The Omni Grove Park Inn’s National Gingerbread House display in Asheville is open to the public Nov 17, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027: Sundays after 6 p.m. and Monday to Thursday during regular resort hours. Friday and Saturday are reserved for resort guests and people with confirmed dining reservations, and the display is closed Nov 26, Dec 6, 23, 24, 25, 26, 30, 31 and Jan 1. Parking is $35 self-park or $45 valet. Everything below was read from the Omni Grove Park Inn’s own page on 2026-10-19.
When You Can See The Display
| Day | Public viewing |
|---|---|
| Sunday | Anytime after 6 p.m. |
| Monday to Thursday | Anytime during regular resort hours |
| Friday and Saturday | Registered resort guests and people with confirmed dining reservations only |
| Closed to the public | Nov 26, Dec 6, Dec 23, 24, 25, 26, 30, 31 and Jan 1 |
The display opens Tuesday, Nov 17, 2026 and runs through Sunday, Jan 3, 2027. The resort’s page does not state a viewing admission price. It lists parking fees only, so call (800) 438-5800 to confirm before you go.
Parking and Getting There
- Address: 290 Macon Avenue, Asheville, NC 28804. Phone (800) 438-5800; concierge (828) 398-3831.
- Parking rates, Oct 1, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027: self-park $35, valet $45, for day and overnight guests. There is no complimentary parking on the property this season.
- Buses, vans and oversized vehicles: groups must reserve in advance. Reservations are limited to one per day on select Monday to Thursday dates, with a 30-person maximum, and a request does not guarantee a space. Requests opened Aug 1, 2026. Vehicles may not drop guests off and park elsewhere; the vehicle must stay on the property for the visit.
- Where the parking money goes: the resort says its Holiday Parking Partners Program, started in 2013, has given more than $1.4 million to Western North Carolina non-profits.
The Competition Behind The Display
The display is the set of entries from the National Gingerbread House Competition, which began in 1992 as a small group of houses built by community members. In 2026 more than $40,000 in cash and prizes is on offer, and anyone age 5 or older can enter.
| Date | What happens | Open to the public? |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 9, 2026 | Entry form due (the piece does not have to be final) | Entrants only |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Registration day, child and youth divisions | Entrants only |
| Nov 15, 2026 | Registration day, teen and adult divisions | Entrants only |
| Nov 16, 2026 | Judging, then the awards ceremony | No: judging is closed to the public and the ceremony is for contestants and their families |
| Nov 17, 2026 | Public display opens | Yes, see hours above |
The 2026 judging panel is led by returning Head Judge John Cook and includes Jae Park, Yolanda Gampp, Steven Stellingwerf and Aaron Morgan, with Sasha Nary and Rabiha Sami joining this year.
See It Online: 12 Days of Gingerbread
From Dec 1 to Dec 12, 2026 the resort shows this year’s entries on its Facebook page (@omnigroveparkinn) and Instagram account (@omnigrovepark), a way to see them without the trip.
What The Page Does Not Say
The resort’s page does not state a viewing admission price, stroller or accessibility rules, or how long a visit usually takes. We have not guessed at any of them. For those, call the concierge at (828) 398-3831.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Omni Grove Park Inn gingerbread display open to the public in 2026?
Nov 17, 2026 through Jan 3, 2027: Sundays after 6 p.m. and Monday to Thursday during regular resort hours. It is closed Nov 26, Dec 6, 23, 24, 25, 26, 30, 31 and Jan 1.
Can you see the gingerbread houses on a Friday or Saturday?
Only if you are a registered resort guest or have a confirmed dining reservation. Fridays and Saturdays are not open to the general public.
How much does it cost to see the Omni gingerbread display?
The resort’s page lists no viewing admission price. It lists parking at $35 for self-park or $45 for valet, and says there is no complimentary parking on the property. Call (800) 438-5800 to confirm current costs.
Can the public watch the gingerbread competition judging?
No. Judging on Monday, Nov 16, 2026 is closed to the public, and the awards ceremony is for contestants and their families. The public display opens the next day.
Where do you park for the gingerbread display?
On the resort property: $35 self-park or $45 valet from Oct 1, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027. Groups arriving by bus, van or other oversized vehicle must reserve ahead.
Can I see the gingerbread houses without going to Asheville?
Yes. The resort posts this year’s entries on Facebook (@omnigroveparkinn) and Instagram (@omnigrovepark) as the 12 Days of Gingerbread, Dec 1 to Dec 12, 2026.
Can my family enter the National Gingerbread House Competition?
Anyone age 5 or older may enter. The entry form is due Nov 9, 2026, and finished houses are brought to the resort on Nov 14 (child and youth) or Nov 15 (teen and adult).
Sources
- The Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa, National Gingerbread House Competition and display, checked 2026-10-19
More Asheville holiday and live events: see the Asheville and Foothills events page and the Warren Haynes Presents Christmas Jam guide. For drive times to Asheville from five North Carolina cities, see drive times to 20 destinations.
Coming Up Near Asheville
- UNC Asheville Bulldogs Men's Basketball vs Western CarolinaNov 7 · Asheville
- Western Carolina Catamounts Football vs Wofford (Heroes Day / EBCI Day)Nov 7 · Cullowhee · about 40 mi
- Stephen Lynch: The Me TourNov 11 · Asheville
- Hudson Westbrook: The Hits Me TourNov 13 · Asheville
Places Nearby
- Blue Ridge ParkwayNPS unit · in Asheville
- Thomas Wolfe MemorialState historic site · in Asheville
Straight-line distance from the centre of Asheville, not driving miles. Events within 40 miles, places within 25. Dates come from our checked events list and may change; confirm with the organizer.
Cite this page: It's North Carolina, “Omni Gingerbread Display 2026: Dates, Hours, Parking”, itsnorthcarolina.com/omni-grove-park-inn-gingerbread-display-asheville/ (updated ). By the It's North Carolina editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.