Voting is open for the 12th Annual Kenai Chamber of Commerce Gingerbread House Contest. On Wednesday, there were 28 houses arrayed across a variety of age categories, and submissions will continue to be accepted until the competition ends Dec. 19.

Samantha Springer, executive director at the chamber, said the annual competition is always “so fun.” The contest kicks off chamber Christmastime festivities that will continue later this month with Christmas Comes to Kenai on Friday, Nov. 29.

“The kids, every time they come in with their little house, they’re so excited,” Springer said. “They tell you everything they did. It’s the best feeling, because they’re so proud of it.”

The submitted houses feature a variety of designs and sugary building blocks. There are fences made of pretzels, welcome signs engraved into Hershey’s chocolate, multiple marshmallow snowmen, and of course gingerbread-centric architecture.

“I love having them in here,” Springer said. “It’s a fun tradition that we just can’t stop.”

Now in its 12th year, the contest, Springer said, has become part of the holiday tradition. Dozens of gingerbread houses come through the chamber doors even without a ton of promotional effort. Springer said they newly decided to keep submissions open throughout the competition to ensure as many people as possible have the opportunity to share their work, though, of course, those buildings submitted later will have less time to gather votes.

Winners of the gingerbread contest will be announced on Dec. 20, the last day the Kenai Chamber of Commerce is open this year.

Christmas Comes to Kenai will be held Nov. 29, with Santa arriving at the Chamber of Commerce at 11 a.m. He and the Grinch will be available for photos, giving out goodie bags and hot cocoa until 4 p.m. The Electric Lights Parade will begin at 6 p.m. moving down Frontage Road to the Kenai Chamber of Commerce parking lot, where festivities will close out with fireworks at 7 p.m.

For more information about both events, find “Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center” on Facebook.

Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.

Gingerbread houses constructed by Odin, 11; Elaina, 9; and Ulysses, 11, are displayed in the Kenai Chamber of Commerce’s 12th Annual Gingerbread House Contest at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Gingerbread houses constructed by Ember, 6; Hogarth, 7; Chase, 8; and Gus, 7, are displayed in the Kenai Chamber of Commerce’s 12th Annual Gingerbread House Contest at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

A gingerbread house constructed by Isabelle, 5, is displayed in the Kenai Chamber of Commerce’s 12th Annual Gingerbread House Contest at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

A gingerbread house constructed by Cecelia, 17, is displayed in the Kenai Chamber of Commerce’s 12th Annual Gingerbread House Contest at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Gingerbread houses constructed by adults Michelle, Kira and Alanna are displayed in the Kenai Chamber of Commerce’s 12th Annual Gingerbread House Contest at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

A gingerbread house constructed by Sierra, 3, is displayed in the Kenai Chamber of Commerce’s 12th Annual Gingerbread House Contest at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)