Event Location

Rome Commons Ballroom

Competition Day Schedule

Teams

• 25 teams will compete. Teams will be selected via a lottery.
• One team per unit/department.
• Teams are to consist of five faculty/staff members from a department or unit. Departments can combine to create a team. No undergraduate or graduate students, please.
• The team member roster must be submitted to University Events and Conference Services by Wednesday, November 27, 2024.
• Team members do not need to individually RSVP to the event.
• Teams are welcome to attend in festive attire and costumes. We love your creativity!

Theme

Country Western!

Show us your team's most creative and clever take on our country western theme. Bring on plaid shirts, horses, western boots and hats, and all things home on the range. Will your house be a mash up and incorporate a UConn twist? The house is not required to have a holiday theme.  The possibilities are endless, and we look forward to seeing your team's creative take on this year's country western theme!

The Competition

• Teams will be provided with a gingerbread house and a bin containing frosting and decorative supplies. Teams may only use the supply bin contents to decorate their gingerbread houses.
• Teams will be allotted one hour to decorate.
• Team members will be provided with disposable aprons.
• Teams will be required to participate in three challenges during the course of the competition. Each challenge will require at least one team member to participate. Past examples include, walking a specified distance with a book balanced on head, trivia quizzes, etc.
• Teams should be prepared for a few twists, turns, and surprises!

WHAT TO BRING

• Creativity and good cheer.
• Festive attire and costumes.
• Each team member may bring one kitchen utensil/tool. Examples of utensils are: sharp knife, scissors, rolling pin, spatula, etc.  These items will not be provided. Visit the competition FAQ page to learn more.
• Decorating plans and blueprints will be allowed.
• One small fan or hairdryer per team may be brought in to aid the frosting drying process. We can not guarantee access to electrical outlets.
• Your colleagues!  Encourage your colleagues and friends from across campus to join the celebration. They can vote for your team's creation!

WHAT NOT TO BRING OR USE

• Outside candy or decorations.
• Power tools (i.e. drill).
• Toothpicks.
• Non candy items found on table that are not intended for decorating the houses (i.e. aluminum supply bin, water bottles, candy wrappers, etc.).
• Table cloths, decorations, small props.
• Confetti or glitter.
• Visit the competition FAQ page to learn more.

Judging and Voting

• President Maric and Provost D'Alleva will serve as the official judges. Each judge will award 25 and 15 points to their personal top two entries.
• The gingerbread houses must be decorated in a manner that embraces and communicates this year's country western theme. Teams are expected to be present at their tables when the judges visit to review.
• Teams must incorporate all three of the three mystery items supplied during the course of the competition. The items must be used constructively and be visible. Points will be deducted if a team does not do so.
• Each team will be allotted one voting ticket worth 5 points. This voting ticket may only be used to cast a vote for another team.
• Each individual attending the event will be allocated one vote to cast for their favorite entry.
• First and second prizes will be awarded to the two entries with the highest combined scores from the judges and the teams. In the event of a tie, those entries involved will be placed in a random drawing.
• A “People’s Choice Award” will also be presented. With the exception of the two teams receiving the judge’s awards, the team which receives the most individual votes from guests attending the event will receive a prize and bragging rights! In the event of a tie, those entries involved will be placed in a random drawing.
• Winners will be announced at the event.

Prizes

First Prize
TBD

Second Prize
TBD

People's Choice Prize
TBD

Houses Following the Event

Following the event each team will be responsible for taking their decorated house back to their department for display or for donating it to a charity.