NEWBURYPORT — Bakers, artists, and lovers of sweet treats will find themselves in holiday heaven as the second annual Newburyport Gingerbread Festival inches closer.
The event, which includes contests and an exhibition of gingerbread creations, takes place Dec. 13 through 15 at Central Congregational Church, 14 Titcomb St., Newburyport. On Friday, festival hours are from 4 to 7 pm; Saturday has seven hours of fun, from 11 a.m to 6 p.m. Festivities conclude on Sunday, from noon to 4 pm. There is no entry fee for bakers or visitors.
“Our primary mission is to have a fun event for the community, get people together, and inspire creativity,” Gingerbread Festival President Mary Dissette said.
For those interested in submitting a gingerbread creation, the deadline to register for the competition is Dec. 6. Entries must be delivered, fully assembled, to the Congregational Church on Dec. 12 or, at the latest, early on Dec. 13.
Entries will be judged on concept, craftsmanship, ingenuity, and showmanship. Funding has been provided by Greater Newburyport Village and the Massachusetts Cultural Council, along with numerous local businesses and private donors. All proceeds will benefit Nourishing the North Shore, Inc., a non-profit whose mission is to ensure access to healthy local food for all residents of North Shore communities.
The festival defines a gingerbread house loosely. Dissette (a baker herself) emphasizes that structures resembling vehicles, objects or locations in the local environment, food, or other creative themes are welcome. Because of space constraints, houses may not exceed 15-by-15-inches. Every component of each house must be edible, with the exception of lights, if used.
The competition is open to all ages and skill levels. Entry divisions include: families or other multi-generational groups with children under 13; youth groups; teens, ages 13-19 (individual or group); adults, ages 20 and up, or adult/teen groups; adult organizations; and masters (culinary professionals or amateurs choosing to compete at this level).
Work on the gingerbread structures starts well before the destival, and time spent making each house will vary based on complexity.
“The festival has already begun, in my mind, because people are already working on their ideas.”
Dissette, a 35-year resident of Newburyport, has spent years building and decorating gingerbread houses with her husband and daughter, and calls the activity “a nice way to feel the holiday and celebrate.” While she won’t be competing in this year’s contests, she plans to submit three projects for exhibition only.
In its first year, Dissette and other organizers of the Festival hoped they would have 30 houses to display, would be helped by 30 volunteers, and would welcome 300 visitors. To their surprise and delight, 32 houses were entered, 107 people volunteered, and a whopping 1,022 visitors stopped by, resulting in a donation of $2,009 to last year’s charity.
Contest coordinator Kendra Coulehan says they’re likely to exceed those numbers this year, since roughly 30 people have already registered to submit houses, and Coulehan expects more to come before the Dec. 6 deadline for registering.
Coulehan calls the Gingerbread Festival “a celebration of craft,”
“People take time to do it just because they love it. I love that it’s a simple, grassroots celebration. It’s just pure enjoyment,”
Dissette marvels at the amount of effort and creativity community members demonstrate in the construction of their houses, and says visitors to the event were surprised and charmed by the creations on display. She adds, “There’s a lot of love put into these houses.”
For this year’s festival, volunteers will be selling gingerbread men and small gingerbread-making kits. A visual scavenger hunt is also planned and should appeal to younger visitors. Prizes will be awarded in each division, and will include gift cards and tree ornaments.
A diverse group of 14 judges will donate their time and their expertise. Judges’ Awards will be given in each division on opening day; People’s Choice Awards will be voted on by attendees and awarded at the close of the festival. This year’s judges’ panel includes judges with backgrounds in architecture; visual arts and design; professional baking; law; business; and education.
Among last year’s entries were a Barbie Dream House, a flower shop, a pagoda, and a house constructed with seeds and nuts instead of sweets. Coulehan anticipates that entrants will continue the tradition of creativity.
To register a house, to volunteer, or to learn more about the festival, visit: portgingerbreadfestival.org.