Logan hosts 22nd annual Parade of Gingerbread Homes
Throughout December, Logan is hosting its own version of parade of homes, but with a uniquely festive twist.
Each entry is made of gingerbread, decorated by members of the community to represent their favorite Logan landmarks and different Christmas scenes.
The event encourages community members to explore downtown Logan, as each gingerbread house is in a different store on or near Main Street and Center Street.
This year there were nine entries, and the event was hosted by Logan Downtown Alliance. Voting cards are available at each location for viewers to vote for their favorite scene.
Entries are divided into two categories: community and professional. A professional entry is one by a commercial baker or somebody who has won the contest in the past. Anyone is allowed to enter in the community category, provided they are willing and able to follow the rules of the competition.
The most important rule is, while the construction does not have to be 100% gingerbread, it does have to be entirely edible.
According to Gary Saxton, an organizer of the event, it is entirely volunteer based. Those who enter the competition, known as gingerbread architects, pay out of pocket for their supplies and teams can spend a total of 200 hours on their creations, including planning, baking and constructing.
The top three entries in each category are awarded $100, which according to Saxton, could potentially only cover the cost of supplies.
In the 12 years that he has been in charge of the event, there have been as many as 20 entries and as few as eight, but they are always high quality.
Gingerbread architects from Logan have even gone on to compete in the Food Network baking competition, “Holiday Baking Championship: Gingerbread Showdown.”
Saxton’s said his favorite gingerbread creation is from 2014, when a gingerbread architect recreated a street in Bruges, Belgium.
This year marks the 22nd annual parade and the event has become a beloved tradition for many Utah State University students as well as local residents.
It was one of the few activities that managed to happen despite the coronavirus pandemic.
Camrie Christensen, a graduate of USU, drove from Provo to visit Logan and the gingerbread homes this year.
“When I was a student at Utah State I would come every year,” Christensen said. “I hope that Logan does this tradition forever and ever because I think it’s adorable. I wish every town had traditions like these.”
It has become a tradition for the creators as well. Jennifer and Michaela Dettore, the winners of the 2019 parade, wrote on the Logan Downtown Alliance website, “The downtown Gingerbread parade has been a special part of our family’s holiday traditions, both as spectators and participants, since moving to Cache Valley 13 years ago.”
Others were able to experience it for the first time this year, including student Peter Porter.
“I’m thankful this year to have seen the creativity of the artists, and even recognizing all of the places and scenes they portrayed,” Porter said. “It was a great start to getting into the spirit of Christmas.”
The gingerbread homes will be on display from Dec. 3 until Dec. 31 in various places throughout Logan. Visit the Logan Downtown Alliance website for more information regarding the locations.
-Maggie.Erekson@usu.edu