Giant, edible gingerbread village dismantled, given away to kids in Kansas City
The holidays may be over, but some Kansas City families got a late dose of seasonal cheer Monday as Kansas City’s Toys & Miniatures Museum gave away intricately decorated gingerbread houses from its Gingerbread Lane exhibit.
Artist Jon Lovitch, a Kansas City native who constructs these confections year-round for holiday installations around the country, was on site to gift the edible structures to visitors of all ages.
“I have a lot of friends and family here helping me tear it down, but for the next ten months it’ll be just me, making a lot of gingerbread houses,” Lovitch said. “If my sanity wasn’t in question enough: Yes, it’s true, I work on gingerbread houses the entire year.”
Kansas City’s Gingerbread Lane had around 400 gingerbread houses, made up of 180 pounds of gingerbread, 720 pounds of icing, 277 pounds of candy and 900 eggs. As children wandered through with their parents on Monday, the tables lining the installation’s walls emptied to around half their capacity.
Some of the gingerbread creations on display were up to a year old, making them more suitable for decoration than for a sugary snack. But the room’s white tables were also filled with piles of colorful candy. The museum also provided cardboard boxes for families to take the creations home in.
Khalecia Richards, age 3, was one of the event’s excited young visitors. She clutched a small house decorated with pastel jelly beans and snacked on candy from the surrounding tables. Her comment to The Star: “Cookie!”
Lovitch says he hopes to return to the museum next year to mount his annual creation — likely with new gingerbread buildings and variations on past favorites.
Some of the spots still standing included fictional Christmas-themed businesses like “Santa’s Checkin It Twice Tax Service,” “The Well-Dressed Gingerbread Man: Fine Flannel Pajamas” and “Mrs. Claus’ Cookie Bakery.”
Next year, he added, “Santa’s Sleigh Repair Company: Sleighs Sold, Sleighs Serviced” may feature reindeer mechanics in overalls to add a fun new twist on this year’s design. He also teased future gingerbread creations inspired by Kansas City staples like barbecue, the Plaza lights, Crown Center’s ice terrace and more.
“If people come back to see it every year, they’re not gonna see the same old thing,” he said. “You’ve gotta give them something new, something exciting.”
Do you have more questions about fun things to do in Kansas City? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com.
This story was originally published January 16, 2023 at 5:09 PM.
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