Create a Gingerbread House for the 2008 Fantasy of Trees

School classes, bakers, chefs and all creative good cooks are invited to build and decorate gingerbread houses for the Gingerbread Village. Donations of confectionary delights will be showcased in a winter wonderland and sold to guests attending the Fantasy of Trees, all to benefit Children's Hospital.

Where You Are Needed
Design and donate one or more gingerbread houses in the following categories:

• Large (24" x 24" base) – 12 needed
• Medium (18" x 18" base) – 18 needed
• Small (12" x 12” base) – 18 needed
• Mini (10" x 10" base) – 125 needed

Guidelines For Gingerbread Houses

• Structures may be gingerbread houses, castles, trains or other creations.
• Creativity is encouraged to make your house(s) as fanciful as possible. Carry a theme from the house to the landscaping around the house. Unusual application of food items is encouraged.
• House(s) must be full structure, constructed on a firm base of plywood or other solid material to stabilize the house for delivery. Construction of the house should be as secure as possible to ensure the house will not fall apart as the purchaser takes it home.
• House(s) should be made of non-perishable gingerbread, cookies and/or other cracker-type materials, with icing, candy, pretzels and other foodstuffs appropriate to creative gingerbread houses.
• Glue should not be used as a material; only royal icing is recommended for strength and durability. Regular icing is not stable and may spoil and/or cause the house to fall apart. Egg whites work better than meringue powder in the royal icing.
• The base must be covered with foil and fully decorated with icing and other foodstuffs appropriate to scenery around the house.
• Houses are sold strictly as non-consumable confections. However, hazardous materials are strictly forbidden.

All gingerbread houses are donations to the Fantasy of Trees, and will be priced for sale based on amount of candy and decoration provided by each baker and charitability within the Fantasy of Trees market. Gingerbread house will remain on display throughout the show.

Competition
First, second and third place ribbons will be awarded to the winners in each size category (except 10" x 10"). Judging will be based on technical house construction, creative use of materials, quality of work and originality.

Recognition
Each house will have a small sign listing the donor's name.

Upon delivery, each donor will receive the following complimentary tickets for each house donated:

Large house -- 6 show tickets
Medium house -- 4 show tickets
Small house -- 3 show tickets
Mini house -- 2 show tickets

Delivery
House(s) must be delivered to the Fantasy of Trees at the Knoxville Convention Center on Sunday, November 23; specific instructions will be sent at a later date.

How To Participate
Space is limited, and bakers will be accepted on a first-come basis upon receipt of a signed contract at the Fantasy of Trees Office. Click here to download and print the Gingerbread Village contract.

For more information on the Fantasy of Trees, please call (865) 541-8385 or write to FOT@etch.com