It’s back! After a 2-year pandemic hiatus, JDRF’s annual Gingerbread Village at the Seattle Sheraton is back and open to visitors daily now through January 1, 2023!
This year marks our tenth gingerbread scene, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to roll up our sleeves, break out our camp stoves, and build with our favorite edible materials.
The Theme
This year, the Gingerbread Village theme is “Buzzing Back,” based on the Disney Pixar box office hit Lightyear.
Four of the Seattle region’s premier architectural firms took to their kitchens and candy jars and funneled their design-build skills into crafting Buzz Lightyear-inspired gingerbread scenes. Each of these sweet displays are a world of discovery in themselves, with intricate details and easter eggs to reward every Village visitor.
Led by our own principal architect Eric Drivdahl and together with the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties, we built the “Future Is Bright” exhibit, featuring the movie’s XL-15 spacecraft and the theme of teamwork and courage.
But this year we didn’t just craft an exciting gingerbread scene. This year we’re thrilled to go where no space ranger has gone before…to hyper speed!
The Experience
With the help of some amazing friends, the GHDA and MBAKs team fulfilled their dream of creating an interactive gingerbread experience.
Through a custom-designed, foot pedal-operated console, visitors have a chance to bring the city, crystal, and ship to life and, ultimately, to engage hyper speed! This experience was made possible by Emil Drivdahl’s (Eric’s father) electrical engineering design and Farmer’s Electric’s skillful application of the plan.
The Team
That theme of teamwork finds no better expression than in the countless volunteer hours and generous donations that helped bring this display and this event together!
Special thanks to the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties, Farmer’s Electric, Definitive Audio, and all the members of the Gelotte Hommas Drivdahl Architecture team who contributed to bringing this scene to life!
How to Visit & Vote
The 28th Annual Sheraton Grand Seattle Gingerbread Village is open daily from now through January 1, 2023.
The event is free to enter, and every visitor is encouraged to make a $5 donation to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, with every donation acting as a vote towards the winning display.
You can vote for GHDA’s The Future Is Bright display with a donation here.
For more details, visit the Gingerbread Village event page.
See you at the Sheraton!