Gingerbread parades through downtown Logan

For 25 years, Logan’s downtown street fronts have displayed gingerbread homes furnished with elaborate confectionary trims throughout December.  

The Gingerbread Parade of Homes invites people to explore Logan’s downtown district and appreciate art with their loved ones. The event is free and open to the public, with businesses hosting artists’ creations through Dec. 31.  

The artists behind the homes include professional and home bakers, who all contribute to lighting up downtown during the holidays.  

Lexi Yorgason and her best friend Mandy Idso made Gnome Home house. Yorgason was thrilled when Idso asked her to participate.  

“I worked with my best friend of 17 years, we wanted to do the Arendelle Castle from  ‘Frozen’ but pivoted,” Yorgason said. “We both have families of our own and Mandy works full time, so our greatest challenge was juggling all that.” 

Their design was based on Idso’s home, which she had just recently built. They recreated scenes from inside the home with gnomes. 

“We thought that would be a fun option for us to try and tackle with gingerbread,” Yorgason said. “It was so fun coming up with different things the gnomes would be doing.” 

Among the businesses displaying gingerbread homes are Prodigy Brewing, Caffe Ibis, Starbucks, The Sportsman and The Artist Gallery.  

Gary Saxton, operations director of the Logan Downtown Alliance, coordinates many of the community events in Logan and said the Parade of Gingerbread Homes has become a holiday staple for many families.  

“The parade has grown into a tradition here in Logan, and people really look forward to it,” Saxton said. “Go out and look at these different creations while you’re out and about.” 

© CWild Photography

A local family looking at a display for the Gingerbread Parade of Homes in the Logan Library as seen on Dec. 7, 2024.

Downtown Logan is home to many longstanding businesses. These historic establishments are tokens of Logan’s culture, and Saxton said they add to the experience of the Parade of Gingerbread Homes. 

“We want to create meaningful community events that showcase the heritage and culture of our historic downtown,” Saxton said. “We are a unique shopping and dining experience. It’s walkable and always changing.” 

Danielle Grover and her family created the Logan Canyon Woodland Animals home. Grover says the tradition is special to her family.  

“The first gingerbread scene we ever created was in honor of our mom who had passed away due to cancer and we have been doing them ever since,” Grover said. “She was the master of creation. She could do anything.”  

Grover and her sisters spent more than 100 hours designing the concept, creating patterns, baking and assembling.  

“We all do our parts and then come together for a big assembly day,” Grover said.  

Grover said this year’s design was created for a family that had recently lost their daughter.  

“She loved looking up in the trees and the way the light would filter through the leaves, so we did a treehouse to celebrate her,” Grover said. “Her sister’s favorite animal is a fox, which got us started on the woodland animal theme.” 

Events hosted by the Logan Downtown Alliance offer opportunities to volunteer and connect with the community.  

“We have worked with USU students in the past, we look forward to community members who want to do something to showcase our mountain valley,” Saxton said.