Monday - Friday; December 15th - 19th
Our NRC Gingerbread Man, Gingy, is wandering around Newton — and we need your help to bring him home! You will need to join a private Facebook group to receive your clues on Gingy's location.
Each day, Gingy will be hiding inside a local business somewhere in town. Stop by, find him, and pick up the special reindeer candy cane he’s left for you. Bring the candy cane back to the Newton Rec Commission, and you’ll receive that day’s piece of our 5-Day Gingerbread House Craft Kit!
By the end of the week, you’ll have a completed gingerbread house — this can be a fun family, co-worker, and friend competition!
Once your house is complete, you’ll submit your gingerbread house pictures to cegizi@newtonrec.org for our Facebook community contest.
A festive way to celebrate the season and support our local businesses!
Time: 11am – 6pm
Age: All Ages
Fee: $10 per kit
Registration Deadline: Thursday, December 11th
Minimum Enrollment: 15
1. Hunt Dates & Times
Our gingerbread man “Gingy” will be hiding inside a local Newton business each day from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
(5:30 PM on Tuesday & Thursday)
from Monday, December 15th through Friday, December 19th.
2. Daily Clues
NRC staff will post the daily clues at 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM, and 2:30 PM on our Facebook group. You will need to be a member of this group to participate.
Where is Our Gingerbread Man “Gingy”???
(link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/837607625837461)
3. How to Collect Your Candy Cane & Craft Piece
Go to the checkout counter of the business, once you figure out where Gingy is hiding and let them know you found him. They will give you a special candy cane.
Bring that candy cane back to the Newton Recreation Commission, 415 N Poplar St, to receive that day’s piece of your 5-Day Gingerbread House Craft Kit.
Each day matters—collect all 5 pieces to complete your house!
* Please keep your candy cane exactly as you receive it — the colors on it are important
for each day’s piece.
4. Facebook Community Vote Contest:
Once your gingerbread house is complete, snap a photo and email it to cegizi@newtonrec.org. All entries will be placed into three age groups for judging. Age groups will be determined after registrations close based on the ages of participants. Each photo will be shared in a community album, and the photo with the most reactions in each age group will win a small holiday prize!
A: The cost is $10.
A: Absolutely! All ages are welcome. Families, friends, and co-workers can all participate, and even turn it into a friendly competition to see who can decorate the best gingerbread house.
A: Yes! Someone else may pick it up for you — they’ll just need to give your name at the NRC to receive that day’s craft piece.
**We do encourage participants to join the fun themselves whenever possible, since solving the clues and finding Gingy is a big part of the experience. But we understand that some days may not work for everyone.
A: You don’t have to, but it’s encouraged! It’s a great way to enjoy a little family time each day as you build your house together. It should only take about 10 minutes (M,T,W) and 10-15 minutes (Th, F).
*You must pick up all five pieces by Friday, December 19th.
A: Yes! Caregivers of all kinds are welcome to participate.
A: No. Because our Facebook Community Vote Contest is meant to be fair for everyone, all participants must decorate their gingerbread house using only the supplies provided in the kit. Don’t worry — there will be plenty of candies and treats included to decorate your 2.5" x 2.5" gingerbread house!
A: You’re welcome to add extra decorations for fun, but please note that only houses decorated with the provided supplies will be eligible for the Facebook Community Vote Contest.
A: Please email your photo to cegizi@newtonrec.org by Saturday, December 20th at 11:59 PM. The Facebook Community Vote Contest will begin on Sunday, December 21st, and winners will be announced at 5:00 PM on Monday, December 22nd.
A: No worries! Please reach out to Candice at cegizi@newtonrec.org or call (316) 283-7330, and we’ll take care of it.