2014 Gingerbread Tour and Art on Main bring downtown celebration for families

Written by Greta Hyland, photo by Josh Warburton

Have you voted for your favorite gingerbread house yet? If you don’t know about the 2014 Gingerbread Tour, keep reading and find out about this great event taking place downtown St. George. On Dec. 6, twenty downtown businesses opened their doors to community voting and silent auction of gingerbread house contest entries. If you would like to participate, businesses on Main Street are offering event Fun Maps to guide citizens through the voting locations of the tour which serves as a prize drawing punch card. With completion of a punch card, voters can then enter the drawing for holiday gifts and prizes from Santa’s sleigh at the Gingerbread Tour Grand Finale Celebration Dec. 12, 6-9 p.m.

Mayor John Pike and the St. George City Council will serve as Santa’s helpers at the Dec. 12 event passing out candy canes and fun maps. Mayor Pike will also announce winners of the Gingerbread House competition and drawings for prizes. In addition, the city will block off Main Street to traffic between St. George Blvd. and Tabernacle Street for the grande finale celebration which includes the Mayor’s ceremonious switching on of the holiday lights, free Yellowpix photos with Santa, food trucks serving warm treats, and entertainment.

December’s Art On Main event, Downtown Farmer’s Market, and Main Street restaurants and businesses will also join in the Dec. 12 celebration by serving free holiday refreshments, live music, and a reprieve from the cold. Locations for refreshments are identified on the Fun Map and include roasted marshmallows, mini holiday cupcakes, sugar cookies, wassail, cinnamon sticks and hot cocoa.

“This is a fun tradition for Downtown businesses and restaurants to come together and celebrate the season with our community and city leaders,” says Nicki Pace, “We really look forward to this time of year and celebrating the beautiful atmosphere of being on Main Street during the holidays.”

At Ancestor Square, carolers will perform amid Farmer’s Market vendors selling local holiday gift items. The St. George City Fire Dept. will participate by providing fire barrels along Main Street to keep patrons warm. Art On Main will feature artists and demonstrations in downtown art galleries including opening night for the St. George Art Museum exhibit “Here Comes The Gown: 150 Years of Wedding Dresses.”

Bloomington Hills Elementary and Riverside Elementary school choirs will be performing on Main Street. There will also be street carolers.

Sponsors for the 2014 Gingerbread Tour are St. George City, Downtown Merchants, Savage ESPLIN & Radmall, PC, and Best Western Coral Hills. Event management is by Emceesquare Media & Events. Two charities have been identified to benefit from the Silent Auction of Gingerbread Houses:  Big Brothers Big Sisters and Art on Main Foundation.  

Art On Main activities for the Dec. 12 celebration include:  weaving demonstration by local artisans, gourd art at Split Rock Gallery by artist Rosemary McFadden, and new art exhibits at Fibonacci Main Street Gallery, Art and Soul Gallery & Gift, Authentique Fine Art Gallery, Mission Gallery, Remax Gallery, and Twenty-Five Main Cafe.

“We are delighted to support our downtown businesses and galleries and to bring the community together for a fun, festive holiday celebration,” said Mayor Pike.

For more information, contact Emceesquare Event Coordinator Cindy Mortensen at [email protected] or call (480) 695-0374. Event Fun Maps are available at businesses on Main Street and at the St. George City Offices. Fun Maps can also be downloaded at sgcity.org.