Winter comes a plethora of holiday happenings and traditions. Here on Long Island many people partake in wintertime traditions like visiting menorah and Christmas tree lightings, taking photos with Santa, sneaking a kiss under the mistletoe and building and decorating gingerbread houses! Around here gingerbread house construction has practically become an art form! All over the Island there are various contests, workshops, and competitions all centered on gingerbread houses. This year make your way over to one of these events to see everyone’s creative gingerbread houses, or get in the game and make one of your own to enter!
Also, if you plan on heading off of the Island towards New York City anytime soon be sure to check out the various Gingerbread Lane village displays! There are displays set up in Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan. These circular Gingerbread Lane village displays consist of an estimated 600 pounds of gingerbread dough, 600 pounds of candy, from all over the world, and 3000 pounds of icing! Check out these sweet spectacles and see which New York City landmarks made their way into the village this year – in gingerbread form!
Gingerbread House Competitions
Port Jefferson Masonic Temple Gingerbread House Contest
312 Main Street, Port Jefferson, NY 11777
Friday, December 5th from 4PM – 10PM, Saturday, December 6th from 12PM – 10PM and Sunday, December 7th from 12PM – 5PM
631-339-0940
$2 for spectators
Stop by the Port Jefferson Masonic Temple to view the spectacular gingerbread house contest submissions!
Merry on Main Gingerbread Competition
Main Street, Islip, NY 11751
Saturday, December 6th from 12PM - 6PM
631-224-5460
Free
Come out to view the gingerbread competition and enjoy a craft fair, photos with Santa, skating and more!
The Chocolate Duck – Gingerbread House Competition
310 Main Street, Farmingdale, NY 11735
Saturday, December 13th from 12PM – 5PM
516-249-0887
$25 for competition entry, $5 for child competition entry, free for spectators
Anyone interested in entering their gingerbread house creations into this competition must register and deliver their piece between 12-4PM on December 12th.
Gingerbread House Workshops
Hauppauge Library Gingerbread House Centerpiece
601 Veterans Memorial Highway, Hauppauge, NY 11788
Thursday, December 11th from 4:30PM – 5:15PM
631-979-1600
Free but please register, event is for children in grades K-5
Bring a clean, empty .5 gallon milk or juice container, and get ready to make your very own Gingerbread house centerpiece!
A Taste of Home Bakery – Decorate a Gingerbread House
1992 North Jerusalem Road, North Bellmore, NY 11719
Thursday, December 11th – Friday, December 19th, varying times & dates
516-486-1670
Please call for cost information
Kids can pick between a gingerbread house and a chocolate house to decorate and take home!
Patchogue-Medford Library Gingerbread Houses
54-60 East Main Street, Patchogue, NY 11772
Friday, December 12th from 5PM - 6PM
631-654-4700
Call for cost information, event is for students in grades 6-12
Everything you need to make a fantastic gingerbread house is available to you at the Patchogue-Medford Library!
Citarella Gingerbread House Decorating Workshop
Guild Hall, 158 Main Street, East Hampton, NY 11937
Saturday, December 13th from 12:30PM -2PM
631-324-0806
$15 for members and $20 for non-members
Sign up for this yummy gingerbread house decorating workshop where all of the supplies are provided and you don’t have t deal with any of the clean-up!
Holiday Weekend at Coe Hall – Make A Gingerbread House
Coe Hall at Planting Fields Arboretum, 1395 Planting Field Rd., Oyster Bay, NY 11771
Saturday, December 13th – Sunday, December 14th from 11AM – 4PM
516-922-9200
$10, free for children under 12
Enjoy making a gingerbread house along with a visit from Santa and a performance of Frosty the Snowman by Plaza Theatrical Productions in the Great Hall at 2:30PM on both days.
Huntington Station Branch Public Library - Make Your Own Gingerbread House
1335 New York Ave., Huntington Station, NY 11746
Wednesday, December 17th from 6PM – 7PM
631-421-5053
Free, event is for grades 6-12
Assemble your very own gingerbread house at the Huntington Station Branch Public Library using candies and sweets!
Photo via WikiCommons.