Downtown Logan holds annual Parade of Gingerbread Houses
The gingerbread man should have a place to call home.
Currently in the Cache Valley, he has a plethora to pick from.
This Christmas season, downtown Logan is celebrating the festivity of gingerbread with its fifth annual Parade of Gingerbread Houses.
Bob Marcolese, of the Logan Downtown Alliance, sponsor of the parade, said that Gene Needham, of S. E. Needham’s Jewlers, originally spearheaded the event after seeing something similar in his travels back east.
“It is meant to be a community event with a focus on downtown,” he said.
Twelve businesses are participating this year and the people who volunteered to make the gingerbread houses each receive a $25 gift certificate from the store displaying their creation.
The public has an opportunity to vote for their favorite two houses, and first, second and third place winners will be announced. The grand prize includes an overnight at the Seasons at the Riter Mansion, as well as a meal for two at LeNonne’s and two tickets to a show at the Ellen Eccles Theater.
At Coppin’s Hallmark, Heather Baird created a scene from Whoville of Dr. Suess’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” There are five colorful gingerbread houses depicting Whoville with a tree in the middle and the mountain where the Grinch lives.
“I think it’s a clever idea,” Nicole Coppin, of Coppin’s Hallmark said. Coppin made the gingerbread house for Hallmark last year.
“It took probably about eight hours,” Coppin said.
The gingerbread house in Edward’s Furniture was modeled from the Oneida Stake Center in Preston, Idaho. Daniel Baird made the gingerbread house with a gum roof, wafer steps and frosting trees.
St. Basil Cathedral, the landmark of Red Square in Moscow, was the inspiration for the gingerbread house made by Hilary Robinson and Rosalyn Warner located at S. E. Needham Jewelers. The Warners used 139 individual pieces of gingerbread to construct the cathedral. They also used gumdrops, fruit slices, Airheads, Fruit Roll-ups, M&M’s and Rolos in their creation.
“Pirates of the Caribbean” is the theme of the gingerbread house made by Anna Openshaw which sits in the window of Poco Loco Swim Shop. The floor of the gingerbread ship is made of pretzels and the cannons are Tootsie Rolls. There’s also some rock candy on the side.
A mouse house, created by Anita Larsen, is shown at the Kater Shop. The gingerbread house is a tree trunk with a mouse sleeping inside.
The all-edible house has a granola path, a fondant mailbox, a chimney made from baked beans and pretzels for fire logs. The Christmas tree in the mouse house is made from shredded wheat and decorated with portions of popcorn and dried cranberries.
A log cabin made by Lisa Saraiva is in the Sportsman’s window. The ceiling is gingerbread with walnut roof tiles and the walls are made from pretzels. There is a frosting Christmas tree inside decorated with star-shaped sprinkles for the ornaments.
U&I Furniture exhibited a gingerbread Santa’s Sleigh, made by Jennifer Erickson. Along with Santa’s sleigh, there are eight gingerbread reindeer connected with candy canes.
A gingerbread windmill was pictured in the window of Stork Landing made by Rhonda Hair. The many colors of tulips were made with gum paste for the petals, frosting leaves and spaghetti stems. The windmill blades are dry fettuccini noodles and frosting. The bright blue stream is made from glass candy. The only inedible parts are the motor for the mill, a light and some dental floss.
Maya’s Corner held a storybook train by Linette Hlavaty. The train cars are filled with candy books. Hlavaty used Oreos for the wheels, and also Sprees, coconut, licorice and marshmallows. Presents were made with Now & Laters and frosting.
Twelve-year-old Laura Carlisle made a quilt house displayed in the window of Bernina’s Stylish Fabrics. The roof is crafted with squares of frosting and candy.
In an effort to more fully involve the public, Bob Marcolese initiated the “Night in Historic Downtown Logan” contest last year. One ballot will be drawn from those submitted by the public to identify the winner of a night stay for two at the Logan Anniversary Inn, a $30 gift card to LeNonne’s Pizzeria, and two tickets to the Ellen Eccles Theater.
The parade runs from now until Dec. 31.
-sdobson@cc. usu. edu
This gingerbread is themed after the Oneida Stake Center in Preston, Idaho, and it´s displayed in the window of Edward´s Furniture. (Photo by Michael Sharp)