The Village of Farmingdale and The Chocolate Duck will hold their 13th Annual Gingerbread Competition on Saturday, December 5, 2026, at the shop at 310 Main Street, and this year every entry is built around one theme: America's 250th Birthday. The show is open to the public from noon to 4:00 p.m., and spectators get in free. Four days earlier, on Tuesday, December 1, the Farmingdale Chamber of Commerce turns Main Street into a holiday night out with its Shop and Dine event right after the village tree lighting.

Both events were posted by the village on its official website, with flyers giving the times, places and how to take part.

The Gingerbread Competition

The competition is a partnership between the village and The Chocolate Duck, the chocolate, cake and confection shop on Main Street, and it is run with the village's Cultural Arts Committee. The 2026 theme ties the contest to the national anniversary: structures should be inspired by America's birthday, and the flyer says any structure, real or imaginary, is eligible.

The day runs in three parts:

  • 10:00 a.m. to noon: judging, closed to the public.
  • Noon to 4:00 p.m.: the show opens to the public, free for spectators.
  • 4:00 p.m.: the awards presentation.

Prizes are awarded in three divisions, children, adults and professional bakers, plus a People's Choice Award decided by visitors. A Chocolate House competition is judged separately, for builders who would rather work in chocolate than in gingerbread.

How to Enter

Spectators pay nothing, but there is a fee for competition entries. The village posts the entry forms on its website under Services, then Forms, then Other. Questions about entering go to Christina Bisbee of The Chocolate Duck at 516-249-0887 or [email protected].

Because the theme is broad, entries can range from a single gingerbread cottage draped in bunting to a full scene of a historic landmark. Builders who are new to the competition can start with the kids' division as a family project, since that division is judged on its own.

A Food Drive at the Door

The competition doubles as a collection point for the local food pantry. The organizers ask visitors to bring non-perishable food, and a collection box will be set up at the event. Canned goods, pasta, rice and other shelf-stable staples are the kinds of items pantries ask for most in December.

Shop and Dine on Main Street, December 1

The gingerbread show follows the Farmingdale Chamber of Commerce's Shop and Dine night on Tuesday, December 1, 2026, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., right after the tree lighting at the Village Green. The evening kicks off the chamber's Farmingdale Shop and Win event and comes with a printed shopping guide listing the specials that Main Street businesses are offering: restaurant specials, gift card deals and retail promotions.

The chamber's flyer lists what will be happening along Main Street that night:

  • Snow on Main Street.
  • Free photos with Santa and a letters to Santa station.
  • Free hot chocolate, cookies and candy canes.
  • A cappella holiday singers, plus acoustic music and dance performances.
  • A No Limit Ninja obstacle course.
  • A business market inside 317 Main Street.

Plan Your Visit

The Chocolate Duck is at 310 Main Street in Farmingdale, and the Village Green and Village Hall are a short walk away at 361 Main Street. The Farmingdale LIRR station sits just north of downtown, which makes both nights easy to reach without a car.

For the competition, download the entry form from the village website and register early, since entries need to be in place before judging starts at 10:00 a.m. on December 5. Spectators can come any time between noon and 4:00 p.m., vote for the People's Choice Award, and stay for the 4:00 p.m. awards. Bring a few cans for the pantry box. For Shop and Dine, be on Main Street by 6:00 p.m. on December 1, after the tree lighting, and pick up a shopping guide to see which businesses are running specials.

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