Christmastime in Asheville is magical. Every year, as part of our winter traditions, Tom and I attend The Omni Grove Park Inn’s Annual National Gingerbread House Competition. Discover all that you need to know, including where to eat and shop. Beat the crowds, meet their famous ghost, and enjoy seasonal beverages by the blazing fireplaces. Did I mention breathtaking sunsets, too?
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📸 All photos are our own, starting from when we moved here in 2019. 💙 Christine of Uncorked Asheville
🏠 National Gingerbread House Competition 2026 at a Glance: Dates, Parking Rates, Address, & Insider Tips
If you are in a hurry, find dates, parking info, and more. Visiting the Grove Park Inn makes for a great indoor activity.
2026 Gingerbread House Viewing Hours & Restrictions
- Sundays: After 6 PM
- Monday – Thursday: Anytime during regular resort hours
- Friday & Saturday: Reserved for registered resort guests and those with confirmed dining reservations
- Closed to the Public: Holidays and November 26, December 6, 23, 24, 25, 26, 30, 31, and January 1
Best Time To Visit
The best time to visit the National Gingerbread House Competition is on a weekday morning, either when public viewing opens in November or immediately following Thanksgiving. The event gets much busier around Christmas week, and if the hotel hits parking and visitor capacity, they may turn you away.
🍪 5 Things To Do At The National Gingerbread House Competition
This is how Tom and I typically spend a day at The Omni Grove Park Inn in the winter.
PS. If you are looking for similar events to enjoy afterward, head to 🎄 The NC Arboretum’s Winter Lights and 🕯️ Christmas at the historic Biltmore Estate.
1. See the gingerbread house displays
A holiday tradition in Asheville since 1992, the gingerbread houses at the Grove Park Inn are a “must” Asheville activity. The event kicks off with a nationally renowned competition among gingerbread makers, young and old, competing in categories for cash prizes.
These structures aren’t your average gingerbread houses. Find violin, dragon, and castle gingerbread creations along with iconic characters, stories, and more. The only rule: Each gingerbread display must be made of at least 75% gingerbread. We’ve never seen anything like it.
Where To Find The Displays At The Omni Grove Park Inn
You’ll find three main display areas:
- In the hallway left of Edison (the restaurant)
- To the right of the lobby in front of The Marketplace, starting with that year’s winner
- Down the elevator/stairs at Level 7
Plan Your Magical Adventure: Our Free Asheville Guide + Bucket List
2. Dine on the property
While there are multiple on-site restaurants, we prefer Edison, which serves American and regional cuisine. Think seasonal craft cocktails with pasta, fish and chips, salads, burgers, and apps.
Edison also has gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountain views. We bring all of our out-of-town guests here for the “wow” factor. Make reservations on OpenTable.
More About Grove Park Inn Dining
✨ Insider Tip: The Great Hall Bar is perfect for lighter snacks, charcuterie, and cocktails. If it is nice outside, head to the second, lower-level patio seating. Sunset Terrace, their fancier rooftop dining option, is located before you walk down the stairs outside.
3. Grab coffee or drinks by the fire
Visit the Great Gingerbread House, which serves up non-alcoholic and boozy hot chocolate. The structure, a life-sized model of the Grove Park Inn, takes 25+ days to complete, with 64 pounds of egg whites and 400 pounds of powdered sugar.
Our Favorite Winter Grove Park Inn Libations
☕️ Since Tom and I are both lactose-intolerant—and awaiting vegan hot cocoa options (cough, cough)—we order craft cocktails and wine from The Great Hall Bar or coffee at The Omni’s Marketplace. Then, we hunker down in front of the floor-to-ceiling fireplaces in the lobby.
🥃 Edison also serves delicious seasonally flavored drinks, such as gingerbread beer in collaboration with Highland Brewing (one of the best and oldest area breweries) and s’mores-like Old Fashioneds…
4. Shop for gifts and local treats
While in The Marketplace, dip into The Pink Pig and Emporium 1913 for gifts, apparel, local snacks, regional beverages, and more. We own a s’mores ornament from The Pink Pig as well as Asheville shirts with mountains and bears from its neighboring shop.
We also enjoy the Sammons Wing Promenade stores. We’ve purchased hiking ornaments and even Patagonia winter coats at the N.O.C. Asheville Basecamp. Gallery of the Mountains promises handcrafted jewelry and home decor from local artists.
5. Catch a Blue Ridge Mountain sunset
Before moving to Asheville, everyone told us we had to see a famous Grove Park Inn sunset. The sunsets are incredible, especially in October through December.
Whether dining at Edison, Sunset Terrace, the Great Hall bar, or heading outside to the patio, be sure to watch the sunset over Downtown Asheville, Mount Pisgah, and the Blue Ridge Mountains. It’s one of the most romantic things to do in the city.
🏨 Gingerbread Event Accessibility & Who It’s Best For
Audience: The entire family will enjoy the Grove Park Inn gingerbread houses, along with couples, solo travelers, and older visitors. We see people plan their family reunions and getaways here, including romantic overnights and holiday getaways. The Grove Park Inn isn’t a bad, classy Bachelor/Bachelorette option.
Accessibility: The Omni Grove Park Inn has accessible entrances and rooms, elevators with Braille, and accessible routes from the main entrance to the front desk and restaurants. Accessible self-parking spaces are available. Service animals are welcome for guests with disabilities. Read more property details.
👻 Grove Park Inn History, Famous Guests, & The Pink Lady Ghost
A destination for the wealthy to relax and recover in the clean mountain air, the Grove Park Inn opened on July 12, 1913. With the help of Fred Seely, Edwin Wiley Grove—known for Grove’s Tasteless Chill Tonic, quinine to prevent malaria—the two created what is now Asheville’s finest historic resort.
Former U.S. Presidents like Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Dwight D. Eisenhower stayed here, along with famous writer F. Scott Fitzgerald. Tiger Woods, The Beatles, and Thomas Edison are just a few more notable names.
👻 While here, maybe you’ll see The Pink Lady (and her dress), the Grove Park Inn’s resident ghost. You might even consider a guided Downtown Asheville ghost tour or a popular e-bike tour that stops at the Grove Park Inn.
A few interesting articles on the history of the Grove Park Inn include:
- “The Most Famous Hotel In North Carolina Is Also One Of The Most Historic Places You’ll Ever Sleep” on Only In Your State
- “Did You Know They Stayed at an Omni?” on The Omni Hotels & Resorts Blog
- “The Grove Park Inn and Its Host of Prominent Guests” on the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
🎄 After The Gingerbread, More Holiday Things To Do In Asheville
🎅🏼 See More Sparkling Holiday Light Displays
🥾 Our Top WNC Winter Hikes
📆 Asheville Events Calendar
🏰 Asheville’s Top Visitor Attractions