Gingerbread Houses (and Cathedrals)

I’m always fascinated to see which European influences have made it across the pond.  Unfortunately, my beloved mince pies isn’t one of them but Swedish gingerbread is definitely a big influence here during the festive season.

Last week we visited the Discovery Science Center – the local children’s museum – for their Science of Gingerbread exhibit.

The Center hosts a competition each year and I have to say to entries were amazing.

Marisa O’Neil was there with her OC Parks colleagues.  They won the prize for Best by a Corporation.  I’d assumed they placed an order with a bakery for their gingerbread display so was surprised to learn they’d made their gingerbread design themselves.  It looked so professional and really captured the spirit of OC Parks.

There were lots of other entries including Most Realistic for this Holiday Cathedral:

SpongeBob SquarePants was there too:

The Center has a great many hands on activities which the boys loved including putting marshmallows in a microwave to see what would happen and why.  It even started snowing after the ‘Science of Snow’ stage show, which was pretty cool.

If you live locally, it’s worth a visit and the Science of Gingerbread runs until 3rd January.

We’re inspired now to be a bit more creative when we make our gingerbread house this year.  We may have to think a bit bigger than just a house.  I’ll post a photo of our creation.