MACUNGIE, Pa. (WLVT) - Kalmbach Memorial Park in Macungie is having their 17th annual Gingerbread Competition with kindergarten and professional entries this year.
For the professional skill level, all visible parts of the gingerbread house must be edible. Prizes go as high as $100 for some categories. Creations ranged from a church, a shoe house, a mansion, a tree house, a lighthouse, and even Santa Claus on the beach.
The competition was originally started by former park administrators Laura and Michael McCready. Denise Brosky said it’s important for her and her family to keep it going because she loves how it brings families together. “We had parents coming in and entering a house and their children entering houses,” said Brosky. “You could just see the family involvement, when they were bringing them in and the excitement when they were setting them all up.”
Brosky also mentioned, having this competition adds to the spirit of Macungie Holiday. “So many times we stay in our houses and we don’t get out to see who our neighbors are and who our friends are in the neighborhood,” said Brosky.
Some houses had glass windows made of candy with Christmas trees inside, and some had full landscaping, along with cars in a driveway. “These are usually structures that you can’t do over a two or three-day period,” said Brosky. “Some of these artists were working on these for almost a month.”
If you’d like to see the gingerbread creations, you can go to Kalmbach Memorial Park on Saturday, Dec. 14 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. You will also be able to cast your vote for the People’s Choice winner as a part of the competition.
There were 32 total entries this year. If you’re interested in participating next year, you can email kalmbachpark@gmail.com.
