The Joy of Gingerbread 2021 contest winners are ...
PORTSMOUTH - The 31st annual Gingerbread House Contest, sponsored by the Portsmouth Historical Society, recently announced its winners.
The Community Judges' Awards are chosen by a panel of judges; the People's Choice Awards are chosen by visitors to the Gingerbread House Exhibit at Discover Portsmouth Welcome Center and the Committee's Award is chosen by the Gingerbread Committee of the Portsmouth Historical Socieyt which oversees the contest.
This year the contest exhibit runs through Wednesday, Dec. 22 and was made possible by sponsors Devine Millimet Attorneys at Law, Kennebunk Savings, Walmart Portsmouth Supercenter, Walmart Newington, Bangor Savings Bank, and Louis F. Clarizio DDS PA.
The 2021 Gingerbread Award Winners are:
The Community Judges' Awards
Adult Category: Winner (a tie!): Winter at Wood Island by Dudley Dudley, Betty Tamposi and Ellen Garvey and Castle in the Clouds by Lindsay Carroll; Honorable Mention: Santa's Elves Visit Castle in the Clouds by Marjorie Thorpe.
Multi-Generational Category: Winner: Reindeer Spa Day by the Johnson Family; Honorable Mention: Christmas Cape by Lindsey & Brooklyn Barnhorst.
Teen Category: Winner: The Holiday Connection by Arianna Incollingo and Frank Krupp; Honorable Mention: Searles Castle by Natalie, Rachel and Amirah Little.
Youth Category: Winner: Story Land by Ellie Ordman; Honorable Mention: Summer Vacation by Abbey Menard.
Business or Organization Category: Winner, Holiday Castle by Libby Giordano for Make-A-Wish New Hampshire; Honorable Mention: You're a Good Man Charlie Brown by Prescott Park Arts Festival.
Professional Category: Winner, Tangled by Bobby Menard; Honorable Mention, Birds of a Feather by Jackie Van Berlo.
Best in Show: Winner (a tie!), Castle in the Clouds by Lindsay Carroll and Birds of a Feather by Jackie Van Berlo.
The Community Judges panels is made up of sponsors and other community members closely involved with the Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth program. This year’s judges were: Bangor Savings Bank, Mamadou Demble and Wendy O’Sullivan; Devine Millimet, Pam Peterson; Kennebunk Savings, Doug Smith and Rachel Peters; Walmart Portsmouth Supercenter, Joey Martel; Walmart Newington, Christine Whalen; Portsmouth Chamber Collaborative, Ben Van Camp; City Manager, Karen Conard;
City Councilor and Mayor Elect, Deaglan Mc Eachern.
People’s Choice Awards
Visitors to Portsmouth Historical Society and participants in the downtown scavenger hunt are invited to cast their own ballot for their favorite displays. Voting closes with about ten days remaining in the exhibition to allow as many people to vote as possible, while still giving the winners an opportunity to bask in the glow of winning ribbons.
Most Attention to Detail: Castle in the Clouds by Lindsay Carroll.
Most Creative Building Materials: Birds of a Feather by Jackie Van Berlo.
Most Whimsical: Reindeer Spa Day by the Johnson Family.
Best Downtown: Enchanted Holiday Cottage by Melissa Kutch.
Best in Show: Castle in the Clouds by Lindsay Carroll
The Committee’s Award
Every year, a committee of Portsmouth Historical Society staff and several extremely dedicated volunteers form the Gingerbread Committee.
In a release, the committee stated, "We’ve seen so many houses over the years that we’ve become connoisseurs of gingerbread confectionary creations. Every year we like to choose a house that we think shows exceptional skill that may not have otherwise received recognition. This year’s winner of the Committee’s Award is the amazing construction skills, interesting materials, and extreme attention to detail demonstrated by There's No Place Like Dome by Lauren Burdett.
For more information, visit www.PortsmouthHistory.org/gingerbread.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Portsmouth Historical Society presents 31st Gingerbread House Contest
