Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Both the LaGrange Public Library and the Hogansville Public Library are set to host gingerbread house contests to celebrate the holiday season.

This year will be the third year that Hogansville has held the annual contest. LaGrange is trying out the event for the first time this holiday season. Both contests start on Dec. 1 with a deadline for entries on Dec. 20.

Troup-Harris Regional Library Youth Services Coordinator Crystal Blacquiere said the event is a fun activity for families that also brings people out to the library

“It’s just something fun for families to do at home together, and then be able to come and share it with us,” Blacquiere said.

Winners will be picked based on voting from the public.

“We’re going to put them on social media as well and post pictures. People can vote in the library or they can vote online,” Blacquiere said. “It’s just a nice way to kind of show their creativity.”

The Hogansville contest will be open to anyone, but LaGrange will just be for kids due to their limited spacing at the temporary location.

“In Hogansville, we’re doing it for all ages. In the past, they’ve had some adults participate too, which is kind of fun. Adults don’t always get an opportunity to do something fun like that,” she said.

For the Hogansville contest, winners will be chosen from among toddlers, kids, teens and adults. Entries in LaGrange will be grouped by kids under five and 6-12 years old. Festive prizes will be awarded to each age group

Blacquiere said contestants can use any materials they want to build the houses. They don’t have to be edible.

“It can be edible houses or nonedible. They can make it out of anything they want, any materials they can come up with, like glue or whatever. Glue popsicle sticks, things they found outside. Anything, paper, cardboard, anything that they can come up with.”

Blacquiere said pre-made kits that people buy from the store are also okay.

“It gives them an opportunity to just kind of use their imagination,” she said.

Gingerbread house contest entries need to be dropped off at either the Hogansville Library at 310 Johnson St. in Hogansville or the LaGrange Memorial Library at their temporary location in the former Unity School at 525 Park Ave. in LaGrange.

The gingerbread houses need to be received by Dec. 20 at either library.