Ruth Swenson of the Hillcrest Inn is asking businesses to participate in a gingerbread house contest, with visitors invited to tour businesses and rate the houses. The contest would be part of a promotion to drive off-season traffic.

“We’re getting to that point where people are realizing Seaside is so great in December and November,” Ruth Swenson of the Hilltop Inn and Suites said at a meeting of the Seaside Downtown Development Association. “It doesn’t always have to be August or June.”

The contest would complement their other downtown association events such as Wine Walk, Halloween Happenins’ and Pouring at the Coast.

The contest would start the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, with an online map of participants. “Vote for your favorite gingerbread house, eat at your favorite restaurant, shop at your various shops, your favorite hotel, your favorite aquarium,” Swenson said. “We’re hoping that this becomes a tradition.”

Visitors would drop off their ballots at the Hillcrest Inn to be eligible for various prizes.

Butterfield Cottage will be serving holiday tea on Nov. 25 and Nov. 26, for the first time since the pandemic. While they won’t be serving gingerbread as in years past, the English “high tea”-style event will be catered by White Cap Catering, Seaside Museum & Historical Society volunteer Robin Montero said.

The cottage will decorated in “1912 attire,” she added.

While the Nov. 26 event is sold out, tickets are available for the Nov. 25 1:30 p.m. sitting. For reservations, visit seasideoregonmuseum.com.