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This Victorian gingerbread house took first place in this year's competition at University Place.

Courtesy University Place

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This gingerbread replica of the house from "Home Alone" placed second in the University Place's Gingerbread House Competition.

Courtesy University Place

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The third-place winner in the University Place Gingerbread House Competition.

Courtesy University Place

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This large and intricate Japanese-styled house is part of University Place's Gingerbread House Competition.

Courtesy University Place

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This gingerbread Nativity scene is one of the entries in the University Place Gingerbread House Competition.

Courtesy University Place

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This Christmas carousel in gingerbread and sugar received an honorable mention in University Place's Gingerbread House Competition.

Courtesy University Place

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One of the honorable mention gingerbread homes in the University Place Competition.

Courtesy University Place

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One of the many honorable mention honorees in University Place's Gingerbread House Competition.

Courtesy University Place

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The number of gingerbread homes in University Place’s annual competition has grown and the houses have become more intricate over the past five years.

“The first year we had 11 entries and this year we had 41 entries,” said Jeff Mower, event planner for University Place in Orem.

“Not only has the number of houses increased each year, the quality of the gingerbread house entries has increased as well,” Mower added. “In fact, this year the judges said it was hard to judge because there was not a clear first place choice. This year, we have even increased the number of prizes and added the honorable mention categories to allow more participants a chance to win as they spend countless hours, weeks and even months to put these together.”

The submissions include everything from Ralphie’s house from the movie “A Christmas Story” to “Home Alone” and those two Keystone Cop-styled robbers. From Neflix’s “Stranger Things,” you have a home that leaves you in the Upside Down, or you can spend time finding hidden Christmas icons on another home.

The large Victorian masterpieces and the detail to design both inside and outside the homes are more art than gingerbread.

“Many of the comments that we have received are those coming to look at the homes saying that they are unbelievable and amazingly well done,” Mower said. “The public loves to see the detail and the creativity in each gingerbread house.”

Each house takes a different amount of time to complete, ranging from a couple of weeks to months. For example, a participant who created a Japanese house entry mentioned that they had been working on it for three months, Mower noted.

The awards, their winners and prizes include:

• First place — Dawna Whitehead, $1,500
• Second place — Delcie Barnes, $500
• Third place — Becky Caldwell, $250

Honorable mentions:

• Most Holiday Spirit/Festive — Monica Mayen
• Best Theme — Brandon Wall
• Most Unique Use of Candy — Hayley Hortin
• Most Unique Structure — Kimberli Cisneros
• Best Use of Space Around the House — Krista Johansen

The last day for the display is Monday, and it is open during shopping center hours from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. inside an empty store next to Maurices. Mower added you cannot readily buy the gingerbread houses. That is up to the baker to determine if they want to do that or not after the competition.

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