Gingerbread creations dazzle in annual contest

Plenty of royal icing, fondant and hard work was put on display at the Sanders County Historical Society's 25th Annual Gingerbread Contest last weekend. With the theme of "Silver Bells, Silver Bells...it's Christmas Time," 10 entries vied for the top prize the Auntie A Award. This award is named after long-time supporter of the contest the late Alice Nakamura. The winner for the fourth year in a row with the most votes was for Aimee Foyil's entry of a bygone Main Street. The creation included a barber shop, drug store, movie theater and diner complete with a sidewalk and decorated Christmas trees. Foyil's entry was in the adult category. Prizes were also awarded to top vote gatherers in the following categories: Family/Group – Helen, Jake, DeAnn and Cruz Meadows; Teen 13-18 – Sophia LaFriniere-Thornhill; Youth 8-12 - Cruz Meadows; and Child (age 7 and under) Kai Mosher.

Thompson Falls kindergarten students decorated gingerbread cookies, as has become tradition. Twenty-seven unique candy laden masterpieces were displayed throughout the museum. These large cookies were baked by Mona Jacobson and then decorated by the students. Jacobson was honored this year with a special thank you tribute for her year's of baking these treasures.

A door prize gift bag of handcrafted items donated by the Flat Iron Quilting Guild was won by Kathy Blacic of Trout Creek. Karen Norris of Thompson Falls won the chocolates guessing game. Her guess of 65 was closest to the number without going over.

The gingerbread contest is the museum's Christmas treat to the community – the one time the museum is open during the winter. Volunteers thanked the visitors who came to support the museum during the gingerbread event, and throughout the summer season. The museum is looking forward to re-opening Mother's Day 2023, when the new season will highlight toys from the past.