Entry # 1
“Aurora Firehouse No. 7”
(Junior Division)

Gingerbread and fun child snacks like Rice Krispie treats, pretzels, gumballs, “Now and Later” candy were used to decorate this replica of Aurora’s Fire Station 7 while “Smore’s” and “Red Hot” candies were used to represent heat and fire.

Aurora’s Fire Station 7 is located in Lincoln Park, the adjacent to Holy Angels School. The scouts of Holy Angels, Cub Scout Pack 326, Den 3 toured the real firehouse to gathered ideas to create their own “school pride” Gingerbread Firehouse. Important details of the real fire station, such as the fire engine, the flag pole and even the pop machine on the front porch were represented. Each Scout took ownership of a side or component of the firehouse. The Scouts gathered in small groups to decorate the Gingerbread Firehouse after school. At these workshops we demonstrated a factory-like assembly while listening to Christmas Carols and eating lots of candy!

Entry # 2
“Jakes Bagel Brigade”
(Adult Division)

Oh No!! Jakes Bagels and Deli is burning down! Don’t worry the firefighters using a bucket brigade of bagels will save the day!

The Aurora Fire Station is crafted from gingerbread, with royal icing. The ready-made gingerbread firefighters are sporting buckets of Cheerio “bagels” in hand-made fire buckets.

Entry # 3
“Christmas on Broadway”
(Adult Division)

This Aurora Holiday street scene is crafted from gingerbread, rice cereal treats.

Entry # 4
“FDNY Ten House to the Rescue”
(Adult Division)

FDNY’s Ten House, located directly across from the World Trade Center, was nearly destroyed on September 11, 2001. Although it suffered heavy damage in the attacks, this building's foundation – like the foundation of this department – stood firm. The building was rebuilt, and in 2006 the renowned memorial sculpture/plaque was dedicated to the 343 lost.

Each year Ten House a show is put on for the neighborhood, where Santa is rescued by the brave firefighters.

The firehouse (window frames, overhead doors and all) are baked from gingerbread, the window glass and faux metal panels (on the corner of the building) are homemade hard candy. The fire truck is formed with rice cereal treats and covered with fondant, and painted. The remainder of our characters are made from fondant, and in some cases a gingerbread frame (most notably seen in the reindeer antlers). Melted candy canes form the base of our sleigh, and fun shaped sweets are used to represent our toys, with black licorice as our reindeer bridle.

Entry # 5
“Individual's Fire House”
(Adult Division)

This Gingerbread Firehouse was designed by the individuals at the Montgomery Bethesda Lutheran Communities house. Each individual worked on a separate piece of the house. This house is as original and unique as the people that decorated it.

“Fire was a constant threat in colonial America and fire protection was important. Early fire engines were designed as a means to spray water onto the fire with more force and accuracy. It took a lot of volunteers to be on hand because pumping was very strenuous.”

Gingerbread was used for log cabin, hill, table and road. Gumpaste was used to build the tree trunk and wagons, chimney, fireplace, and furniture. Melted hard candy made the fire. The “grass” is made from shaved coconut while rosemary and parsley comprise the tree foliage.

Entry # 7
“Christmas at Chicago Fire Department’s Engine 98”
(Adult Division)

Santa is coming to the Chicago’s Engine 98.

Just off North Michigan Avenue stands the historic Chicago Fire Department’s Engine 98. Completed in 1908, it was constructed using the same gothic “castle-style” architecture as the adjacent Water Tower and Pumping Station. The building is currently home to Ambulance 5 and Engine 98.

Entry # 8
“Buffalo Engine House 26”
(Adult Division)

Engine House No. 28 is a historic fire station building located at Buffalo, New York. It is a Queen Anne style structure built in 1897. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001

Rolled fondant was draped over gingerbread was used to form the walls and roof, while rice cereal treats and ice cream cones constructed the building’s front two towers. The entire building was covered in colored fondant and decorated by hand with colored icing, and jells.

Entry # 9
“Gingerbread Kitchen Catastrophe”
(Adult Division)

Oh No!! Some novice gingerbread baker left his house in the over a bit too long!!

The oven and “”burning house” is made entirely out of gingerbread. The crackling candy “flames” were by pouring hot molten sugar candy over a bowl of ice cubes. The ice flash-cools the sugar and eventually melt away. The resulting candy pieces were then glued to the gingerbread using royal icing.

Entry # 10
“Pink Heals Engine House 1”
(Adult Division)

The Guardians of The Ribbon, are a group of firefighters and police officers organized with the simple mission to, “Support Women, Raise Awareness.” Dressed in bright pink fire suits, they drive pink fire trucks across the country each year to raise funds and awareness in support of women in their fight against cancer.

The Pink Heals Engine house was constructed using a pre-made gingerbread “kit.” and. Various pink candies: bubble gum, pink chocolates, Good-n-Plenty, and even cherry flavored Kool-Aid mix were used to decorate the firehouse walls, while the pink fire engine was constructed out of pink wafer cookies.