By John Dowd 

CHRISTMAS TAKES OVER MAIN STREET

Creativity on display in gingerbread contest

 

December 9, 2021

Miriah Kardelis

LEADING THE WAY - Karen Dwyer of Thompson Falls served as grand marshal in the annual Christmas on Main Street parade.

This year the 24th annual Sanders County Historical Society's Gingerbread Contest had fewer houses entered than it has seen in the past, according to Old Jail Museum board member and contest coordinator Teri Johnsen. Regardless, according to Johnsen, "We enjoy doing it and we have a good time." The contest had 11 entrees overall. Winners of each category won $25, and the overall winner received $100. There were five categories, including family, adult, teen, youth and child.

The first-place winner received the Auntie A Award, named after Alice Nakamura, who participated in the contest for many years and won six times between 1998 and 2007. She was said to have built numerous extremely intricate gingerbread homes with elaborate displays. The museum decided to name the top award after her, especially following her great support of the event. The voting for each winner is done by the public, who come to the museum to view and submit their votes.

The overall winner was Aimee Foyil, who also won the adult category. This was her third year in a row winning the event. "The snow-laden trees and roof were spectacularly authentic," Johnsen said of Foyil's entry. The family/group winner was Mountain Meadows Youth Ranch. Winning the youth category was Sophia LaFriniere and Kai Mosher won the child category.

John Dowd

MESMERIZED - Children watch the parade on Main Street Saturday evening in Thompson Falls. Despite a December rain, hundreds of community members attended the event.

The contest had participation from Trout Creek to Plains and had about 40 Thompson Falls kindergarteners create gingerbread characters to display. The event was coordinated with the school through teachers Amy Laws and Amber Yates. All the gingerbread men, who each measured larger than a dinner plate in size, were baked by Mona Jacobson, who has done so for nearly 20 years. Each gingerbread man displayed from the school was returned to the maker along with an apron for each of them. Many of the creations had to be laid on their back while displayed because of the amount of decoration added. "Some of the little guys weren't shy about the candy," Johnsen said.

"The volunteers would like to thank all the visitors who came to support the Museum during the Gingerbread Event, and throughout the summer of 2021," Johnsen added. Though closed for the winter, the museum will re-open Mother's Day 2022.

 

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