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- Gingerbread Wonderland
Imagine brightly colored gumdrops, candy canes, peppermints, licorice, and lots of icing. Talk about a sugar rush. Decorating gingerbread houses is a fun festive activity for the whole family. And it’s even more fun when it’s larger than life.
The talented students and chefs of the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute took this tradition to the next level by creating a life-size gingerbread village. You can walk around and explore this gingerbread village on weekends starting on November 25 through December 17. We will be open on Saturdays from 11:00am-7:00pm and Sundays from 12:00-4:00pm.
Check out the schedule to see when live entertainment, chef demos, and story time is scheduled. You can even purchase a bag with cookies and crafts to take home with you to continue the fun! The whole place is decked out, so you’ll find something festive around every corner.
Ready to get in the Christmas spirit? Add Gingerbread Wonderland to your holiday calendar.
Helpful Links
Learn how to make your own gingerbread house from home by watching a demo by NFCI’s Chef Cathy Barron.
Schedule
Saturday, November 25th
| Saturday, November 25 | ||
| Gingerbread House Open | 11:00 AM | 7:00 PM |
| Santa Claus | 11:00 AM | 7:00 PM |
| Cookie & Craft Bag Pick-Up | 11:00 AM | 7:00 PM |
| Letters to Santa | 11:00 AM | 7:00 PM |
| Crafts in B&N Bookstore | 11:00 AM | 7:00PM |
| Face Painting | 12:00 PM | 6:00 PM |
| Storytime in B&N Bookstore | 1:00 PM | 1:30 PM |
| NCCC Elves (Musical Entertainment) | 2:00 PM | 3:00 PM |
| Storytime in B&N Bookstore | 3:00 PM | 3:30 PM |
| Storytime in B&N Bookstore | 5:00 PM | 5:30 PM |
Sunday, November 26th
| Sunday, November 26th | ||
| Gingerbread House Open | 12:00 PM | 4:00 PM |
| Santa Claus | 12:00 PM | 4:00 PM |
| Cookie & Craft Bag Pick-Up | 12:00 PM | 4:00 PM |
| Letters to Santa | 12:00 PM | 4:00 PM |
| Mr. No the Balloon Guy | 1:00 PM | 4:00 PM |
Saturday, December 2nd
| Saturday, December 2nd | ||
| Gingerbread House Open | 11:00 AM | 7:00 PM |
| Santa Claus | 11:00 AM | 7:00 PM |
| Cookie & Craft Bag Pick-Up | 11:00 AM | 7:00 PM |
| Letters to Santa | 11:00 AM | 7:00 PM |
| View Gingerbread Houses in ACF Competition | 11:00 AM | 7:00 PM |
| Niagara SBDC’s Holiday Artisan Market | 11:00 AM | 7:00 PM |
| Crafts in B&N Bookstore | 11:00 AM | 7:00PM |
| Storytime in B&N Bookstore | 1:00 PM | 1:30 PM |
| Storytime in B&N Bookstore | 3:00 PM | 3:30 PM |
| Storytime in B&N Bookstore | 5:00 PM | 5:30 PM |
Sunday, December 3rd
| Sunday, December 3rd | ||
| Gingerbread House Open | 12:00 PM | 4:00 PM |
| Santa Claus | 12:00 PM | 4:00 PM |
| Cookie & Craft Bag Pick-Up | 12:00 PM | 4:00 PM |
| Letters to Santa | 12:00 PM | 4:00 PM |
| Niagara SBDC’s Holiday Artisan Market | 12:00 PM | 4:00PM |
| View Gingerbread Houses in ACF Competition | 12:00 PM | 4:00 PM |
Saturday, December 9th
| Saturday, December 9th | ||
| Gingerbread House Open | 11:00 AM | 7:00 PM |
| Santa Claus | 11:00 AM | 7:00 PM |
| Cookie & Craft Bag Pick-Up | 11:00 AM | 7:00 PM |
| Letters to Santa | 11:00 AM | 7:00 PM |
| Crafts in B&N Bookstore | 11:00 AM | 7:00PM |
| Ice Carving Demonstration | 11:00 AM | 12:00 PM |
| Face Painting | 1:00 PM | 5:00 PM |
| Friends of Harmony | 4:00 PM | 5:00 PM |
| Storytime in B&N Bookstore | 1:00 PM | 1:30 PM |
| Storytime in B&N Bookstore | 3:00 PM | 3:30 PM |
| Storytime in B&N Bookstore | 5:00 PM | 5:30 PM |
Sunday, December 10th
| Sunday, December 10th | ||
| Gingerbread House Open | 12:00 PM | 4:00 PM |
| Santa Claus | 12:00 PM | 4:00 PM |
| Cookie & Craft Bag Pick-Up | 12:00 PM | 4:00 PM |
| Letters to Santa | 12:00 PM | 4:00 PM |
| NCCC Elves (Musical Entertainment) | 2:00 PM | 3:00 PM |
Saturday, December 16th
| Saturday, December 16th | ||
| Gingerbread House Open | 11:00 AM | 7:00 PM |
| Santa Claus | 11:00 AM | 7:00 PM |
| Cookie & Craft Bag Pick-Up | 11:00 AM | 7:00 PM |
| Letters to Santa | 11:00 AM | 7:00 PM |
| Crafts in B&N Bookstore | 11:00 AM | 7:00PM |
| Face Painting | 12:00 PM | 6:00 PM |
| Storytime in B&N Bookstore | 1:00 PM | 1:30 PM |
| NCCC Elves (Musical Entertainment) | 2:00 PM | 3:00 PM |
| Storytime in B&N Bookstore | 3:00 PM | 3:30 PM |
| Storytime in B&N Bookstore | 5:00 PM | 5:30 PM |
Sunday, December 17th
| Sunday, December 17th | ||
| Gingerbread House Open | 12:00 PM | 4:00 PM |
| Santa Claus | 12:00 PM | 4:00 PM |
| Cookie & Craft Bag Pick-Up | 12:00 PM | 4:00 PM |
| Letters to Santa | 12:00 PM | 4:00 PM |
| Paul Antonio Magic Show | 1:00 PM | 1:45 PM |
Take-home craft & cookie kit
For those who prefer to experience the magic of Gingerbread Wonderland from the comfort of their homes, we have a limited number of take-home kits available for purchase. Kits include two gingerbread men cookie kits with frosting and sprinkles, two holiday crafts, two coloring sheets with crayons, and two blank letters to Santa.
Take-home craft & cookie kit – $10/each
Take-home craft & cookie kits can be purchased at the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute located at 28 Old Falls Street in Niagara Falls during Gingerbread Wonderland hours.
Crafts at the bookstore
Come and explore the amazing world of holiday crafts at the Barnes and Noble bookstore! Kids can work on them in-store or take them to go. Saturday’s 11:00-7:00pm.
- Decorate a snowflake
- Build a snowman
- Build an elf
- Holiday coloring sheets
- Holiday activity sheets
Also come for holiday-themed storytelling at 1:00 pm, 3:00 p.m., and 5:00 pm and for Christmas movies playing all day.
Savor Seasonal Wine Dinner
December 16 , 2023
Sean Jones, NFCI ‘21
6pm, $70/pp
Irish Soda Bread with Guinness Butter
Herb Crusted Lamb Chop
Watercress and Radicchio salad
Mint Julep Vinaigrette
Red Endive and Blood Orange Salad
Fresno Chile, Pomegranate Vinaigrette, Roasted Chestnuts, Arugula
Beef Wellington
Rosemary Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Carrots,
Bordelaise
Sticky Toffee Pudding
Caramel Sauce, Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Festive Mixology Delights: Crafting Seasonal Martinis
December 15, 2023
6pm, $40
Get ready to shake up your holiday spirits with our upcoming Mixology Class on December 15th! Join us for an enchanting evening of festive concoctions as we delve into the art of crafting three sensational martinis that embody the essence of the season. Discover the magic behind the Gingerbread Martini, where warm and spiced notes come together in a delightful dance of flavors. Indulge in the sweetness of the Candy Cane Martini, a peppermint-infused delight that promises to be a holiday favorite. And don’t miss the zesty allure of the Orange-Cranberry Martini, a citrusy and tangy creation that captures the essence of winter festivities. Our expert mixologist will guide you through each step, ensuring you leave with the skills to impress your guests with these merry and bright cocktails. Let’s toast to the holidays with style and flavor!
2023 Gingerbread Wonderland Winners Are Announced!
This year’s competition saw a record number of entries, making it one of the most exciting and competitive years yet.
Check out the event’s Facebook page for a complete list of winners. Thank you to all those who participated!
Want to Volunteer?
To volunteer for this year’s event, please follow the links below to sign up.
