More than 3,000 people visited the 23rd Annual Gingerbread Extravaganza at a new location this year. The event has been held at Old St. Andrew’s Church since 2007, but this year it was time to show off the newly renovated Jacksonville History Center!
The former Florida Casket Company building, constructed in 1920, provided ample space for visitors with mobility issues and families with strollers, giving everyone sufficient elbow room to study each display. The space also accommodated 23 themed trees and half a dozen wreaths, plus a spacious gift shop. The crowd favorite holiday tree was “Origami” with decorations created by the Episcopal School of Jacksonville’s Chinese World Language and Geometry students, and decorated by the Junior League of Jacksonville’s Sustainers.
One of the favorite things to do at the annual Gingerbread Extravaganza is voting for the 2025 People’s Choice Award. This year the “fan favorite” display was “Santa’s Last Stop: The Waffle House” by Tracy and David Duncan, participating for the sixth year. This couple also won the People’s Choice in 2023 with a beautiful airplane titled “Santa’s Enchanted Airline.”
The contest judges spent over two hours reviewing each of the 38 displays before awarding the 2025 Best in Show to “Special Delivery” by Sara Aicher, an 11-year builder, and also winner of the 2024 Best in Show and People’s Choice Awards. Except for the wood base, the display was made of 100% edible materials.
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