The Vermont Folklife Center announces its first virtual gingerbread house competition and exhibit. This ever-popular 22-year annual tradition will continue safely despite the pandemic.
“If we can’t all crowd into a room to admire these fantastically creative confections and cast our ballots, we’ll do so online,” said the Folklife Center. “There is no shortage of creativity and excitement around this holiday tradition; bakers and creators documented the process and their completed gingerbread houses in photographs and audio recordings.”
Visit the Vermont Folklife Center’s website to view over 30 confection constructions: vtfolklife.org.
“Home for the Holidays” is the exhibit theme this year. Since the beginning of the pandemic, “home” has taken on some different  — maybe complicated — meanings for many of us. Having been hunkered down at home since March, entrants were invited to explore what “Home for the Holidays” means to them now.
Do they want to be somewhere — anywhere — else? Are they, or people they love, essential workers who won’t be at home? Are they looking forward to the winter holiday season as a chance to reinvent or rediscover home life? What does it mean to be “Home for the Holidays” when there’s really nowhere else to go? Or when many family members won’t be able to return home at all.
Entrants have baked and built their creations at home and submitted photos to participate in the contest. Prizes are awarded in multiple categories, and the public is invited to vote on their favorite entry, to be awarded the coveted “People’s Choice Award.”