As part of Downtown Lakewood's Gingerbread House Tour, a panel of judges hit the streets of Lakewood on Thursday to pick the best one.

It wasn't easy.

The judges — Mary Anne Crampton, Dan Deagan and Eric Lowrey — had plenty of houses to choose from.

Two-dozen to be exact.

They selected the Carroll family's gingerbread house "Santa's Sleigh" at Paisley Monkey as the Best in Show.

But there were other winners, too.

• In the family and children under 12 category, Casey Whittaker won with his "Train Station" at Landfall Travel.
• In the youth category, between ages of 13-17, Mary Grace and Henry Brandt won with their gingerbread house "Ice Cream Cones" at Discount Drug Mart.
• And in the adult category, Pam Smith, won with the "Village" also at Landfill Travel.

Prizes, donated by Downtown Lakewood Business Alliance, will be awarded on Dec. 22.

The gingerbread houses will on display through the Dec. 21.

“It’s been fun because people have been going into the shops just to see the gingerbread houses,” said Paula Reed, the chairwoman of Downtown Lakewood. “I think the merchants got a kick out of it… The merchants take a little personal pride in the houses they’re hosting.”