Gingerbread House Show: A Prince George's Tradition

Every year, one of our family's favorite holiday traditions is a trip down the road to the Darnall's Chance historic home in Upper Marlboro. Every year, just for a few weekends, its rooms are filled with amazing gingerbread houses made by local folks. Noah's ark, Santa's workshop, even the Pentagon and Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater-- we have seen all of these rendered in gingerbread, and they are nothing less than enchanting.

Out front, the house is always decorated with giant candy canes and toy soldiers. We pay our $1 admission and step into the front room, which is reserved for houses made by grown-ups; in the back room are the submissions made by children. Little baskets filled with ballots sit on the tables, and my kids love to pick out their favorites in each category and vote for the "people's choice award." We take a photo of the kids in front of the beautiful tree in the front hall-- trimmed with ornaments shaped like candy, of course-- and head down to the basement to the gift shop, where the kids receive a complimentary little gingerbread man cookie. Because this is a historic home, you can walk around and view all the rooms if you like. It's a little dose of Prince George's history for the kids, wrapped up in a very tasty presentation.

I hope you enjoy the Gingerbread House Show as much as we do! It's such a fun "hometown" event, and a sweet little tradition for families. Click on the photo gallery to see our pictures from over the years. Hours this year: Friday, November 23-Sunday, November 25; Thursday, November 29-Sunday, December 2; and Thursday, December 6-Sunday, December  9, 12 noon-5 pm.