San Diego Gingerbread City Gala

December 6, 2023, 5 p.m.

 The 2023 theme is The Magic of Cirque, celebrating the event's 30th year!

San Diego Natural History Museum
1788 El Prado
Balboa Park
San Diego, CA
$50-1000, epilepsysandiego.org

A spectacular epilepsy awareness event to support the programs and services provided to individuals with seizure disorders by the Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County. This holiday gala for charity features celebrity chefs, complimentary champagne and wine, holiday music, exciting auctions and the largest nationally recognized gingerbread structure competition on the West Coast showcasing creations by San Diego’s leading chefs, artists and designers.

The Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County annual event is a unique annual gathering to raise money for a special cause. This particular holiday tradition has become well known for the quality of its "art". Gingerbread structures are designed and built in a competition known as Gingerbread City. Held annually in San Diego for The Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County, the event showcases some of the most unique, fun and fanciful gingerbread houses, cities and storybook scenes you will ever see.

Gingerbread City Gala San Diego's annual holiday epilepsy awareness event: this spectacular charity gala features celebrity chefs, complimentary champagnes and wines, holiday music, auctions and the largest nationally recognized gingerbread structure competition on the West Coast showcasing creations by San Diego's leading chefs, artists and designers.

The Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego  Gingerbread City Gala and Gingerbread Structure Competition.

Petite Traditional Category:
Structure must be comprised of mainly gingerbread (at least 70% visible), with the remaining materials comprised of other edible materials
Prevent structure collapse!!! The frame (base, reinforcements, etc.) may be made of non-edible materials
Entire structure must be covered in edible materials *Decorations may include lights and small motors, but ALL other decoration must be of edible materials
Structure base may not exceed 20”x20”; no height restrictions
Structure should convey a period Somewhere in Time (past, present, future)
Please use preservatives. Structures are for display purposes Grand Confectionary Category:
Structure must be comprised mainly of gingerbread (at least 20% visible from exterior façade), with the remaining materials comprised of other edible confectionary materials, such as pastillage, gum paste, marzipan, and rolled fondant.
Prevent structure collapse!!! The frame (base, reinforcements, etc.) may be made of non-edible materials
Entire structure must be covered in edible materials *Decorations may include lights and small motors, but ALL other decoration must be of edible materials
Structure base may not exceed 3.25'(39”)x5'; no height restrictions
Structure should convey a period Somewhere in Time (past, present, future)
Please use preservatives.

Structures will be judged using a standard 5 point scale, based on the following criteria: Petite Traditional
Use of gingerbread
Artistic use of color
Overall design/appearance
Precision
Creative interpretation of the theme
Degree of difficulty Grand Confectionary
Creative use of edible media
Artistic use of color
Overall design/appearance
Precision
Creative interpretation of the theme
Degree of difficulty

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.