Gingerbread Houses in the Land of Sweets

This Musings From Main is a thank you to all of the wonderfully artistic people who helped support the Friends this year by creating a gingerbread house masterpiece for our display.  We have had four festival supporters, who are habitual contributors and attendees, choose their favorites in a variety of categories.

We have been showcasing them on Facebook, but realize not everyone participates in social media so we though we would showcase these houses and their creators in this week's Musing. We hope you enjoy it, and perhaps get inspired for next year's festival,
Shiny and Brite!

Chef Kristine Hastreiter's Picks

Thank you to Chef Kristine Hastreiter for taking the time to come down from Massachusetts to support our gingerbread house festival. A current faculty member teaching Culinary Arts & Hospitality at Bristol Community College, Chef Kristine has created several awe inspiring gingerbread masterpieces for us over the years. Below are some of this year's creations that caught her eye.

Totally Traditional

Congratulations Gillian McNeil and Scott Kenyon! Your gingerbread house masterpiece "Fort Frosting" received recognition as being Totally Traditional!

Outstanding Originality

Congratulations to Dale, Caitlin, Scarlett, Sienna, and Kaylani, the creators of the Sweetway Bakery for receiving recognition for Outstanding Originality!

Incredible Use of Icing

Congratulations to Megan Joy, the creator of the "House of Joy", for receiving recognition for Incredible Use of Icing!

Terrific Technique

Congratulations to Macy Knochenhauer, the creator of the "Mushroom House", on receiving recognition for having Terrific Technique!

Staff recognition for being Structurally Sound!

(The mushroom stem held up the entire time...no repairs needed!)

Mayor Elizabeth Pendleton's Picks

Thank you to Mayor Elizabeth Pendleton, for taking time out of her busy schedule to stop by and Facebook live her visit, to help support our festival!

Mayor Pendleton is pictured here with Victor Dorobantu, creator of the 2023 South Windsor Historical Landmarks Calendar and South Windsor Postcards Set, both of which are available in Ye Olde Gingerbread Shoppe at the festival!

Thoughtfully Thematic

Congratulations to Samantha, Georgia, Sammy, Lily, Kayla, Jasmine, Juliet, Naznin, Ella and Brianna of South Windsor Girl Scout Troop 10900! Your Gingerbread Masterpiece, "Camp Sugarland", was recognized for being Thoughtfully Thematic! The theme of our 12th Annual Gingerbread House Festival being "Land of Sweets".

Infinitely Inspirational

Congratulations to Jennifer Knochenhauer for her creation, "Christmas in Paradise", being recognized as Infinitely Inspirational!

Wonderfully Whimsical

The Wonderfully Whimsical designation was given to "Nutcracker March" created by Meredith Roche, Shannon Woods, Kristen Lindsay and Julianne Guarnieri. Congratulations!

Camille and Ella Rivard's Picks

Thank you to Camille and Ella Rivard, ardent supporters of our annual gingerbread house festival, for providing fresh eyes and a sometimes overlooked youthful perspective.

Also, thank you for creating and displaying your own gingerbread masterpiece (pictured left), a representation of Wood Memorial Library and Nowashe Village (including the communal fire pit)!

Fantastically Funny

Congratulations to Eric Sackett! His gingerbread house creation was recognized as being Fantastically Funny!

Commendable Use of Candy

Congratulations to Mary, George, Rich, Sheila, Grace and Mason! Your gingerbread "Castle of Sweets" creation was recognized for a Commendable Use of Candy!

Cute as a Button

"The Hubbard House", a gingerbread gem created by Daneka, Ryan, Taylor, Kaitlyn, and Samantha Hubbard, was recognized as being Cute as a Button, Congratulations!

Creative Use of Color

Donna, Evan, and Garrett Connolly; Sarah, Matt, and Mary Jo Braddock; and Laura Traci, Patty Ilnicki, known to many as the "Thanksgiving Bunch", have made a village of houses for years to display and this year we want to congratulate them on their creation "Mother Gingers' House" being recognized for their Creative Use of Color,  Congratulations!

Thank You!!!

Thank You sponsors & visitors,
vendors & bakers, performers & volunteers! Thank You to everyone who has helped to make our 12th Annual Gingerbread House Festival a success! 

There is still time to visit the festival and see all of these creations (and many more) in person.

This weekend is the last weekend the festival is open.
Hours are 10am to 5pm.