FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 19, 2007
Contact: Ann Grimm or Jen Peterson
Port of Bellingham
(360) 676-2500
12th Annual Gingerbread Houses Contest at the 2007 Holiday Port Festival
DECEMBER 7-9 at the BELLINGHAM CRUISE TERMINAL
[Bellingham, Wash.] You may not have unpacked your holiday decorations yet, but it's not too early to start thinking about gingerbread. Gingerbread houses that is. The deadline for sending the Port of Bellingham your entry form for the Holiday Port Festival's 12th Annual Gingerbread House Decorating Contest is Monday, December 3. Gingerbread houses must be delivered to the Bellingham Cruise Terminal on Wednesday, December 5. All entries will be on display during The Holiday Port Festival from December 7-9 at Bellingham Cruise Terminal.
This popular community event attracts everyone from professional cake decorators to preschoolers. All ages and skill levels are invited to see what they can create and prizes donated by local merchants will be awarded to first place winners in all categories. The gingerbread structures will be judged on presentation, quality of construction, detail and design, and originality. The public is invited to vote for their favorite gingerbread structure in the "People's Choice Award". The winner will receive two round trip cruises to Victoria -- including a delicious dinner -- donated by Victoria San Juan Cruises.
Contest participants are encouraged to donate their Gingerbread Houses to the Festival's silent auction. The silent auction will be held throughout The Holiday Port Festival, with bids closing at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 9. All funds raised from the auction will go to the Mt. Baker Chapter of the American Red Cross. Last year this event raised more than $3500.
Entry forms containing rules and contest divisions can be downloaded here or picked up at the following locations:
• Port of Bellingham Administrative Offices - 1801 Roeder Avenue, Bellingham
• Bellingham Cruise Terminal - 355 Harris Avenue, Bellingham
• Squalicum Harbor Marina Office - Marina Square, Bellingham
• Blaine Harbor Marina Office - 275 Marine Drive, Blaine
The Holiday Port Festival is presented by the Port of Bellingham and sponsored by BP Cherry Point Refinery, Bellingham Travel and Cruise and Rainier Petroleum Products and media sponsor KAFE Radio. Prizes for the Gingerbread House Decorating Contest are donated by Bellingham Travel and Cruise, Brenthaven, Heininger Automotive, The Bunch Store and Village Books.
Event Hours:
Friday: Noon - 8 p.m. Saturday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
