Connecticut Governor’s Mansion replica on display at the Gingerbread House Festival in South Windsor, Connecticut.

Write-up & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb

A jewel of an event is underway, the 3rd Annual Gingerbread House Festival at the Wood Memorial Library and Museum in South Windsor, Connecticut. Seemingly tucked away in what is known as old South Windsor, inside the library is setup like a winter wonderland with gingerbread houses of all shapes and sorts displayed on multiple floors.

Donations are appreciated.

“Candyland”

From the whimsical “Candyland” to the “B Strong” gingerbread replica of Fenway Park field that will please fans of the 2013 World Series Champs Boston Red Sox, to a tobacco shed entry – a reminder of the rich tobacco farming history of the area, there is something for everyone to enjoy. History buffs will not want to miss an impressive replica of the Connecticut Governor’s Mansion created by Warren Hardman, Head Pastry Chef, The Max Group, or a replica of the East Windsor Hill Post Office, described as the oldest continuously operated post office in the nation. 

East Windsor Hill Post
Office – the oldest continuously operated post office in the nation.

Pleasant volunteers such as Bobbie Cote are on hand to greet visitors and answer questions. On this day Cote was at the entrance table and showed a gingerbread house she said she discovered in Lux, Bond & Green.

Replica of a 4th generation tobacco shed.

“I found this in of all places – Lux, Bond & Green. It was on sale for half price and I said I wanted to buy it for the Wood festival, so they took another ten dollars off,” she noted.

Upstairs is a small gift shop, accessible by elevator or stairs,  “Ye Old Gingerbread Shoppe” where crafts and “goodies” are available for purchase, including Gingerbread House Festival tote bags and snow globes.

The festival opened on November 29 and runs through December 15, Monday,Thursday & Friday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free but donations are appreciated. Silent auction drawings are slated for Sunday, Dec. 15 at 2:00 p.m.; the winner does not need to be present.

Volunteer Bobbie Cote with a gingerbread house she bought at Lux, Bond & Green.

Megan Jo Cooke of Glastonbury and Julia Deitelbaun of Ellington offered musical accompaniment.

Wood is a volunteer-run, non-profit, privately funded facility. It was built by William Wood as a memorial to his parents Dr. William Wood and Mary Ellsworth Wood, selecting Hartford architect William Marchant in 1926 to design it, according to the festival program. The Friends of Wood Memorial Library, incorporated in 1971, “oversee its operation” as a privately funded library.

For those who are not familiar with the area, don’t give up looking for this wonderful festival – follow Pleasant Valley Road to the end to reach Wood located at 783 Main Street.

Be prepared to come away from the festival with a hankering for gingerbread cookies, or perhaps inspiration to bake a gingerbread house of your own.

Go to http://www.woodmemoriallibrary.org for more information.