It's the gingerbread time of year.
This weekend marks the beginning of the Gingerbread House Festival at Thanksgiving Point, which raises funds for charities that fight child abuse. Besides looking at the 500 or so spicy-sweet homes fit for Hansel and Gretel, kids can find fun in a winter carnival hosted by the Utah PTA. The carnival includes games and demonstrations of old-fashioned Christmas activities like taffy pulling, weaving and soap-making.
On Saturday, PTA members may show their membership card to receive $1 off their ticket price.
Deb Dowdle, executive director of the Gingerbread House Foundation, said the houses were donated by the community and corporate sponsors, schoolchildren, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and families.
"We like to use the word 'magic,' " said Dowdle, in explaining the reason for the festival. "There's nothing quite like watching the eyes of children light up when they walk through the doors of the festival and tour our gingerbread houses. Even more marvelous is when adults light up and act like children. It's the perfect kickoff to the holiday season, and it does so much good for Utah children."
The houses are auctioned to the public, with proceeds going to prevent and treat child abuse through the foundation and four designated beneficiaries: Association of Family Support Centers, Boy Scouts Youth Protection Program, r.a.d.KIDS and Utah Children's Justice Centers. A similar event, the 2003 Gingerbread Jubilee, took place last weekend at the The Gateway to raise funds for the Children's Justice Centers, which were part of the Thanksgiving Point festival last year.
"The Attorney General's Office, representatives of Children's Justice Centers, and a few volunteers decided to part ways with us half way through the festival planning year," said Dowdle. "The Attorney General's Office created its own charity entity and event. They asked us to sever ties with them, so we accommodated. We raise funds for the cause of preventing abuse through more than one organization. They raise funds for the Utah Children's Justice Centers only."
The Gingerbread House Foundation was begun by Dowdle's husband, Utah folk artist Eric Dowdle. She said his inspiration came while making gingerbread man cookies with his two children one winter day. At the time he was a single father, with two injured knees from a skiing accident. He dropped one of the cookies and broke its legs, almost in the same place where his legs had been injured. He tried to salvage the cookie by frosting over it, but the broken pieces couldn't withstand pressure.
"It occurred to Eric that healing bodies is very different from healing souls, as in those that suffer from abuse, and certainly receive less attention," Deb Dowdle said. "The actual souls of people are wounded and often take a lifetime to heal. From that day on, Eric has worked to create a foundation focused on the prevention and treatment of child abuse."
Last year the foundation raised $10,000 for the Utah Children's Justice Centers, said Deb Dowdle, who expects the festival to raise well over $100,000 to divide among this year's beneficiaries.
About 80 percent of the materials in the houses are edible, so visitors can expect to see lots of candies and cookies, held together with frosting. Some are the creations of Charlotte Mann of Lindon, who operates a home business making gingerbread products and party kits. Mann donated class time to teach those who wanted to make and donate houses and also made houses for companies who wanted to donate one but didn't have the expertise to make it, said Dowdle.
Tonight performers from "Miss Ginger and the Kookies," cable TV children's show based in Burbank, Calif., will entertain visitors, and former Jazz player and singer Thurl Bailey will perform Nov. 29.
If you go
What: Gingerbread House Festival
Where: Thanksgiving Point, Lehi
When: Today through Nov. 29, except Sunday and Thanksgiving Day, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
How much: $10 family pass for up to 6 people; $3 ages 13 and older; $2 ages 4-12; 3 and under, free
Phone: 801-785-8999 or 888-785-8999
Web:www.gingerbreadhousefoundation.com
E-MAIL: vphillips@desnews.com