22nd Annual Gingerbread Display and Competition Announces Official List of Winners, opens People’s Choice Award Voting
Pittsburgh, PA – The City of Pittsburgh’s 22nd Annual Gingerbread Display and Competition presented by Clearview, now officially open for the holiday season, is pleased to announce this year’s winners.
Once again in 2024, over 300 entries were received from schools, families, professionals and neighbors for the competition, and a panel of judges has selected their top choices. Favorite children’s movies, coffee houses, and Paris were popular themes this year, with many Pittsburgh infused topics once again making an appearance, including City landmark Randyland, and iconic engineer George Ferris and his Ferris Wheel.
In addition to the 19 category awards, one entry was awarded as the inaugural honoree for the Clearview Choice, selected by the City’s official event partner, and for a second year an additional entry was named the Curator’s Choice, a pick from one of Carnegie Museum of Art’s own curators.
After careful deliberation, Clearview representatives have selected “Page’s Dairy Mart”, entered by students at Moore Elementary School. “Designed by future leaders and creatives at Moore Elementary School, students beautifully captured a Pittsburgh favorite, a beloved ice cream shop that brings people together through delicious treats,” said Amber Deemer, Director of Community Engagement at Clearview Federal Credit Union. “The ‘Page’s Dairy Mart’ gingerbread house was selected as the Clearview Choice Award Winner, celebrating its positive impact on the community. Just as Page’s Dairy Mart creates connection through sweet treats, Clearview is dedicated to empowering our community financially, helping individuals and families build better lives.”
Rachel Delphia, Alan G. and Jane A. Lehman Curator of Decorative Arts and Design at Carnegie Museum of Art, selected an entry from the Spegar Family titled “Hickory Dickory Clock” as the 2024 Curator’s Choice. “On behalf of Carnegie Museum of Art, we’re honored to partner with the City of Pittsburgh on this cherished holiday tradition,” says Delphia, “It’s a joy to connect with individuals and organizations who are enriching the cultural landscape of our region, and when it came to selecting the second annual Curator’s Choice award, there was no doubt that the winner was the Spegar Family’s ‘Hickory Dickory Clock.’ It’s such a whimsical concept—a little fondant mouse breaking into a gingerbread tall case clock.. The clock was beautifully designed and crafted down to the tiniest details, like the time being set to 12:25! We applaud the creativity of Miller Spegar, age 12, and his parents and everyone who participated in the 22nd Annual Gingerbread House Display and Competition.”
This year’s entries will remain on display through January 3, 2025 in the grand lobby of the historic City-County Building. Visitors are able to view the display weekdays from 10:00am-6:00pm, and on weekends from 10:00am-5:00pm. Holiday closures will occur November 28-29 and December 25, 2024 as well as January 1, 2025. Those unable to attend in person can visit http://www.getinvolved.pittsburghpa.gov/gingerbread-house-competition to view the online gallery, where voting is currently taking place for the 2024 People’s Choice Award, a chance for any viewer to vote for their favorite entry of the year. People’s Choice voting will conclude on December 31, with a winner to be announced shortly after the new year. The full official list of category winners can be found at the end of this release.
The Gingerbread House Display and Competition began in 2002 when Downtown Pittsburgh hotels hosted the event to benefit the Children’s Hospital Free Care Fund, and since has attracted thousands of entries and visitors to PPG Place before moving to the City-County Building in 2019. The 2024 Gingerbread House Display and Competition presented by Clearview is produced by the City of Pittsburgh Office of Special Events, with media support provided by KDKA Radio, 100.7 Star, Y108, WAMO 107.3, and 93.7 The Fan.
For more information on this event, please email gingerbread@pittsburghpa.gov or by calling 412-255-2493.
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The full list of 2024 winners, by category, are:
Adult 18+
First Christmas at Hogwarts Colleen Raymond
Second The Elf Takeover Meghan Kokoski
Third Snow Globe City Station L. Joseph
HM North Pole Floristry Allison Sennott
Children 14-17
First Tudor House Juliette Churchill
Second Sparkly Bakery Allegra Synowiec
Third Festive & Frosty Roxie Fink
HM Mojo Dojo Casa House Samantha Reese & Katie Deller
Children 10-13
First Christmas Nightmare Nook Jack Gallacher
Second CinnamonClaw Castle Leah Gasier
Third Raya & Sisu’s Holiday Adventure Alivia & Myka Reeder
HM Gingerbread House Michael Mannion
Children 6-9
First A Minecraft Miracle Finn Gallacher
Second Cat Café Rina Shoemaker
Third The Beach Princess Treasure House Sonya Singh
HM Narwhal Mia Mannion
Children 5 & Under
First Gingerbread Building Henry & Will Boekenhauer
Second Whirling Sweets Jack Coogan
Third A Dragon’s Lair Hunter Coogan
HM Hansel & Gretel’s Candy Cottage Willem Coogan
Non-Profit 18+
First Jungle Bell ROC! Pitt Athletic Training Students
Second Dashing Through the Snow in Jeepney
Bread’ed Sleigh The Filipino American Association of Pittsburgh
Third Candyland Goodwill Aspire Program
HM A Vintage Winter Wonderland Vintage Center for Active Adults
Non-Profit 14-17
First Chapel of the Holy Night Divine Grace Parish LifeTeen
Second The Magical Holiday Hotel AHG Troop PA1273 – Pioneers/Patriots
Third Tis the Season Scout Troop 52418
Non-Profit 10-13
First Elf Hotel AGH Troop PA1273 Explorers
Second Wilderness Lodge Girl Scout Troop 53313
Third Jingle Bell Elf Manor Girl Scout Troop 36796
HM Jr. & Cadettes Troop 52745 Jr. & Cadettes Troop 52745
Family
First Hickory Dickory Clock T The Spegar Family
Second Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree The Brady-Gallacher Family
Third Jack’s Perfect Holiday T The Perry/Sherback Family
HM Coffee Café N’At The Rothermel/Gesk Family
City Neighborhoods
First Barbenheimer at the Manor Band of Buddies(Lawrenceville)
Second Light Up the South Side South Side Community Council
Third My Favorite Things South Side Kids
HM Norbert’s Gingerbread Miracle Norbert Person Care (Carrick)
City Departments & Authorities
First Inside Out Allegheny County CYF-CSEC Team
Second Nar-Candy Land City of Pittsburgh Office of Community Health & Safety
Third Charmed in the Cold Paulson Recreation Center
HM Christmas at Gail’s Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh
High School
First Pittsburgh’s Own – George Ferris &
His Ferris Wheel Blackhawk High School
Second I’ve A Feeling We’re Not in
Kansas Anymore Blackhawk Food Science
Third Coraline House National Art Honor Society- Fox Chapel
HM Christmas Ski Resort Mercer High School
Middle School
First Cozy Log Cabin Freeport Middle Art 8 – Olaf Outlaws
Second Randyland Moon Area MS Life Skills- Finn & Hilpert
Third Up House… Reflown Beaver Area Middle School
HM Moana – Te Fiti The Pathfinder School
Elementary School
First Page’s Dairy Mart Moore Elementary School – 5th Grade Sciulli
Second The Frosty Pine Treehouse YIMS YALE
Third Providence Heights Alpha School Providence Heights Alpha School
HM Wild Wild WES Washington Elementary Life Skills Class
Preschool & Kindergarten
First Holly Jolly Rancher Ranch Allie Alligator Learning Center
Second Christmas Camping The Explorer Classroom
Third Holiday House Allie Alligator Learning Center
HM Alphabet Blocks Mrs. R’s Preschool 4’s
Professional
First Irish Cottage Heather Farren McKelvey & Sheila Lucas
Second The Point frosting & crumbs – Mary Jo Dowling
Third Stellar Gnomeville Stellar Support Services
Culinary School
First Olaf’s Lake Escape Springdale Jr.-Sr. High School
Second Nighty Night Santa Sleep Tight Karen Marie Lindow
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