For twenty years, the Family Place – a non-profit organization that provides support in a variety of ways for families throughout the Upper Valley – has held an annual gingerbread festival each December. As a way of bringing the community together during the holiday season, the gingerbread festival is a fun way for Upper Valley neighbors to connect, learn about the impact of and resources offered by the Family Place, and enjoy an amazing display of handmade gingerbread houses! This year’s festival takes place on Saturday, December 3. Read on to learn more!

Q: What is the Family Place?

Short Answer: The Family Place delivers comprehensive programs designed to strengthen positive relationships, teach essential skills and promote enduring healthy growth for families with young children in the Upper Valley and surrounding communities.

Long Answer: The Family Place is a private, non-profit organization and one of 15 legislatively-designated Parent Child Centers in Vermont. As such, we play a vital role in our community’s social safety net. Our work involves a whole-family approach to helping children thrive. We work with children and caregivers together, promoting positive parenting strategies and ensuring that children have the kinds of experiences that support their physical development, their social functioning, their ability to learn, and their long-term health. Through home visits, early intervention for infants and toddlers with developmental delays, nursing services, parenting classes and groups, treatment for families dealing with the trauma of sexual abuse, assistance with child care costs, intensive wrap-around supports for young families in poverty, community playgroups, and more, The Family Place partners with families to increase the presence of “protective factors”, things that all families need to be strong and thrive. More information online: https://www.familyplacevt.org/about/

Q: What is the gingerbread festival?

A: The Family Place’s Gingerbread Festival is a fun-filled, family-friendly event offering: a display of almost 100 gingerbread houses; a silent auction of the gingerbread houses and other auction items; a Gingerbread Country Store with handcrafts, gift items, and pre-made food; and cookie decorating and fun activities for children. Join us for a wonderful celebration of the season and help us continue to support families in the Upper Valley and beyond!

Q: When is this year's festival?

A: Saturday, December 3, 2022

Q: Where is this year's festival taking place?

A: Tracy Hall, Norwich, VT, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Q: Who can participate in the festival and how?

A: Anyone! The gingerbread houses created and donated by members of our community are the heart of the festival. Houses are made by professional bakers, local schools and families throughout the Upper Valley!

Q: How did the gingerbread festival tradition start?

A: This year, we are pleased to celebrate an important milestone: The Family Place has held our annual festival – without pausing for the pandemic – for 20 years! The Family Place is excited to return to Tracy Hall for an in-person Gingerbread Festival on Saturday, December 3, 2022.

Q: What are the goals of the festival?

A: The festival is a family-friendly community event, but also a fundraiser for The Family Place. The support from festival admissions, auctions and donations makes a difference! Contributions help children and families through support visits, financial assistance, parenting groups, parenting support and other critical programs. We are so grateful to our donors, sponsors, volunteers for your support of The Family Place and our vital programs for young children and families in the Upper Valley.

Q: What is your favorite thing about the annual gingerbread festival?

A: The expressions on children’s faces when they walk into the room – laughter, smiles and dropped jaws!

Q: Is there anything else you want people to know about the gingerbread festival or the Family Place?

A: Thank you to everyone – housemakers, volunteers, community members, dedicated staff and board members, sponsors, local businesses and organizations that donate items – who make this festival possible!