NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — From Victorian homes to haunted mansions, the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute (NFCI) is inviting Western New York families to check out their festive and fun-filled Gingerbread Village this year.
The village has been revamped to feature dozens of tabletop gingerbread creations, crafted by middle and high school students, culinary staff, and even kids as part of a gingerbread competition.
NFCI's "larger-than-life display" of past years has been broken up and shrunken to get more people involved.
"We have over 100 houses that our students and people from the community and high schools have made, they're on display," said baking coordinator Cathy Barron.
The display will be open to the public on December 7 & 8 and December 14 & 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays.
Visitors to the culinary institute can enjoy a lot more than just gingerbread as well with live music, face painting, cookie decorating, crafts, children's story times, and even a visit with Santa Claus. There will also be classes teaching people how to make a Yule Log and other festive treats.
A kid's craft table and coloring corner also have a mailbox to drop a letter to the North Pole.
Gingerbread cookie decorating kits are available for $10 and include two cookies and everything needed to decorate them.
The Gingerbread Village is free and open to the public. For more details and a full entertainment schedule, visit the NFCI website here.