{"id":11712,"date":"2011-12-06T16:48:33","date_gmt":"2011-12-06T22:48:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/zing.olemiss.edu\/?p=11712"},"modified":"2014-09-23T08:33:31","modified_gmt":"2014-09-23T13:33:31","slug":"gingerbread-house-village-brings-holiday-wonderland-to-ford-center","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/web20.olemiss.edu\/news\/wordpress\/gingerbread-house-village-brings-holiday-wonderland-to-ford-center\/","title":{"rendered":"Gingerbread House Village Brings Holiday Wonderland to Ford Center"},"content":{"rendered":"

OXFORD, Miss. \u2013 Hansel and Gretel would feel right at home at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts this holiday season.<\/p>\n

In what is becoming a new tradition at the University of Mississippi, the Gingerbread House Village is on display in the Ford Center’s studio theatre through Dec. 16. A visit to the eight-piece “village,” created by a variety of local bakers, is a charming, free way to get into the holiday spirit, said Norm Easterbrook, Ford Center director.<\/p>\n

“This is our second year displaying the village,” he said. “It gets bigger and better each season.”The Gingerbread Village is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, with extended hours until 6:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays. Santa himself plans to drop by from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 10), and visitors are encouraged to bring cameras for pictures. Beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday (Dec. 11), Miss America 2011 Teresa Scanlan will be on hand for photos with guests visiting the village before the 3 p.m. performance of \u201cSounds of the Season.\u201d<\/p>\n

The gingerbread village is free and open to the public, and guests are encouraged to bring a contribution to provide food for the Oxford Pantry.<\/p>\n

Professional and amateur bakers were encouraged to enter gingerbread houses for this year’s display. The only restrictions were that houses could be no larger than 3 feet square, and submissions must not be made from a kit.<\/p>\n

This year’s submissions include a gingerbread likeness of “Whoville,” plus a true-to-life cookie and candy version of the Ole Miss Grove’s “Walk of Champions” designed by the freshmen EDHD 105, section 23 class. One gingerbread neighborhood, designed by the UM Department of Biology, features cottages for Louis Pasteur, Ivan Pavlov and Charles Darwin.<\/p>\n

Joe Ann Allen of Oxford said the replica of the Powerhouse Community Arts Center, designed by Andy Douglas, is one of her favorites, because it doesn’t have the typical gabled roof. “I’m so glad I came; this is the first time it’s felt like Christmas,” she said.<\/p>\n

Her daughter, Paige Allen, marveled at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory’s gingerbread likeness, and said, “It smells great in here. Can I eat it?”<\/p>\n

Easterbrook said he’s heard similar comments from the busloads of children who have visited the Ford Center since the village opened Dec. 1.<\/p>\n

“The houses are fragile, so no touching and no eating,” Easterbrook said. “Boy, I feel like the Grinch when I say that.”<\/p>\n

The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory of Oxford is giving visitors a chance to win its gingerbread creation. Tickets to win the 24x24x18-inch edible house cost $5 each, with proceeds going to the Scott Center PTA for children’s activities. The raffle concludes Dec. 16. Call Gena Ivy at 662-232-1906 or 662-816-5181 for tickets or more information.<\/p>\n

Other creations were provided by Holli’s Sweet Tooth, Cypress Lake Soap, Fogerty Brothers Painting and Nest Paper Studio.<\/p>\n

For a complete schedule of events or for assistance related to a disability, call the Ford Center at 662-915-2787.<\/p>\n

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