In Bergen, Norway you'll find the largest gingerbread city in the world. After learning of this news, and after brief consideration, the Nordic Center decided to host their own gingerbread city (Pepperkakebyen) here in Duluth. For the past twelve years during the holiday season, the space at 23 N Lake Ave is filled with a fragrance indicative of the dozens of candy-covered houses on display.
One of the hurdles to creating enough gingerbread houses to qualify as a city is baking the gingerbread. For most of Pepperkakebyen's history, Patrick Mulcahy (Duluth's "Gingerbread Man") has baked and supplied gingerbread kits to participants. "He makes beautiful houses, so people don't have to be scared to make the house," says Nordic Center board member and art teacher Alison Aune, who also cites the design concepts and construction involved. "It's architecture. It's putting things in three dimensions."
The Nordic Center is open to visitors from 12-4pm on Fridays and Saturdays. On Saturdays throughout the run of the event, the Nordic Center hosts various crafting events for anyone who stops by. More information can be found on the Nordic Center website.
You can hear Community Connection every Tuesday and Thursday at 8am on Northland Morning. This edition of Community Connection is made possible in part by Lakewalk Surgery Center.
