First Annual Gingerbread Jubilee!!

The first annual Gingerbread Jubilee was held Sunday, November 22nd and Monday, November 23rd at the RiverMill Event Center. The event was inspired by the National Gingerbread House Competition and Display in Asheville’s Grove Park Inn. Executive chef Jamie Keating and his wife teamed up with the Children’s Miracle Network to host this event which not only highlighted some of the area’s most talented pastry chefs, amateur and professional alike, but also raised funds to help provide medical care for children in our area.

For free admission, guests enjoyed holiday cooking demonstrations from Jamie Keating, children’s activities including decorating small gingerbread houses, and a silent auction to purchase the elaborate gingerbread houses in the competition.

Competitors could enter their elaborate creations for $25-$75 in the category that applied to them. There were five different categories to choose from: Celebrity, Corporate, School, Amateur, and Professional. Guests were able to choose their favorites and vote for them for $1 per vote.

The Winners of the Gingerbread Jubilee Competition 2009 are as follows:

Celebrity Category:
1st Place: Dr. Timothy Mascon
2nd Place: Rochelle and Scott Ressmeyer
3rd Place: Lance and Debbie Duke

Corporate Category:
1st Place: Georgia Military College at Ft. Benning

School Category:
1st Place: LaGrange Academy
2nd Place: Clubview Elementary
3rd Place: Shaw High School Beta Club

Amateur Category:
1st Place: Lindsay Welch and Amber Cousineau
2nd Place: Kamet Theobald
3rd Place: Joan Bowden

Professional Category:
1st Place: Karla Thompson
2nd Place: Taylor Mack
3rd Place: Julie Whitenour

This event was a huge success. If you missed out this year, make plans to attend next year with your family and friends as this is expected to be an annual celebration.