On Friday November 23, 2018 as part of Cobourg’s Christmas Magic tree lighting ceremony, the Habitat for Humanity’s Gingerbread Festival will start displaying gingerbread houses. The Festival will run from 5 pm on Friday 23rd to 5pm on Sunday, November 25th and will be located in the large empty store across the street from Victoria Hall. This will be the first time in the three year history of the event that all entries will be in the one location. Organizers are currently estimating that this year there will be over 50 community entries and 8-10 professional entries. But there’s more. In the same location and at the same times, the DBIA is organizing a Christmas Market for downtown merchants. The market will feature crafts, handmade goods and some warm refreshments.

In addition, King Street will be shut down and local hockey players will be playing some old-fashioned road hockey against a backdrop of festive music provided by local choirs and bands. Quite the party!

The Festival and Market will be open:

Friday, Nov 23 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Christmas lights get turned on at 7:00pm – more details on Cobourg Internet’s Entertainment Calendar) Saturday, Nov 24 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (or does it start at 10:00 a.m.?) Sunday, Nov 25 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The photo at right is the winning entry in the professional category from last year (by the Dutch Oven).

More on Gingerbread Festival

Habitat for Humanity added more details:

Habitat volunteers will kick-off the 2018 Gingerbread Festival by distributing gingerbread cookie kits to children attending the Christmas Magic tree lighting ceremony on November 23rd in downtown Cobourg. Baked by the Dutch Oven, these cookie kits have been generously sponsored by the Town of Cobourg.

Local community organizations, schools, individuals and businesses have come together to create the gingerbread entries for the festival. This year Habitat Northumberland will be raffling off the professional, community and children’s gingerbread creations. Available onsite, raffle tickets will be $2.00 for 1 ticket or $5.00 for 3 tickets. All proceeds from the fundraiser will go directly into Habitat’s homebuilding program which helps families achieve strength, stability and independence through affordable homeownership.

Throughout the weekend, a panel of judges will review the gingerbread to pick the top three entries from each of three decorating categories: Kids (12 and under), Community and Professional. The wrap up for the 2018 Gingerbread Festival will take place at 4pm on Sunday, November 25th. Prizes and ribbons will be awarded to the winning entries, with the draw for the gingerbread raffle of the Gingerbread houses taking place at the same time. Lucky gingerbread winners may pick up their houses November 26th-30th at 52 King Street West in Cobourg from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Photos of the winning Gingerbread houses will be displayed on Habitat’s website and social media pages following the festival.

Maybe someone will pick up on this demonstration of an idea first proposed by Nicole Beatty in a presentation to Council in February 2015 (details here). Although the Gingerbread Festival and Market are one time (or possibly annual) events, a year round market in the store might work well.

Links

Habitat for Humanity Northumberland – Gingerbread Festival – For more info call Heather Jopling, Administrative Coordinator, at 289-252-0999 ext. 28.

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