The Goodnow Library Children’s Room is inviting kids ages 1-11 to participate in “The Great Goodnow Gingerbread Challenge”! Have an idea for an amazing house? What about the inside? We provide the unfinished wooden Gingerbread House base, you provide the creativity! Categories for the Challenge include Overall Favorite, Best Interior and Most Creative. Participants may decorate their house at home with personal craft materials or attend a Gingerbread House Crafting Workshop held at the library. 

Please register below, beginning Thursday, December 1 at 9:00 AM, to reserve an unfinished wooden Gingerbread House Base. Then drop by the Children's Desk anytime to pick up your house base. Attending one of the workshops below? You can also pick up your base at the workshop. Please note: entry in the Challenge is not required to reserve a Gingerbread House base.

We will be holding five Drop-in Gingerbread House Crafting Workshops in December. Feel free to attend any of the dates listed below: (note: you must reserve a house base below to attend workshops)

• Friday, December 9, 10:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Saturday, December 10, 12:00 PM-4:00 PM
• Wednesday, December 14, 2:00 PM-8:00 PM
• Friday, December 16, 10:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Saturday, December 17, 10:00 AM-4:00 PM

Official Challenge Rules:

To enter “The Great Goodnow Gingerbread Challenge”, you must be between 1-11 years of age. Your completed Gingerbread House must be delivered to the Goodnow Library Children’s Desk no later than 4:30 PM on Sunday, December 18th.

Entries must use the provided unfinished wooden Gingerbread House base. Participants may decorate their house at home with personal craft materials or attend a Gingerbread House Crafting Workshop held at the library where craft supplies will be provided. Entries must not exceed the structure by more than one inch on all sides. The library is not responsible for damaged or broken gingerbread houses, and will not maintain or repair entries. No electric lights allowed.

All entries will be numbered and placed on display in the Children’s room from December 19th through December 30th. During this period, patrons are encouraged to vote for Overall Favorite, Best Interior, and Most Creative. The houses that receive the most votes will get a $25 gift card to the GLF Book Nook. Winners will be announced on social media on Friday, January 6th.

Entries can be picked up from the Goodnow Library Children’s Desk between January 3rd and January 9th. Unclaimed entries will be discarded. If you wish for us to hold onto your creation for longer, please contact us at children@sudbury.ma.us