The judges have spoken! This year’s panel of judges recently completed scoring submissions in the 37th Annual Gingerbread Gallery at the Erie Canal Museum, 318 Erie Boulevard East in downtown Syracuse. This year’s judges were Danielle Benjamin of WanderCuse (wandercuse.com), Sarah Pallo of Otro Cinco (otro5cinco.com), and Michael Greene, Syracuse Common Councilor At-Large (syrgov.net/Councilor_At_Large_1). Forty-one gingerbread submissions were judged on the basis of overall appeal, originality, difficulty, and creative use of materials. Top bakers in the Youth, General, and Senior categories are honored with ribbons. Cash prizes go to the top three winners in the Confectioner category, and a special ribbon is awarded to the baker whose work is judged to best represent the Erie Canal.

We also had over 1,400 votes for the People’s Choice award.

Here are this year’s top Gingerbread Gallery creations and their bakers:

Youth:

First Place: Bird House by Gunnar (3), Maira (3), Alina (3), and Keene (17 months)

Second Place: Christmas Village by Isabel Memorella

Third Place: An Erie Canal Wintery Wonderland byKethan Seth and Walden Oren

General:

First Place: Merry Christmas from Shrek’s Swamp byJane Verostek, Octavia Miller, and Minerva Miller

Second Place tie: Mount Ginger by the Tomeny/Schiltz Family

Second Place tie: Adirondack Winter Weekend by the Battle Family

Senior:

First Place: Town of Tannenbaum by Moira Dick and Shelley Loftus

Second Place: Sea Salt, December 26 by Judy Homer

Third Place: House on the Erie Canal by Liz Casazza

Confectioner:

First Place: Bennett’s Store by Laura Rankin

Second Place: The Seneca Knitting Mills by Kimberly Flomerfelt-Puc

Third Place: Memories of Unity by Rae Mamorella

Erie Canal Theme:

Bennett’s Store by Laura Rankin

People’s Choice

Bennett’s Store by Laura Rankin

Each year the Erie Canal Museum transforms into a festive 1800’s canal town street scene with gingerbread creations on display in storefront windows. The exhibit, which began as a one-day architecture display in 1986, celebrates the holidays, local landmarks, and Central New York’s Erie Canal heritage with confectionery creations by professional and amateur bakers of all ages. The 37th Annual Gingerbread Gallery was on display November 18, 2022 through January 8, 2023.

Established in 1962, the Erie Canal Museum showcases the only existing weighlock building in the United States, and shares the history and impact of the Erie Canal through permanent and changing exhibits, interactive displays, audio narratives, and original artifacts. The Erie Canal Museum’s programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. For more information about the Erie Canal Museum, visit eriecanalmuseum.org or email contactus@eriecanalmuseum.org.