Submitted by Port of Bellingham
This year’s Holiday Port Gingerbread House Contest theme is “Home Sweet Home,” and contestants can compete in this category or in one of many other age or group categories. What does “Home” mean to you? And can you re-create it using edible materials? Now in its 20th year, the contest is free and open to all ages and abilities. Entries don’t have to be houses or made of gingerbread, but they must be visibly edible. The main thing is to have fun and be creative!
The Gingerbread Contest is part of the Holiday Port Festival, a free Port of Bellingham event that takes place at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal December 4 through 6. This family-friendly event will feature performances by local bands, choirs and dance troupes, horse-drawn wagon rides, art activities for children, Santa Claus, and the gingerbread contest display.
Families, community groups and classrooms of school-age children have all made a tradition out of entering the gingerbread house contest every year, which typically receives more than 100 entries from bakers who range in age from under five to over 65.
Many of the entries are donated to a silent auction, with proceeds benefiting Home Port Learning Center. Home Port Learning Center is a transitional alternative school for at-risk youth of Whatcom County. Through hands-on experiences Home Port students acquire academic, vocational, and work readiness skills. The learning center is committed to the preservation of Whatcom County’s maritime heritage, the environment, and the well-being of the community.
Entry forms and rules can be downloaded from www.portofbellingham.com/gingerbreadcontest or by calling the Port at 360-676-2500.
