One week after Halloween, Boston’s holiday scene changed from costumes and gore to ornaments and gingerbread at the 20th Annual Christmas Festival, which featured 350 artisans selling their crafts and jovial attendees who said they were not bothered that Christmas is still more than a month away.

Shoppers ambled between vendors offering specialty Christmas merchandise, including decorations, apparel, sweets, dining sets and other assorted gifts. Although the event was advertised as a festival, the atmosphere was more of an up-scale flea market in the Seaport Hotel and World Trade Center.

“I don’t think it’s too early [to market Christmas],” said Michael Pesaturo, a retired coordinator of similar events, who attended with his wife Penny.

“There were commercials advertising Christmas before Halloween, so I don’t think it’s too early,” he said. “It’s a show we attend annually. There are an awful lot of vendors — it’s a great place to do Christmas shopping.”

Although shopping was the main attraction, the Gingerbread House Competition, which featured elaborate constructions from a number of prestigious local chefs, drew the most interest.

The colossal and intricately designed houses featured a miniature replica of Dr. Seuss’ Whoville, snow-covered cottages, a traditional Christmas dinner and an arctic playground.

The jewel of the competition, a perfectly symmetric cathedral-esque edifice by Legal Seafood chef Alain Seigneur, won both Best Tasting and Best in Show.

Honorable Mention went to Kristen Lawson of the Petit Robert Bistro for her replica of Fenway Park and the surrounding area, including the Citgo sign towering above the Green Monster and a snowman version of Big Papi stepping to the plate.

The houses, which were judged by local celebrities, television personalities and their children, were commissioned by corporate sponsors with proceeds going towards Rosie’s Place, a women’s home in the South End.