Annual gingerbread contest will accept entries until Dec. 3

1st Fridays Art Walk and the Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce have teamed together again this year for the annual 1st Fridays Art Walk Gingerbread Extravaganza, which includes one of the largest displays of gingerbread houses in Iowa, and have begun accepting entries.

The creations will be displayed in store windows throughout the holiday season beginning in November and highlighted on the evening of the chamber?s Holiday Lighting Ceremony on Nov. 27.

The extravaganza will culminate with the Dec. 4 1st Fridays Art Walk event, where ribbons and trophies will be awarded in five different categories by a panel of judges. The 1st Fridays Art Walk event also will include the annual Children?s Gingerbread Workshop, horse-drawn holiday carriage rides, holiday music on the square, traditional holiday treats and Victorian carolers touring the square in addition to the gingerbread houses in the shops,

?It?s like a festival of trees sort of feeling without the pine needles,? said Brent Willett, chamber executive director.

1st Fridays Art Walk and the chamber are encouraging early entries and will hold a special drawing for prizes for those creations entered on or before Thursday. The chamber also has homemade, baked gingerbread houses available and ready for purchase and display throughout the community. The homemade houses serve as a fundraiser for the event; last year, more than 20 businesses bought one of custom-designed houses, which can be purchased by calling the chamber.

?The Gingerbread Extravaganza could not have enjoyed the momentous success it has in past years without the incredible entries from gingerbread craftspeople throughout Fairfield,? said Willett. ?We said it last year, and we?re saying it again: it?s a delicious tradition, and we?re proud to be a part of it again this year.?

?Now in its sixth year, the gingerbread art walk is a delightful event and has become Fairfield?s sweetest tradition,? said Jeananne Robins, art walk executive director. ?I would encourage everyone to pre-heat your ovens and get out the icing because this is a tradition you will want to be part of.?

Entry categories include children in grades K-5, children in grades 6-12, adults, commercial and organizations or group projects.

Entries must be received by noon Dec. 3 and can be dropped off at Fairfield Nutrition. For information on how to enter and even how to make the best icing, contact the art walk at 233-8883, director@fairfieldartwalk.org or the chamber at 472-2111 or chamber@fairfieldiowa.com.

For rules and recipes, go to www.fairfieldartwalk.org.