Whether you consider yourself a semi-professional baker, a gifted designer, a confectionery expert, a lover of holiday traditions, or just someone who wants to have fun designing and building a structure out of gingerbread, your moment has arrived! The annual Gingerbread Spectacular at the Opera House in Boothbay Harbor provides a forum for bakers and creators of all ages and skills to bake, build, decorate and enter their gingerbread creation in the hilarious competition this Dec. 13-15.

Entering the event is free and in addition to bragging rights, prizes are awarded for not only the Most Spectacular gingerbread creation, but also in categories including Most Hilarious, Best Landscaping, Most Delicious Looking, Best Traditional Design, Most Likely to Fall Down, Most Obsessive Compulsive, Best Holiday Spirit and more. The judges have been known to create additional categories as needed.

The judges bring their gingerbread building expertise to the table and include Brenda Blackman representing the sweet folks at The First National Bank, Susan Brackett – considered the Grand Dame of Gingerbread in Boothbay, the new principal at BRES Shawna Kurr, award-winning gingerbread competitor Kathryn Sullivan, and confectionery king and Orne’s Candy Store owner, John Webster. Competitors are advised that bribing the judges is not only allowed, but encouraged. All cash bribes will be donated to the Opera House.

Entries do not need to be made entirely out of gingerbread, but they must be edible (i.e. no icing covered shoe boxes). In the past entries have been created by solo designers working late into the night, as well as groups of friends, colleagues, school classes, families, and more.

Entry forms and information are available at the Opera House at 86 Townsend Avenue, Boothbay Harbor, or you can register by calling the Opera House at 633-5159, by Dec. 10. Each entry will receive a ticket to the Dec. 13, Dough Ball Preview Party and Awards Ceremony.

Interested in seeing the creations at this year’s Dough Ball, but no time to create one yourself? Tickets are on sale at the box office 633-5159.