Dracut Rotary rang in the holiday season in style with its 12th Annual Gingerbread Competition on Saturday, December 1st. Hundreds of local residents packed Harmony Hall to see this year’s gingerbread creations. The event, held in conjunction with the town’s Tree Lighting Ceremony at the adjacent Daoulas School Complex, is the annual kick-off for Dracut’s holiday season. Visitors got to view dozens of entries, take chances to win their favorites and pick their choice for first, second and third place winners. Entertainment was provided by a string trio of Dracut High School students. Santa visited between 5:00 and 7:00 pm and there were free cookies, doughnuts, cocoa and coffee served all day along, with hundreds of gingerbread cookies for children to decorate. Donations and proceeds from the event are contributed annually to the Dracut Food Pantry.

This year’s creations were among some of the best ever, according to event chair Susan Neary. Choosing the winners was a tough choice for this year’s visitors. The creations were divided into four categories;  professional, amateur, young adult and children age 12 and under. Club members added to the creations, baking up their own entries. This year’s winners were:

1st place Professional Category

Professional:  1st – Bittersweet Bake Shop (Lynn Donnelly & Elisbet Dupont);  2nd – Sugar Coated Bakery (Jennifer Gryckiez);  3rd – Collette Turgeon

1st place Amateur Category

Amateur:  1st – Tricia & Lauren Natale;  2nd – John Cole;  3rd – Joann Smith

1st place Young Adult Category

Young Adults:  1st – Bryce Kelly;  2nd – Marissa Jones & Olivia Keating;  3rd – Sarah Turner & Addie Nelson

1st place Children 12 and Under Category

Children:  1st – Dimitri, Alyson & Kate Asikis;  2nd – The Bergeron Family;  3rd – Thomas Tziotzioras & Charlie Keating

1st place Rotary Category

Rotarians:  1st – Rachel & Frank Antifonario;  2nd – LouAnn Jendro:  3rd – Kate Dame