This years Gingerbread Village is scheduled to kick-off on Dec. 9.
OXFORD, Miss. – The Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts will host 12 days of holiday fun Dec. 9-20, with the annual Gingerbread House Village and special events. The village will open for display from 2 to 5 p.m. Dec. 9, with a ribbon cutting and creator’s reception following at 6 p.m.
The Oxford Civic Chorus will perform during the reception.
“This will be the fourth year of the Gingerbread Village,” said Norman Easterbrook, director of the Ford Center. “It has grown each year, and we are thrilled with all of the entries we have. In a way, it’s the Ford Center’s holiday card to the community.”
The houses are created by participants from the Oxford community and showcase their creative handiwork. A few of the many participants are Holli’s Sweet Tooth, Oxford Mom & Tots, Memory Makers, Cypress Lake Soap, University Public Events and Ole Miss Catering.
The Gingerbread Village is free of charge and open to the public Dec. 10-20. Normal hours for the village are 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Mondays-Saturdays, with extended hours until 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Dec. 13 and 19. In conjunction with the Dance Alive National Ballet’s performance of “The Nutcracker,” the village will be open from 1 to 7 p.m. Dec. 15. On the final day of the village, Dec. 20, hours are 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Donations of nonperishable food items for local food banks will be accepted at the door.
During the village’s run, the Ford Center will welcome several special guests. Santa will make an appearance from 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 14. Parents are encouraged to bring their children and cameras to snap photographs with jolly St. Nick. Two story time events for children are also part of the fun. The reading for the younger children will be at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 18, and at 3:30 p.m. Dec. 19 for the older children.
For more information about the Gingerbread House Village and other events at the Ford Center, call 662-915-2787.
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