CANANDAIGUA, NY – About this time a year ago, Chef John Bard and the rest of the team at the Lake House on Canandaigua were putting the finishing touches on a massive gingerbread boat called the Molasses Mariner.
This year, they’re taking their gingerbread-making skills to the coast as part of the Canandaigua resort’s holiday celebration on December 6, which will include community tree lighting, Santa and Mrs. Claus and a variation to the classic holiday film, “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
And yes, a gingerbread creation is part of the mix, although this time it is a more traditional take on the gingerbread pastry.
“We really liked the boat last year and it represented Canandaigua and the lake,” Bard said. “We wanted to represent the team we have here and a lot of the community support we have.”
The Holiday Gingerbread Lake House
John Bard, executive chef of The Lake House on Canandaigua, marketing manager Amei Polimeni and the rest of the team have a lot in store at a community tree lighting ceremony on December 6, including a new gingerbread creation and a take on “It’s a Wonderful Life.” “
What this year’s gingerbread creation lacks in size, it more than makes up for in intimacy and tradition.
Bard and his team will create a model of a gingerbread wedding in the Lake House event barn. It is intended to represent all the joyful moments that have taken place throughout the year, combined with the joy of the holidays.
“We wanted to go back to the classic roots of gingerbread making, more of a gingerbread house, but with the flair of Lake House,” says Bard.
Guests can see small scenes in and around the gingerbread event barn, which will be located in the lobby of the Lake House.
No more spoiler warnings; Okay, just one more.
The gingerbread house will be about 12 feet by 4 feet and about 2 feet high – still big, but not as big as the boat and with more attention to detail.
“It won’t be thousands of pounds this year,” Bard laughed. “It was a lot of fun producing the boat, and the team did a fantastic job producing it. We wanted to do something different this year. Every year we want to do something new, something unique, something special.”
And in this case, something great for people and very much in the holiday spirit and what the holidays really mean.
“It’s a great life” at the Lake House
The Lake House also puts its spin on the holiday chestnut, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” a go-to for the Lake House’s first movie screening and possibly the first of more versions of classic holiday films in the years to come.
The Lake House team selected four iconic scenes from director Frank Capra’s work to recreate in the lobby, said Amei Polimeni, marketing manager at Lake House.
Bard and his team will also receive a gingerbread plaque for the ‘Welcome to Bedford Falls’ sign depicted in the film.
One spoiler warning: local artist Nestor Ortiz has designed a cool moon that, with the help of a pulley, can be pulled towards you – a reference to George Bailey’s quote in the film to Mary: “You want the moon? Just say the word and I’ll throw a lasso around it and pull it down.
“I think people who have seen the film and are familiar with some of these iconic scenes will be able to relate to it and hopefully enjoy the way we interpret the film and how we create it here at the Lake House,” Polimeni said .
More vacation activities at the Lake House on Canandaigua
The Lake House will host many other holiday activities during its fifth annual Tree Lighting and Holiday Festival, which begins Friday, December 6 at 6 p.m.
The holiday fun includes a photo station with a human snow globe, face painting, make your own holiday fleece pillows, plus a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Claus, cheerful music, carols, festive drinks and real reindeer from the Shortsville Reindeer Farm.
“We’re really trying to make this a super family-friendly event to celebrate the area and its ties to ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ in Seneca Falls,” Polimeni said. Not to worry: The It’s a Wonderful Life Festival in Seneca Falls, the real-life inspiration for the film’s fictional Bedford Falls, takes place December 13-15.
Holiday activities continue after the kick-off celebration at the Lake House.
The Lake House will host Broadway at The Lake on December 14 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. John Riddle and Carrie St. Louis will perform Tony award-winning hits and holiday classics. Each ticket includes admission to the event, with light hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Doors open at 6:00 PM and the show starts at 7:00 PM. For tickets, visit https://na.spatime.com/lhc14424/4797482/activity/activity-view/21862024.
“Ultimately, we just hope that the community enjoys itself, treats itself to a really fun evening and helps create these traditions,” Bard said. “We love the idea of community traditions, and I think we’ve started doing that year after year. We hope each year becomes more of a tradition.”
Make your own gingerbread house
This is what the Lake House on Canandaigua’s Gingerbread Molasses Mariner looked like when it was unveiled a year ago. What will the Lake House do for a gingerbread encore? Find out on December 6 as part of a community holiday celebration.
Bard will lead a gingerbread house and gingerbread cookie class at New York Kitchen, 800 S. Main St., Canandaigua, on Tuesday, Dec. 17 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Participants of all levels will learn how to build and customize a gingerbread masterpiece, complete with freshly baked gingerbread cookies, made with pre-baked gingerbread house pieces, royal icing and an assortment of vibrant candies and decorations. Participants also cut and bake their own cookies to take home.
The cost is $72. For more information, visit https://nykitchen.com/event/holiday-gingerbread-house-cookies-class/.
Mike Murphy covers Canandaigua and other Ontario County communities and writes the Eat, Drink and Be Murphy food and drink column. Follow him on X at @MPN_MikeMurphy.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Lake House on Canandaigua unveils festive vacation plans
