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The St. Â鶹´«Ã½â€™ gingerbread competition is back in full swing after a nearly five-year hiatus. An array of intricately built gingerbread houses will be on show this weekend at the St. Micheals Woman’s Club for the Gingerbread “Houseâ€� Competition and Display.

Proceeds from the sale of these creations support the beneficiaries of Christmas in St. Â鶹´«Ã½, including family service organizations, education and child development programs, and community enhancement organizations and programs.

Michele Lowe and Andrea Robinson, co-chairs of the Gingerbread Committee, both said they were fairly new to the area and heard of a St. Â鶹´«Ã½ gingerbread competition but had never witnessed it themselves.

Lowe said the memory of the competition was incredibly strong among the community and Lowe and Robinson felt a need to step up and bring back the beloved tradition.

“Everybody has been wanting this back since (2019),� Lowe said. “I guess we finally got coerced, and it’s been a great success. We had a lot of the donations from the St Michael’s Community Center, Critchlow Adkins (Children’s Centers), who are also both beneficiaries.�

Lowe mentioned that a young girl in the area, who last competed in 2019, had been eagerly awaiting and planning new designs for when the competition came back.

The gingerbread entries are divided into seven categories with cash prize awards. The categories cater to different skill levels and ages, including Master with a $500 prize and Adult with $300 first prize.

Additionally, there are categories for younger participants including young adults with a $100 prize, and children with and without an adult with a $100 prize for the respective categories.

Finally, there are categories for nonprofit organizations, Candy Backus Award (best depiction of the Eastern Shore) and a People’s Choice Award.

Judges for the gingerbread competition include Commissioners of St. Â鶹´«Ã½ President Alfred Mercier, President and CEO of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum Kristen Greenaway and St. Â鶹´«Ã½ Police Chief Jeffrey Oswald.

Prizes will be awarded on Sunday at the Woman’s Club of St. Â鶹´«Ã½ at 2 p.m.

Robinson said she is happy with the support they have received this year and encourages people to continue their support into the new year.

“Thank you for your support, and please make gingerbread at home next year,� Robinson said. “In order for us to keep doing this we need everybody to be excited next year and participate and start planning their creation for next year.�