Tag: gingerbread men

Conversation with a Gingerbread Gentleman

Conversation with a Gingerbread Gentleman

Gingerbread Gentlemen 003
Gingerbread Gentleman

If you travel Chester streets these days, you will probably notice the Gingerbread People.  These characters have seemingly come out of nowhere and now appear almost everywhere.  You can find them lurking about on private residence lawns as well as around commercial businesses.  Whatever is going on?  Lawns are supposed to be vacant this time of year, not leasing their space to these usurpers– no matter how sweet they are.

When interviewed, a Gingerbread Gentleman  claimed that these seasonal confections have been welcomed here for the past five years, causing enough of a stir to elicit what has become known as the Chester Gingerbread Festival.

Celebrations began Saturday, November 30th when the Gingerbread population inspired a tree lighting at the old Chester Train Station with visitors singing Christmas carols, enjoying hot chocolate, and even a visit from Santa himself.    And you wouldn’t believe the extraordinary accommodations these characters inspire.  Visitors can check them out at the Chester Art Centre until the end of the festival, December 15th . Be warned, however, that you may experience an urgent need for a trip to the local bakery to indulge the confectionery cravings they will likely evoke.  You’d have thought that Christmas would have been sweet enough without all this gingerbread furor.  “Nothing can top the Christmas message, of course,” the Gingerbread Gentleman said reassuringly.  “We only aim to make a modest contribution.”   Undoubtedly, though, their contribution keeps on expanding, despite the modest claim, as locals have been encouraged to increase their numbers.  With this writing, lawns and gardens have hereby been put on notice about this recurring invasion.  The Gingerbread Gentleman just smiled coyly at this impeding threat, and whispered what could be deemed by some candy aficionados as  sweet wisdom,   “What garden couldn’t use a little more spice?”

You will discover the Gingerbread population and their accoutrements making a genuine spectacle of themselves on Facebook at Chester Gingerbread Festival, NS, as well as on the website:  chesterartcentre.ca.  The Gingerbread Gentleman has invited his peers to check out these sites as well.  He says they will, no doubt, see someone they know and enjoy a visit over icing and candy.  They should be quick to go because everyone knows you can always trust the word of a gentleman.

Gingerbread People Arrive in Chester

Gingerbread People Arrive in Chester

Recent weeks have brought a sudden influx of gingerbread people to the village of Chester, as it celebrates another Gingerbread Festival. In various guises, the gingerbread figures have been showing up all around the village and, despite the rainy weather, these gingerbreads have remained crisp and bright.  Among the first to arrive were members of the Dixieland band stationed on the balcony of the Fo’c’s’le Tavern.

wooden gingerbread men - dixie band

Maybe it was the lively Dixie tunes emanating from the balcony during Happy Hour that enticed these dancers out on the same balcony.  With their top hats and canes, they appear to be gamely trying to adapt their can-can to the rag-time tunes.

gingerbread can-can dancers

A contest involving the creation of a gingerbread house brought fewer entries this year but some residents got into the spirit by decorating their real homes and business establishments, which sometimes resulted in a mix of early Christmas overlaid with gingerbread fantasy.

Gingerbread festival house

gingerbread house lit at night

Lesley's Pantry decorated
Motifs incorporated in the dozens of commercial displays ran the gamut from bakeries to gift shops to inns and much more; even several of the churches dressed gingerbread figures in appropriate garb.

gingeerbread festival choir

gonigerbread festival wise men

And, now, from the sublime to the saucy…

Dolly's seagull

The images in this post show only a few of the many figures that are on display around the village from Dec 1 – 16.  To see more photos of the ginger people, check Gingerbread Festival in Chester on Facebook, a page established by the Chester Art Centre.  Members of Chester Garden Club are reminded that the club’s annual Christmas party will take place on Monday, December 17th.  Details re the time and place have been circulated to all members, and we look forward to celebrating in good cheer as we kick off the holiday season.