Gingerbread Houses on Parade

The Cleveland Botanical Garden’s annual gingerbread house competition has become a holiday tradition in Northeastern Ohio. It is one of several holiday themes at the Garden between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.

Each year, the holiday displays get a bit bigger and more impressive. This year included Christmas trees decorated by area organizations, a model train set representing Cleveland and its suburbs, and lighting displays in the outdoor gardens.

Here are some of the creative and colorful gingerbread house entries that were enjoyed by Garden guests this season.

Gingerbread cottages surround a fountain made from cookies, frosting, and gumdrops
A gingerbread village includes a fountain and coconut snow.

 

Icing, gumdrops, and candy pieces make a colorful roof on this gingerbread house
Colorful candy tiles and a gingerbread family adorn this house.
A gingerbread house is trimmed with snow caps, kisses, and candy canes
A snow cap roof, kiss siding, and candy cane fence posts give this candy cottage its neat and tidy look.
A gingerbread house decorated as a kayak rental center
This creative gingerbread house is designed as a kayak rental.
Red gingerbread trolley decorated with peppermint sticks and white icing
A gingerbread trolley destined for the North Pole
The camper is decorated with candy canes and sandwich cookie wheels
an Airstream camper made of gingerbread

It wasn’t just the colorful decorating that attracted guests, but the sweet smells of gingerbread and candy wafting through the air.

Some of the houses earned ribbon awards, but all of them were getting attention from patrons. If you’ve never made a gingerbread house, there’s no time like the present! These gingerbread houses were created by all ages, from preschoolers all the way to seniors.

Three story gingerbread house with coconut snow on the roof
Not only were gingerbread houses on display, but guests could build their own houses for an additional fee.
Victorian gingerbread house with yellow frosting and white trim icing
This Victorian style gingerbread house was a ribbon winner.
Gingerbread kitchen scene with cook and mini gingerbread house
A gingerbread kitchen scene also won a ribbon.
Two story gingerbread house with jelly front pond and vanilla wafer shutters
Santa is visiting this gingerbread manor.

Which house is your favorite?

?

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Author: A. JoAnn

Here is where I share the beauty I find in everyday life; and the humor, too!

5 thoughts

  1. Happy New Year to you and Carol! Here’s to 2018

  2. I’ll go with the kayak rental gingerbread “house”.
    Happy New Year to you and your family!

  3. Wow! Such great talent and imagination!

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