Don’t miss Norway House’s “Gingerbread Wonderland”

Photo: Leslee Lane Hoyum Here one sees the Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church with Ingebretsen’s to the right and the Norway House education building above right and future conference center above left.

Photo: Leslee Lane Hoyum
Here one sees the Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church with Ingebretsen’s to the right and the Norway House education building above right and future conference center above left.

Leslee Lane Hoyum
Rockford, Minn.

Each year the City of Bergen, Norway, builds a Gingerbread City. It’s the world’s largest. Since 1991, kindergartens, schools, businesses, and thousands of individuals have contributed to its success.

Photo: Leslee Lane Hoyum This view features Minnesota’s premiere Guthrie Theater and the iconic Foshay Tower.

Photo: Leslee Lane Hoyum
This view features Minnesota’s premiere Guthrie Theater and the iconic Foshay Tower.

Inspired by such a feat, Norway House, Minneapolis, welcomes everyone to its first Gingerbread Wonderland/Pepperkake Twin Cities, which will be on display through Jan. 15. The exhibit features houses and iconic buildings, such as the Foshay Tower, Minnesota State Capitol, Mindekirke, Guthrie Theater, and the Stone Arch Bridge, to name a few.

The Minneapolis StarTribune said of the exhibition, “It’s a twinkly display of enchantment with enough lights and sparkly ‘snow’ to bring a smile to even Scrooge, the room awash in the seasonal fragrance of cinnamon, ginger and molasses that seems to beg ‘breathe deeply.’”

Photo: Leslee Lane Hoyum Ambassador Kåre R. Aas shows the bowl presented to him by Norway House.

Photo: Leslee Lane Hoyum
Ambassador Kåre R. Aas shows the bowl presented to him by Norway House.

On Nov. 23, His Excellency Kåre R. Aas, Norway’s ambassador to the United States, opened the exhibit as well as officially lit the Norway House Christmas tree. Norway House Chair Jon Pederson took the opportunity to present the ambassador with a beautiful bowl featuring the Norway House insignia.

Galleri hours include Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults and $5 for students and seniors; it is free for children under 12, as well as members. Norway House is located at 913 E. Franklin Ave., Minneapolis, next to Mindekirken. Call for information at (612) 871-2211.

This article originally appeared in the Dec. 11, 2015, issue of the Norwegian American Weekly. To subscribe, visit SUBSCRIBE or call us at (206) 784-4617.

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