Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – The Wintergreen Arts Center smelled like a bakery Dec. 8 and had all the hustle and bustle of Santa’s workshop as participants of the organization’s first-ever Gingerbread Festival created colorful, edible gingerbread houses.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
CARIBOU’S CHERYL CORBIN helps her niece, Emily Michaud, of Limestone, decorate the gingerbread house they made at the Wintergreen Arts Center’s first-ever Gingerbread Festival that was held Dec. 8. About 300 people pre-registered to construct a gingerbread house at the Arts Center. The event also featured a live gingerbread house-building contest.
“We had a brainstorming session and thought it sounded like a fun, holiday activity,” said Lara Cannon, president of the Wintergreen Arts Center. “It was also a way to raise awareness for our organization.
“We baked 230 gingerbread houses – 1,380 pieces – in the Presque Isle Congregational Church kitchen, and we made about 50 pounds of frosting at Northern Maine Community College,” she said. “Every single thing was done by volunteers, and we really appreciate their support.”
Cannon said welders from Caribou even created stainless steel cookie cutters to simplify the process.
“We were cutting the gingerbread pieces out by hand, and decided it was just too much,” she said. “We went to Caribou and had welders custom-make stainless steel cookie cutters. They did that for free, and we appreciate what they did for us.”
The colorful candies that were used to decorate the structures were donated, as well.
“For people who didn’t pre-register, they could make graham cracker houses, which were pretty similar to the gingerbread ones only a little smaller,” said Cannon.
Cannon said she hoped people had a good time creating the holiday craft.
“I hope they all had a fun time and enjoyed themselves,” she said, “and that they learned about us, and maybe start taking some classes. What a great way to get in the Christmas spirit.”
The Gingerbread Festival also featured a live gingerbread house-building contest. Teams and individuals were encouraged to “bring their pre-baked gingerbread, piles of goodies, and unleash their creativity.”
Participants had three hours to build their house on the spot.
Mall patrons could also vote for their favorite gingerbread house that was on display with the top three vote getters receiving prizes.
Wendy Shaw brought her family up from Mars Hill to the festival.
“It was something different and was a lot of fun … the kids enjoyed it a lot,” she said. “We’ve never done anything like this as a family. The kids behaved well and had a lot of fun.”
Shaw said the gingerbread houses – while pretty – were going to be short-lived.
“We’re going to tear them apart and eat them,” she said. “It was a fun, family activity and I hope they do it again.”
Money raised from the event was going back into the Arts Center.
