUICK LINKS

Gold-colored package with a label that appears to contain the word 'Prescription' and a blue stripe on the right side

Classic Recipes

Icon of a webpage with a checkmark in a circle

Register Your Build

Golden house icon with a chimney and front door.

Design Templates

Flyer announcing Community Gingerbread House Building Days in Minneapolis, funded by the Arts & Cultural Affairs Department.

Norway House has been awarded a Cultural Districts Arts Fund Award from the City of Minneapolis.  This award is meant to incentivize temporary new and innovative projects/activities to leverage the unique and specialized skills and creative ambition of local creatives/artists to enhance community-building.  There are 7 unique cultural corridors in Minneapolis that receive support.

The Ventura Village Neighborhood Association
Norway House is located in the Ventura Village neighborhood.  In the neighborhood's effort to engage with residents and community partners they support programming throughout the community such as youth activities in the parks and programs at the Franklin Library. Gingerbread Wonderland brings a lively holiday tradition to the residents to Ventura Village. 

Ventura Village logo
A digital illustration of a gold trophy with a stylized star at the top and the number 1 on it.

Calling all Bakers!

Gingerbread Wonderland is for every baker, young and old, novice to expert. Norwegian heritage and experience NOT required!

Over the years, Gingerbread Wonderland has hosted more than 2,200 charming gingerbread creations — gingerbread houses, castles, Minnesota landmarks, Pop Culture inspired constructions, and so much more — produced by both professional and amateur bakers from around town to across the globe.

To be recognized by our Celebrity Judges your piece should be completely edible (except for lighting) and at least 75% gingerbread. Those with non-edible components are still eligible for the People's Choice award.

Judging by local celebrities will happen on November 20th, the day before the exhibit opens, with winners announced on opening day. Those awards will be given for:

A Village… that Takes a Village

2026/2027 CATEGORIES:

Judging by local celebrities will happen on November 20th, the day before the exhibit opens, with winners announced on opening day. Those awards will be given for:

Youth Categories

• Best Emerging Baker (Ages 3-7 years)

• Best Youth Baker (Ages 8–12 years)

• Best Youth Baker (Ages 13–17 years)

Adult Categories

• Best at Telling a Story

• Best International Themed Entry

• Best Minnesota Themed Entry

• Best Classic Gingerbread House

• Best Pop Culture Themed Entry

People's Choice voting will happen throughout the run of the exhibit with winners announced on Christmas Eve. 

JUDGING CRITERIA AND SCORING
The categories mentioned above will be judged across four different criteria:

  1. Connection to Theme: Evaluates how well the structure embodies and communicates the intended theme. Judges consider symbolic elements, integration of theme-related details, and how clearly the concept comes through.

  2. Creativity & Originality: Measures the uniqueness of the structure’s design, style, and decoration. Points are awarded for innovative ideas and fresh approaches.

  3. Craftsmanship & Construction: Assesses the technical skill, quality, and execution of the build. Attention to detail, sturdiness, and overall finish are considered. Clean, precise, and intentional work will score highly.

  4. Presentation & Storytelling: Focuses on the visual impact and the narrative behind the structure. This includes the way the piece is displayed, the clarity of its story, and how effectively it engages the viewer.

Up to (5) points can be awarded in each category, up to a max-score of (20) points. Judges will score individually and then compare and total scores. Highest number of points will be the winner in each category.

Children admiring a detailed gingerbread village display at a holiday event, with miniature decorated houses, a train track, and festive lights, in a room decorated with snow and Christmas trees.

See the Magic!

Closed Monday
Tuesday: 12pm-5pm
Wednesday: 10am-5pm
Thursday: 10am-8 pm
Friday: 10am-5pm
Saturday: 10am-5pm
Sunday: 12pm-5pm

Exhibit Hours:

Holiday Closures:

Thanksgiving: Thursday, November 26, 2026
Christmas Eve: Thursday, December 24, 2026
Christmas Day: Friday, December 25, 2026
New Year’s Day: Friday, January 1, 2027

Norway House invites you to celebrate 10 years of our beloved community-curated gingerbread town. Inspired by the world’s largest gingerbread village — “Pepperkakebyen” in Bergen, Norway — our own festive Gingerbread Wonderland has been delighting the Twin Cities annually since 2015.

This year’s gingerbread season promises to be extra spectacular as we build upon the incredible community display you’ve come to love with new attractions, classes and more!

The 2026 Season is almost here!

Gallery of Wonder

  • Gingerbread house decorated with assorted candies, cookies, and icing, featuring a sign that says 'Gingerbread' above the door, situated on a white surface with other decorated gingerbread creations nearby.

    Best Adult

    Gingerbread Cafe by Katherine Goertz

  • Gingerbread house decorated with colorful candies and sprinkles, displayed on a table in a festive setting.

    Best Community Build

    Pretzel House by Vivian Chow

  • Model miniature of European town scene with bakery, pizzeria, and colorful buildings, set on a white surface with Christmas lights and snowy mountain backdrop.

    Best International & People's Choice

    Cats of Paris by Joan Moser and Karen Nejedley

  • A detailed gingerbread train station with a roof decorated with colorful sprinkles, surrounded by smaller gingerbread houses, trees, and holiday figurines displayed on a tabletop with a train track running underneath.

    Best Minnesota

    James J Hill Historic Wayzata Train Depot by Susan Droegemueller

  • Miniature model of a cozy mountain cabin with a stone chimney, a small wooden staircase, a figure holding a sign with the number 156, surrounded by pine trees and a model train track in the background, decorated with holiday lights.

    Most Original Concept

    The Seven Dwarves Mine by Woodward Burdge Family

  • Christmas-themed gingerbread display with a gingerbread house, mini snowmen, and festive decorations, set on a table with a model train track around it.

    Best Youth

    NFL Snack Shack by Bryce Denzer

  • Colorful gingerbread house decorated for Christmas with elves, candy canes, and colorful candy on the roof, with a sign that says "ELF Dormitory" in front.

    Best Teen

    Elf Dormitory by Ellie Beek

  • A Christmas gingerbread village scene with decorated gingerbread houses, gingerbread people, and candy decorations on a snowy base with street signs and a Christmas tree, set on a table with festive background lights.

    People's Choice (youth)

    Camp Birkebunner by Elizabeth Hilton, Isla Kim, and Buoy Larsen

Step into last year’s gingerbread village to experience the magic of a delectable town built from scratch by bakers of all ages, abilities and backgrounds!