Gumdrop walkways and icing icicles are the hallmarks of a good gingerbread house and Asheville knows why. Our fair city is the home of an American tradition: the National Gingerbread Competition. Every year, gingerbread artists (yes, there is such a medium) send their best cottages and castles to The Grove Park Inn for this national competition.
There are two opportunities for the public to view the entries. The Grove Park Inn, 290 Macon Ave., will display submissions Mondays through Thursdays, 8 a.m.-11 p.m., until Wednesday, Jan. 2. There is a $10-$15 parking fee and the inn is not open to the public on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. www.groveparkinn.com
Combine the gingerbread homes with a local shopping experience at The Grove Arcade, 1 Page Ave., in downtown Asheville. Shops will be open and the arcade will be decorated in a winter wonderland theme Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. It’s free to view the entries and stroll through the arcade’s stores. The display will be up through Wednesday, Jan. 2. www.grovearcade.com
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