Gingerbread houses are the stuff of fairy tales, so how fitting that Seattle’s 20th Annual Gingerbread Village chose the theme “Once Upon a Time”. Fresh from my walk along Candy Cane Lane, I couldn’t resist a visit to Gingerbread Village at the Seattle Sheraton. To my surprise (and delight) they weren’t houses at all, but the most magical of castles conjured up from far, far away and long, long ago. Architecture firms from around the city collaborated with the Sheraton’s culinary team to design and create a slew of extraordinary fairy tale castles for this year’s display. Here are a few of their dramatic creations.
Ariel’s Underwater Castle
Aladdin’s Magical Castle
Narnia’s Snow Queen Castle
The next two were close contenders for my favourite castle of the evening – Beauty and the Beast Enchanted Castle and The Brothers Grimm Fairy Tale Castle – they were both truly enchanting and guaranteed to bring out your inner child.
Beauty and the Beast Enchanted Castle
Just one little kiss
Brothers Grimm Castle of Fairy Tales
The two brothers responsible for our fascination with gingerbread houses
But I saved my absolute favourite for last. Designed by Weber Thompson and realised by Executive Sous Chef David Mestl, the Alice in Wonderland Castle was so delightful I had to go around a second time to get another look at it. I have a total nerd crush on the team behind this castle.
Alice in Wonderland Castle
If you’re in Seattle over Christmas, make a point of checking out the Gingerbread Village for yourself. It’s open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through to January 1st and is free but donations are encouraged; all proceeds go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. For a little video action of these gorgeous creations, and some more shots of Christmas in Seattle, see my next post and join in this week’s travel theme, which is suitably festive.
Where's my backpack? 
Lovely story with wonderful photos… 🙂
I’m definitely feeling the holiday spirit after this, ledrakenoir! 🙂
Wow! They are amazing. The Alice in Wonderland one is my favourite too. The detail is incredible!
I felt like I’d gone through the looking glass myself when I saw it! 🙂
What can I say? Back to the drawing board for me.
Haha I hear you Mrs C, I’m dead proud when I manage to decorate a cookie, feeling ever so inadequate right now! 😉
Amazing stuff! So many talented people in this world!
I just love the idea of top architects sitting down and figuring out exactly where the Cheshire cat should go! 🙂
I LOVED the Queen!
AWESOME PHOTOS! I love gingerbread houses. These would take a team to make. Thanks for sharing,
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
A very talented team at that, Francine. Glad you enjoyed the post! xxx
Alice gets my vote also. I have seen this display in the past-some years it’s a winner and others not so much but the theme lent itself to awesome-ness this time around.
So much fun, Debbie, I was like a kid in a candystore 😉
That would be a great place to visit in Seattle! I like the Narnia castle too… 🙂
Narnia was fun, but boy, the detail that went into Alice in Wonderland and The Brothers Grimm Castles blew my mind. 🙂
Wow and Holy Cow! These are incredible but yes, Alice would make me double take. 🙂
Great shots, Ailsa.
The white rabbit stole my heart 😉
My vote (for the one I’d eat first) goes to the Brothers Grimm!
I was torn between Alice and the Brothers Grimm, Mark. Alice won on detail but I agree the Brothers Grimm one looks tastier, best use of Smarties ever! 🙂
Thank you! Fantastic and so creative. My vote goes for Alice…Which one won?
Hi vastly, the voting’s still going on so no winner yet – my vote goes to Alice too, with the Brothers Grimm a close second!
Wow, amazing! Thanks for posting this
Thanks for the reblog, kristc99 🙂
Reblogged this on The Panama Adventure and commented:
I just had to share this one! totally amazing gingerbread houses
Very cool. I like the Alice in Wonderland, too, but think I like the Brothers Grimm house even more.
They both filled me with childlike glee. The white rabbit, the Cheshire cat and the card soldiers just tipped Alice a little ahead for me. 🙂
Culinary team – does that mean these gingerbread castles are actually (sort-of) edible??
The detail is amazing, especially in the Alice in Wonderland castle – I can see why it’s your favorite. I love the Mad Hatter – his posture, with his shoulders hunched up defensively, and expression are perfect. One question, though – who’s the character in gray standing on top of the short brown tower brandishing a sword?
Yes, they’re totally edible, every last bit of them. Although they’ll probably be a little stale by the time Jan 1st rolls around. The character in grey is Alice, dressed in armour, ready to fight the Jabberwock who’s lurking on the roof – at least I’m guessing it’s Alice and assuming they based it on the Tim Burton movie, because Alice didn’t fight the Jabberwock in Through the Looking Glass.
I’m debating between Brother’s Grimm and Alice – they’re all amazing! – Suzan –
The Brothers Grimm one even had a working drawbridge! 🙂
Wow! Can’t imagine how much time and effort to put these together. Thanks, Alisa!
Wow! These are amazing!
Thank you for sharing these wonders! Seattle – here I come! If, only…but it’s too far away for me, unfortunately. Such fantastic handicraft and so much fun in making them!
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Surprise. « 3rdculturechildren
Aren’t they just fabulous? My favourite is Aladdins castle but only just! The detail is wonderful. Did you see my Thursdays Windows gingerbread house from KL? http://lucidgypsy.wordpress.com/2012/12/20/thursdays-windows-4/
Yikes, a human-sized gingerbread house, how cool. Now I’m guessing that one wasn’t really edible though, right? Where would you find an oven big enough? 🙂
They’re are just fabulous, Ailsa! Thank you so much for sharing… my inner child is jumping right now, wishing she could be there, or even better, somehow, be part of this ginger bread castle scene! Happy Holidays! 😮
Haha, me too, 4rdCulture, I was ready to jump feet first into it! I had my room picked out in the castle and everything! 🙂
😮
These are amazing and surprising, Ailsa!
These are deliciously fun. Such intricate detail for an edible that probably won’t get eaten.
Hi Ailsa,
Sometimes I forget that you are right here in Seattle! I haven’t been down to see the gingerbread houses yet this year, but now I know I have to get the family downtown for that. They are pretty spectacular this year, and as a storyteller, I have a soft spot for the fairy tale theme. Best wishes for a happy holiday and a bright new year.
These are amazing!
Fantastic!
WOW – these are incredible Ailsa
I’m on the search engines for a flight to Seattle NOW, Ailsa. Unbelievable, and you’re so right- the Brothers Grimm and Alice. Amazing!
Alice – hands down!
My goodness! I live in the area. Are these still on display? If so…where exactly…and when? If not this year, then next for sure. Thanks for bringing these to my attention. Loved them! Absolutely charming! Will reblog. 🙂
Hey hugmamma, yes, they’re still on display – I put the details in the last paragraph – the Sheraton is in downtown Seattle on 6th and Pike. Hope you get to visit! xxx
Wow! These are amazing. Wonderfully captured too. 🙂
Amazing doesn’t even begin to describe this! Spectacular might work!
Absolutely lovely. I vote for them all. Great job capturing them, especially the details!
What artistry. I can’t imagine how many hours each of these took to create. Thanks for sharing.
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Surprise « Miljo Anne
Thanks for some fun captures of these amazing creatives.
Wow! these are amazing! I’m surprised by the amount of effort and intricate detailing that has gone into making them, specially Brothers Grimm and Alice castles. Thanks for taking us along this spectacular fantasy world 🙂
Wow! These are absolutely gorgeously stunning! Thank you!
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
Pingback: What happened to Christmas traditions? Oh, that’s right, I grew up. | sANNEtiago Story: Life Along The Camino
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Surprise « Ruined for Life: Phoenix Edition
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Surprise | No Fixed Plans
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Surprise « Beijing Daily Photo 2
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Surprise | Here & Abroad
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Surprise « Jinan Daily Photo
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Surprise | I do Book Reviews
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Surprise! | Mirth and Motivation
Absolutely amazing!!
Fascinating! 🙂
¸.•*¨*•.♪♫♫♪Happy Holidays to You & Yours!.♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸ ♥
˜”*°•.˜”*°•.˜”*°•.★★.•°*”˜.•°*”˜.•°*”˜” ♥ ˜”*°•.˜”*°•.˜”*°•.★★.•°*”˜.•°*”˜.•°*”˜”
Eliz
Whoa. these are amazing!
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Christmas Surprise Triage at Grandma’s | Humbled Pie