Arlen Fontaine's "Gingerbread Village" is one of 24 pastry and icing creations at the 22nd annual Gingerbread Extravaganza. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
Published on December 10, 2024 at 12:15 pm
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Swirled ice cream cones stand like turrets atop icing-accented gingerbread walls on Sarah Taft’s Candyland creation at the 22nd annual Gingerbread Extravaganza.
Lollipops pave the way to the main entrance of the million-calorie depiction of the classic children’s game.
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The display is one of 25 cookie and candy creations shown through Dec. 28 at this year’s Jacksonville Historical Society show. Taft admits that some of the materials she used to bake and make it did not survive the construction process.
“The M&Ms — I am a chocolate fan. And some Rice Krispies — oh yes,” said Taft, who won Best Use of Candy and Best Fantasy/Adult 22-60.
She also added that other material that started out edible in this rendition of her favorite childhood game, is not anymore.
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“The Royal icing hardens up like a rock, so it holds it all together,” said Taft, who admitted she always want to be Queen Frostine, a character in the game. “And I overbaked the gingerbread so it’s as hard as a rock.”
The Gingerbread Extravaganza is an annual fundraiser for the Jacksonville Historical Society. The Rotary Club of South Jacksonville started it in 2003 as a fundraiser to benefit other nonprofits, including the Historical Society.
The historical society began hosting it in 2010, with ticket sales and donations benefiting its educational programs and archival repository. It is displayed inside the 135-year-old Old St. Andrews Church at 317 A. Philip Randolph Blvd.
Other gingerbread creations
Among the other gingerbread creations is Carol Gilbert Orrego’s huge green edifice of Machu Picchu.
The work depicts a 15th century Inca citadel set high in the Andes Mountains in Peru. A Nativity scene is tucked in one corner, with a blanket-draped llama nestled against the manger.
“It’s both from having been born and raised in Peru, and also being a proud American — it’s the beauty of blending my heritage,” Orrego said. “It’s just the freedom that I can express that in America. Even though we come from an ancient heritage, it’s just the beauty of how Christ can be for the nations.”
Elsewhere, a model railroad chugs around the center of the main display, as towering Christmas trees decorated by the Junior League of Jacksonville surround intricate miniature houses, elves, Santas, even toadstools, done in gingerbread covered in icing, peppermint and fondant.
Work on each year’s event starts as early as July, said Historical Society CEO Alan Bliss.
“We could not stop doing this now if we wanted to,” Bliss said. “People who came here as little children with their parents are now coming as adult parents with their own little children. It has become a Jacksonville tradition for residents and visitors, and it has just become one of those beloved things that is distinctive to Jacksonville. We are just the stewards of it at this point.”
Sara Aicher is a veteran of 10 years of creating gingerbread designs at the event and the winner of this year’s Best in Show, plus Best Fantasy in the over-60 division award.
In minute detail, she intricately recreated the real antique 1930 Singer Model 127 sewing machine that she owns, with busy elves making a ribbon for a new apron for Mrs. Claus.
Aicher said the construction went “pretty smoothly.”
“You have to get your thoughts together before you dive into it,” Aicher said. “It took me a while to take the jump and get into it. You had to pick to the different elements you wanted to show, and the embellishments on the actual machine are amazing. There’s no way I could duplicate that, so I took little elements of that and incorporated it into this one.”
A tough part: the red thread, made of noodles from mung beans, she said.
Bliss called Aicher one of the event’s “stand-out legacy builders.”
“She always brings it, and always knocks everything out of the park,” Bliss added. “I am really just so impressed by her, but so many other creative gingerbread builders are really taking a page out of her book and bringing many genius works.”
Show info
This year’s show is supported by a grant from the Delores Barr Weaver Forever Event Fund, as well as donations from VyStar Credit Union, the Jess and Brewster J. Durkee Foundation, Rotary Club of Riverside, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and other donors and local philanthropists.
The show opened Friday and closes Dec. 28. Hours vary by day. Check the show calendar here.
A Kids Day is set for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, with Santa Claus, face-painting artists, scavenger hunt, food truck and more.
New for 2024 are two evening openings: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday this week as well as Dec. 19.
The exhibit also is open 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays through Fridays for school or seniors’ groups. The event is closed Dec. 15, 16, and 23 to 25.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for military and seniors, and $5 for children 4 to 12. Tickets should be purchased in advance here.
2024 winners
- Best in Show: A Special Apron for Mrs. Claus by Sara Aicher.
- Best in Fantasy (Senior): A Special Apron for Mrs. Claus by Sara Aicher.
- Best in Traditional (Adult): I’m Dreaming of a Pink Christmas by Lynette Bracy & Suzette McConnell.
- Best in Fantasy (Youth): Pink Candy Castle by the Polbos Family.
- Best Historic Structure (Senior): The Main Street Bridge by The Bridge Club.
- Best Historic Structure (Adult): Rudolph’s Christmas in Ormond Beach by Lynette Bracy.
- Best in Fantasy (Adult): Candyland by Sarah Taft.
- Best Historic Structure (Youth): St. John’s River Ferry by Grade 3 of Episcopal School of Jacksonville St. Mark’s Campus.
- Best Religious (Youth): Indy & Vada Graves and London Hires
