PORT TOWNSEND — Three tiny gingerbread villages created by an elementary school class, along with a dozen more traditional entries in the 22nd annual Aldrich’s Market gingerbread house contest, will be on display at the store through Jan. 3.
A Grant Street Elementary School first- and second-grade class taught by Dorothy Stengel entered three villages of gingerbread houses, each house the size of a fist and designed by a different student.
Each entry was titled “We Love Our Town,” by the “Learning Lizards.”
“One is a lakeside village,” said Milt Fukuda, store owner.
The villages didn’t fit the typical size of gingerbread houses entered but were very creative and were given a special honorable mention award, Fukuda said.
As a prize for the special entry, the class will receive a laminated chart depicting Pacific Northwest history and locations, he said.
This year, the market received 15 entries in the contest, which are displayed the front of the store at 940 Lawrence St. Last year saw 17 entries.
The contest benefits the Port Townsend Food Bank, with an entry fee of “a food item for the food bank.”
This year, there were fewer entries than usual for “individual child under the age of 12” category, which Fukuda said is usually the most popular entry.
Only two entries were recorded.
The winner of the category was “Candy Cane Hearts” by Zoey Doray and second place was “Snowman’s Castle” by Eva Brady.
However, there were a lot of group entries.
“They made it more a family project. This is what this contest is about — an opportunity to do something over the holiday as a family,” Fukuda said.
Themed gingerbread houses took a whimsical and fantastic direction this year, he said.
He said entries included a tree house, a look into the world of Jack and the Beanstalk, and an “eco-village,” complete with an ecology pamphlet.
In the “group 12 and younger” category, the winner was Eco Village with Commons, by Janette and Ila Patrick, Maeve Kenney and Zia Magill.
Second place in the category went to “What Santa Does on his Free Time,” by Max Doray and third place when to “Santa Workshop” by Adeu Thostrud and Eva Brady.
First place in the “group 12 and older” category went to “Treehouse,” by “Anora, Cabett, Elsa, Eric, Holly and Imants.”
“Fe-Fi-Fo-Fum,” a three-generation creation by Mary Jane Schmidt, Pam Trail, and Morgan and Henry Trail, was awarded second place.
Third place was awarded to a multi-family entry, “Santa’s Pit Stop,” by Grace and Hugh Wentzel, the Bridgets, O’Tylers and Goldbergs.
Entries to the contest were required to fit on a board no larger than 18 inches by 24 inches. There is no height restriction.
Gingerbread dough is required to provide the “foundation” for all of the structures, with extra credit for the use of traditional gingerbread as opposed to gingerbread crackers, the rules state.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.
