Hawaii’s Biggest Gingerbread Fest Sunday

The 12th Annual Easter Seals Hawaii Gingerbread Family Festival on Hawai‘i Island takes place this Sunday, 10 a.m. to noon, at Sangha Hall, Hilo.

The Gingerbread Family Festival, billed as the largest and longest-running gingerbread event in the state, is Easter Seals Hawaii’s biggest fundraiser and organizers are hoping to sell 2,000 gingerbread kits this year.

Participants build and decorate gingerbread houses with materials provided in the kits. This year’s expanded gingerbread house decorating kits include two gingerbread houses, candies, gingerbread men and icing in three colors.

Easter Seals Hawaii is selling kits including gingerbread men donated by Hawai‘i Life for $29 each, with proceeds benefiting Easter Seals Hawaii’s programs and services in Hilo for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.The kits can be assembled on-site at the event or picked up to go.

There also will be a competition among local businesses to make the best gingerbread house.

Kits are available online at gingerbreadhawaii.com, or by phone, 24 hours a day, at 1-888-295-2626.

“It’s a heartwarming holiday event for the whole family,” said Debbie Sasan, Easter Seals Hawaii administrative assistant and the lead organizer for this year’s event in Hilo.

“We see parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles…everyone comes out with their kids and has a blast. And the best part is, you get to take your creation home afterwards.”

In addition to the Hilo event on Dec. 8, there are events on O‘ahu (Dec. 8), Kaua‘i (Dec. 14), and Maui (Dec. 14). Last year’s festival netted more than $170,000 for Easter Seals Hawaii’s programs.

The 2013 Easter Seals Hawaii Gingerbread Family Festival is presented by The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation with title sponsorship from Safeway and CVS/Longs Drugs.