Marblehead's Gingerbread Festival is Back For a 10th Year

MARBLEHEAD, MA - With the holidays rapidly approaching, organizers at the Marblehead Museum are gearing up for the annual Gingerbread Festival.

The festival began 10 years ago, according to Marblehead Museum Direcot Pam Peterson. Peterson said it got started when Lydia Smyers, of the Marblehead Family Fund, came to Peterson with and idea to do a Gingerbread Festival in Marblehead.

"We decided the Lee Mansion, owned by the Marblehead Museum, would be a perfect location. The festival was an instant success- and continues to grow bigger and better every year," Peterson said.

This year, the Gingerbread Festival is open Thursday evening Nov. 30 from 5-6:30 p.m. and Friday evening Dec. 1 from 4-6 p.m., Saturday from 10-4 p.m. , and Sunday from 12-2 p.m. . The raffle drawing will take place at 2 p.m. at the Lee Mansion. Entries to the Gingerbread Festival will be accepted on Wednesday, Nov. 29 at the Lee Mansion.

Last year there were over 100 Gingerbread Houses on display, designed for every architectural taste and style, Peterson said. Entries included several different designs, even a gingerbread lobster.

Petersons said the proceeds, which are kept low so that as many families as possible can attend, benefit the Marblehead Museum and the Family Fund.

All the houses are raffled and taken away at the end of Christmas Walk weekend.

Additionally, Gingerbread Workshops offered annually at the Marblehead Museum are back starting in December. Each workshop includes all materials to make a take-home Gingerbread house, plus a snack and holiday stories.

Admission to the Gingerbread Festival is $3 per person, and $10 per family. The price includes a raffle ticket, and more are available for $1 each. For more information call 781-631- 1768.

Courtesy Photo / Marblehead Museum