Holiday builders

IRONWOOD - Instead of bricks, cement and wood, area children used graham crackers, licorice and frosting to create structures fit for a gingerbread man, during the annual gingerbread house workshop at the Downtown Art Place on Saturday in Ironwood.

More than 100 children attended the event, which gets "more and more popular" each year, according to event organizer Arlene Schneller.

"We had 50 people waiting to get in when we first opened this morning," she said.

The workshop allowed for kids to use their creativity in making structures out of every day foods. More than $250 worth of candy was purchased for the day, with help from local businesses. Kids had loads of sweets to work with, including gumdrops, licorice, sprinkles and chocolate.

Kids also used pretzels to make windows, ice cream cones to create towers and graham crackers for the roof and walls.

"Some people even brought their own candy to work with, which was really cool," Schneller said. "The Christmas candy really took hold, with lots of kids using reds and greens."

Schneller said she has been putting on the event for nearly 15 years, and has found a "permanent home" at DAP.

"I have done this in church basements, community centers and other locations," she said. "It's nice to have a permanent home at the DAP now."

In addition to making their houses, children could also enter their creations in the annual Gingerbread House Competition during the 2014 Jack Frost Festival.

Children 18 years old and under can enter a gingerbread house until 1 p.m. on Dec. 3. Structures can be in one of three categories - small, no bigger than 12x12 inches; medium, no bigger than 12x20 inches; or large, no bigger than 12x24 inches. All structures have to be less than 2 feet high.

According to contest rules, children's entries must have "very little parent/adult participation," because the event doesn't judge "the most perfect or beautiful house with children's entries," but by "children's honest attempt at creating their own project, using their own creativity."

Another workshop takes place today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at DAP.

"It's nice to have a mix of the experienced kids and the new faces," Schneller said. "It's really nice to see the little ones here too. We have a lot of fun."

For more information on the Gingerbread House Competition, contact Schneller at 906-364-0992, or at [email protected]. Entries forms can also be found online at downtownartplace.com.