Is It Too Early to Start Thinking About Christmas?

Only 24 weeks until Christmas... 

For The Omni Grove Park Inn, it is never too early to start preparing for the holiday season—especially given their Annual Gingerbread House Competition. What began as an intimate, innocent activity by Omni community members in 1992 has since evolved into a full-fledged competition with judges, a 10-foot gingerbread house and competitors traveling from around the nation to partake.

"The Omni Grove Park Inn is a Christmas destination," says Tracey Johnston-Crum, Director of PR and Community Outreach at Omni. 

This year marks the 27th Annual National Gingerbread House Competition, and as the team gears up to host the ceremony on November 18, Johnston-Crum shares what it’s like to start preparing for the gingerbread house months in advance (basically a year in advance!) and why now, in the heat of summer, is the right time to make sure everything is on track for this year’s celebrations… 

Tell me about the Omni Grove Park Inn gingerbread house extravaganza.

It all began with a small group of gingerbread houses built by community members in 1992 as another way to celebrate the holiday season with no plans to continue the following year. Several weeks into the display a guest asked which of the beautiful gingerbread houses was the winner. A panel of judges was amassed. A winner chosen and that was it. There was no possible way to know that 27 years later The Omni Grove Park Inn National Gingerbread House Competition would be one of the nation’s most celebrated and competitive holiday events.
 

I was told you've already started preparation for this year's gingerbread house competition, when exactly did you start?

We start planning next year’s event as soon as the last entry leaves and the display comes down. Essentially, it starts over again the beginning of the second week of each January.

How do you begin? What are the first steps in prep?

We set the date for the next year’s event prior to the current year’s event taking place. Our competitors want and need to know the date of the next competition before they leave the awards ceremony. They are already planning on redemption or holding on to the title. However, once the display comes down that first week of January, we start evaluating the successes of the event and what opportunities we have to improve it for the upcoming year. 
 

How about the days leading up to the festive season, what do those look like?

We work to have everything in place, collateral, signs, numbers, tables, linens, the stage, the décor, the triage unit, you name it, two days prior to drop off. There are always issues that arise and we want to be able to manage those with our full attention.

What does this event mean to property?

This event has become a signature for the Inn. Competitors have become like family, to us and to each other. They drive in from all over North America. Stressing over each bump and short stop. However, once they place their entry safely inside the ballroom, they relax for the evening. They enjoy a competitor welcome party and reconnect with fellow competitors to celebrate the culmination of all their hard work and the joy of the season.

The judges have become friends with one another, as well, and join us days in advance to spend some time together, talk shop, and relax before the big day of judging.

All in all, the National Gingerbread House Competition is the true kick off to the holidays here at the Inn.

What are you most excited about for the event this year?

Last year two of the top three adult winners were first time entrants. That has never happened before. We couldn’t be more excited to see which of our experienced competitors come back to try and dethrone these newer winners. It will be great fun to watch.

Is there anything else that the property does to celebrate Christmas or other holidays?

The Omni Grove Park Inn is a Christmas destination. The Inn is fully decorated with a vast array of decorations and countless themed trees. Carolers arrive daily and even the staff gets into the act presenting holiday music for local school children when they come up to view the gingerbread display. During the holiday week you will take part in a yule log ceremony, enjoy sumptuous holiday buffets and banquets, and of course you won’t want to miss a house made hot chocolate served from The Great Gingerbread House, a 10.5 x 10.5-foot edible structure built by our pastry team, as you sit in a rocking chair by one of the two 36-foot-wide fireplaces.

For us each holiday is special but Christmas is very much who we are.

Xo,
J