Northumberland County residents can support local housing efforts by constructing their own abodes out of gingerbread and entering their sweet creations into an annual festival hosted by Habitat for Humanity Northumberland.
Habitat for Humanity Northumberland is currently preparing the “build site”, issuing “building permits”, and selling gingerbread kits in support of the upcoming event, which runs for a week in December at Habitat’s Cobourg ReStore.
Community members who want to enter the festival can order a build-it-yourself gingerbread house kit with a building permit from Habitat, or purchase a building permit only to enter their own custom-built gingerbread house in the festival. All proceeds support Habitat’s build program.
“This is a signature event for Habitat,” Aimee Tedford, director of business operations for Habitat for Humanity Northumberland, told kawarthaNOW.
“In its 10th year, this event started as a way to engage with the community in an accessible way. Not everyone can volunteer on the build site or in the ReStore, this is a way for community members to give back and have fun doing so.”
The event has grown into a fundraiser and has netted more than $25,000 in the past decade. This year, Habitat for Humanity Northumberland hopes to rise $10,000 towards its building projects through entry fees, raffling off of creations, and sponsorship.
“Building houses is what we do, but the community and our partner families make them into homes,” Tedford said. “Gingerbread houses are an extension of that idea. We provide people with the opportunity to make something all their own with some help from us.”
VIDEO: 10th Annual Habitat for Humanity Northumberland Gingerbread Festival
Habitat for Humanity Northumberland is hoping the festival generates an abundance of community engagement. There are about 100 entries in the festival in three categories — community, community under 12 year old, and professional — and the houses will be showcased from Monday, December 9 through to Saturday, December 14 at the ReStore on Division Street.
“The public can view and vote (for) their favourites with the purchase of a $5 raffle ticket, you get three votes,” Tedford explained. “These votes will determine the winners of the people’s choice awards and at the end of the festival the names are drawn for each of the creations, so you have a chance to win one.”
As a new addition this year, Habitat will have four raffle giveaway prizes, made up of gift cards and products, so community votes can go towards those prizes as well.
All of the creations will be judged on Friday, December 13 at 5 p.m. and the winners will be announced around 6:15 p.m. The artists are invited to the store that evening to see all the creations and meet the judges. All of the winners will be showcased online.
“The smell of gingerbread in the ReStore for that week is so amazing,” Tedford said. “The best way that residents can support and make the festival a success is by visiting the ReStore the week of the festival and enjoying the creations crafted by their fellow community members.”
“The best thing about this event is our ability to engage young and old, professionals and kids under 12, and everyone in between in support of Habitat,” she added.
The gingerbread festival receives support from the Jacqueline Pennington Real Estate Team, which has been the title sponsor of the event since 2022. Other local businesses have supplied prizes and raffle items, which will be featured on Habitat for Humanity Northumberland’s website and social media channels leading up to the event.
“At the heart of the gingerbread festival is an opportunity for families and friends to get together and build something together or enjoy a free outing to view some pretty great creations,” Tedford said. “By hosting we hope to spread a little holiday cheer and joy to Northumberland this Christmas.”
There are still a few deluxe gingerbread kits available. Priced at $35, the kit contains a de-constructed gingerbread house with decorations, icing, and a building permit to enter the festival. Or, if you are creating your own gingerbread house and want to enter it in the festival, you can purchase a building permit only for $10. Pre-built gingerbread houses that you decorate yourself are sold out.
To purchase a gingerbread kit for the 10th annual Habitat for Humanity Northumberland Gingerbread Festival, residents can stop by the ReStore at 764 Division St. in Cobourg or visit www.trellis.org/10th-annual-gingerbread-festival.
