For eleven days in December, more than 1,600 members of the local community donated $15 for a gingerbread pass to view the impressive designs on display in the historic Hudson Valley “castle” resort, which also allowed access to the ice-skating rink and to experience the holiday decor throughout the property that won Mohonk Mountain House the title of Top Ten Hotel for Holiday Decor in the 2023 USA Today ten best awards.
In years past, the resort has raised funds for the local organization from the gingerbread competition, but this year, the amount grew by 200 percent. From $8,160 to $24,465.
One-hundred percent of the ticket price is being given to charity. 1,631 tickets were sold over eleven days, totaling $24,465. Mohonk Mountain House rounded up the amount for the charity, bringing the entire donation to $25,000.
“We are so grateful to the Mohonk Mountain House for hosting the Hudson Valley gingerbread competition to benefit the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley,” says Sara Gunn, director of the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley. “Each dollar donated to the food bank provides four meals. Therefore, this $25,000 donation will feed 100,000 people throughout the six counties of the Hudson Valley including Ulster, Orange, Sullivan, Rockland, Putnam and Dutchess. One in ten adults and one in seven children in New York often go to bed hungry. This donation will go a long way to helping us ensure that all people have the nutritious food that they need to thrive!”
Eric Gullickson, president of Mohonk Mountain House and fifth generation Smiley family member adds, “We opened the doors of our house to spread some holiday cheer, allowing day visitors to view the gingerbread competition and take in the sights of our Victorian holidays displays. We are so pleased with the enthusiasm and support from our community and are proud to present this check for $25,000 to the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley.”
While there were more than 25 submissions — with some designers prepping for their creation as early as October and with entrants as far away as Connecticut, nine made it to the final judging round, which featured both an adult and junior category. The local judges for this year’s competition included:
Mohonk Mountain House executive pastry chef, Audrey Billups; Chaitra Agrawal, Brooklyn Delhi; Amber Spiegel, Sweetambs Cookies; Rebecca Miller Ffrench, Upstate Table; and Gina Vacation, private chef.
Junior category winners:
Honorable mention — The Tully by Tully Cunniff; third — Hundred Aker Woods by team Winnie-the-Poohs; second place — Snowy Skytop by team Horse Girls; first place — Hi Barbie by team Caputo Girls.
Adult category winners:
Honorable mention — Barbie Dream House by team Mills Family; third place — What If? We Built a Christmas House by team the Millington Architects; second place — Christmas Treehouse Getaway by Brendan Imbarrato; and first place — Rock’n Around the Rex-Mas Tree by team Brunk Built.
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