Homes for the Holidays is Returning to Hillsborough!

October 27, 2026

Homes for the Holidays is back, bringing one of our community’s favorite seasonal traditions to downtown. Each year, this beloved tradition fills local businesses with imaginative, over-the-top homemade gingerbread houses, spreading holiday cheer and giving everyone another reason to shop local and explore downtown.

From December 5, 2026, through January 3, 2027, participating downtown businesses will showcase festive creations ranging from candy-coated cottages to icing-covered works of art. It’s part gingerbread competition, part holiday celebration, and a great way to explore downtown Hillsborough.

This year’s theme, American Folk Art Buildings, celebrates an extraordinary collection of 1,200 American folk art buildings gathered over 40 years by Hillsborough residents Steven Burke and Randy Campbell. The nation’s largest and only collection of its kind offers plenty of inspiration for your own sugary masterpiece! Registered participants can visit Steven and Randy’s home to view the collection on designated days.

 Ready to join the tradition? Register November 1–24, 2026, for just $25, and show off your creativity!