• FREE Admission ~ $5 parking fee charged by the Oregon State Fairgrounds
  • Door Prize Baskets ~ Santa's Village ~ Kids Activities
  • Pet Adoptions ~ 10th Annual Gingerbread House Contest
  • 9th Annual Tree Decorating Contest​

Guest parking behind Jackman Long & Columbia Hall buildings... entrance off of Sunnyview OR 17th Street

ELIGIBILITY                           
  • All ages are encouraged to submit an entry. This year we will have 2 categories, one for 13 years and under and one for 13 years and above, all ages are welcome. 
 
CONTEST TIMELINE
  • Thursday December 11th, 2025- Drop off Gingerbread Houses between 2 pm – 7 pm to Salem Holiday Market at the Oregon State Fairgrounds in Columbia Hall Building
  • December 12th & 13th, 2025- Judging takes place by members of the public -- winners  will be contacted by 8 pm on Saturday.
  • December 14th, 2025- Winners pick up prize at Columbia Hall Information Booth & shop between 10 am – 4 pm. All entrants pick up Gingerbread Houses (if keeping) between 4:00 – 5:00pm
 
AWARDS
  • Overall winners will be announced and featured on the Salem Community Markets website
  • Top 3 winners will receive a CASH prize!
CRITERIA
  • There will be NO size limitation
  • All entries must be accompanied by entry form
  • Gingerbread House MUST be made of edible ingredients
  • Ballots will be distributed to market guests with program at each entrance
  • Must be labeled “FOR DISPLAY ONLY”
  
JUDGING CRITERIA
  • Holiday market guests will be voting by submitting a ballot. Holiday market committee members will count ballots to determine the top 3 winners
There is no cost to enter - we will provide the following:
  • One (1) Christmas tree approximately 5-7’ tall, with stand
  • Space for your tree in the Jackman Long Building
  • Trees will be displayed in main aisleways or all to see and vote on
  • Top 3 winners will receive a CASH prize!
CONTEST RULES:
  1. The event is limited to 1 entry per group/family.
  2. The submission of completed Official Entry Form is required (see button above), no later than December 5th, 2025. Incomplete or illegible entry forms will not be accepted. 
  3. You must provide all decorations for your tree. You are free to express your creativity and originality, but we ask that your tree represent your business, organization or family and be in good taste, suitable for display at a family event. Decorations should hang on the tree, not sit alongside the tree or be held up by any means other than the tree itself.  The Holiday Market reserves the right to remove any decorations not meeting this criterion.
  4. Any decorations can be used as long as they do not include electric parts. No lights may be used in tree decoration. (By order of the Fire Marshall).
  5. We will provide a sign, approximately 8 1/2" x 11" identifying the group or organization who decorated the tree. This sign will be suspended from the stand in front of the decorated tree.
  6. Donated decorations will be taken to a local non-profit organization.
  7. Most importantly... HAVE FUN!
 
DECORATING PROCEDURES:
  1. Trees will be available for decoration on Thursday, December 11th 2025 from 2 pm until 8 pm or Friday, December 12th from 10 am to 3 pm. All participants MUST decorate their tree within the given time frame. If assistance is needed, please see a staff member at one of the building Information Booths.
  2. All Trees will remain on display through the end of the Holiday Market on Sunday, December 14th 2025 at 4:00 p.m. 
  3. If you want to pick up your decorations please arrange a time to pick up at the fairgrounds between 4pm-6pm on Sunday December 14th or you may arrange a time to pick them up at the office on a later date (keep in mind we do not have full time staff during our off season so you will need to make an appointment before stopping by the office)
 
JUDGING:
  1. The public is invited to cast their vote for Best of Show from December 12th, 13th & 14th. 
  2. Each entry will be judged against all other entries and will be placed depending on the number of votes received. Votes may be cast by all customers and vendors attending the Holiday Market, except for members of the Holiday Market Committee and the Salem Saturday Market Board.
  3. Prizes will be announced on Sunday of the Holiday Market. Winners will also be notified by phone, text or e-mail. Winners, participants and/or images from the contest may be posted on the Salem Community Markets website or otherwise used in publicity or promotional materials concerning the Holiday Market Celebration.