Gingerbread House Contest At Christmas Tree Farm Benefits Kids

CUTCHOGUE, NY — Coronavirus can't stop a beloved new tradition from unfolding once again this year again on the North Fork: The second annual "Works of Art in Gingerbread: A Friendly Competition" is set to begin on Saturday.

Hosted by the Paul Drum Life Experience Project, the contest runs from Saturday through Dec. 12 from noon to 5 p.m. This year, the event is hosted by Santa's Christmas Tree Farm LI, located at 30105 Main Road in Cutchogue. Participants are invited to "build, bake and construct a gingerbread house to be auctioned off to support the Paul Drum Life Experience Project Children's Program."

The fun includes a gallery viewing and silent auction, with an eye toward "reimagining the East End in gingerbread," organizers said.

The Paul Drum Life Experience Project, according to the organization's website, "affords children the opportunity to participate in a vast and diverse array of activities and workshops designed to open their worlds and expand their horizons," with an eye toward broadening fields of interest, piquing curiosity, and sparking an enthusiasm for learning.

Sharon Sailor, Paul Drum's mother and founder of the not-profit organization, along with Arlene Klein, thanked Stacey Soloviev at Santa's Christmas Farm for hosting the fundraiser.

"Although there have been many negatives that have happened with COVID, including the cancellation of the Paul Drum Life Experience Project’s largest fundraiser, the Pirate & Mermaid Breakfast, it couldn’t dampen our spirits or commitment to have our 2nd Annual Gingerbread Event," she said. "This is the brainchild of our board member Arlene Klein. She is a virtual magician with gingerbread."

Due to the pandemic, Sailor said, the whole event needed to be reimagined. "Last year, our venue was the Greenport firehouse in conjunction with Shellabration, the parade and the Christmas tree lighting in Greenport," she said. "COVID strikes again — people were not coming to Greenport for these events. We needed a more centralized venue to allow for a bidding audience. Through the generosity and kindness of Stacey at Santa’s Christmas Tree Farm we were provided a venue right at the farm."

With her trademark can-do spirit, Sailor said: "If you truly believe, every dark cloud comes with a silver lining! Our one-day event is now a week-long event."

All social distancing protocols will be strictly adhered to, and there will be photographs of the houses posted online so those not comfortable with coming out can text in their bids.

In addition, Sailor said, Don Fisher, president of the Railroad Museum of Long Island has offered his expertise, should the event need to go virtual due to the potential mandate of new restrictions.

As it stands, Sailor said, all are thrilled to see the event unfold at the Christmas tree farm Saturday. "We are excited by the amount of new registrants as well as the return of many of last year’s entrants. There will be many unique and interesting structures but this event, those involved, the funds raised, are building so much more than gingerbread houses — they are building community," she said.

Soloviev is also happy to host the fundraiser, which benefits free educational children’s programming. "I am honored to know Sharon Sailor and Paul; she is the first person to help someone in need," she said. "So please stop by anytime from Dec. 5 to 12 from noon to 5 p.m. and bid on the silent auction. Don’t be afraid of the line at the front door on the weekends; come to the front and say you are here for this event and we will take you to a separate area."