Construction of Duluth’s Gingerbread City began in earnest during the weekend, with about 45 young builders participating in a workshop Saturday.
On Sunday afternoon, more creations from builders young and old continued to arrive at the Nordic Center.
“I know it’s still pre-Thanksgiving, but we’re into this full-steam,” said Alison Aune as she prepared for the third-annual edible display.
Bente Soderlind first dreamed up the idea of building a gingerbread city at Duluth’s Nordic Center, drawing inspiration from her hometown of Bergen, Norway, which hosts the largest annual holiday gingerbread display in the world.
With about 150 structures on display last year, Duluth’s event is notably smaller, but it keeps growing, Aune said.
This year, the display has a new name.
“We’re going with ‘Duluth Gingerbread City,’ because ‘Pepperkakebyen’ was a little difficult for people to say,” Aune explained, although she expressed a personal affinity for the original Norwegian name.
Triss Harwood arrived at the center Sunday afternoon carefully bearing a gingerbread Viking ship she had built with the help of her son, Eric Thomas, who works at Barker’s Island. It was their first time participating in the event, but Harwood said they had visited the display in the past and were inspired to lend a hand.
“It’s always fun to see what people come up with,” she said. “This is such a great community event.”
Baker-builders participating in the event were quick to share advice and expertise.
“The icing is the tricky thing,” Aune said, noting that a bit of powdered egg white helps to stiffen frosted joints. A traditionalist, she frowns on the use of glue guns.
“The gingerbread needs to be tough, too,” Harwood said, explaining that crumbly panels won’t do.
But Aune was quick to note that the gingerbread should be rolled fairly thin, lest structures collapse under their own weight.
Linnea Hinkel, Aune’s daughter, helped to decorate the scene Sunday.
“This gets us in the mood for Christmas,” she said, “and it almost makes us feel like we’re back in Scandinavia.”
Aune smiles at the idea of keeping a tradition that dates back to the 12th century alive and said it provides a healthy break from the hectic distractions of modern life.
“Families roll out the dough together and slow down,” she said. “Just put away the cellphone for a little while.”
Aune noted that the ginger, cardamom, cinnamon and pepper that are baked into the edible structures were considered exotic spices in their day, and they helped brighten the mood during the darkest time of the year. She said the spices also were thought to have medicinal benefits.
The free display will first open to the public from 4-8 p.m. Friday in conjunction with Duluth’s Christmas City of the North parade. Visitors are invited to stop in to admire the scene and enjoy a cup of hot cider or coffee and a bite of gingerbread, though not from the city.
If you go
What: Duluth Gingerbread City.
Where: The Nordic Center, 23 N. Lake Ave.
When: Opens from 4-8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21. Display also may be viewed Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 4-6 p.m. through Sunday, Dec. 14.
