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'Gingerbread Wonderland' Opens At Norway House

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Nothing smells or tastes like the holidays more than gingerbread.

Now, at the Norway House in Minneapolis they have an exhibit that's fun for families and friends and full of gingerbread.

A trip to Norway House these days will transport you to a whimsical holiday landscape of gingerbread houses, castles and more. All with a Twin Cities twist.

"It's St. Paul into Minneapolis. Then, the middle table is all Minneapolis, downtown and south Minneapolis. And then, this table behind me is what we're calling the suburban and outside of the Twin Cities table," Rachel Peterson, with Norway House, said.

From Mickey's Diner to Minneapolis City Hall to the U.S. Bank Stadium, there's a magical gingerbread house from just about every neighborhood.

"This is the Mill City Museum and the ruins, which I think is just really compelling. This one is done by Sweet Retreat," Peterson said.

All of them are elaborate, and some much bigger than others.

Collette Bartowski spent more than 100 hours designing and building a 75 pound "Frozen" themed gingerbread castle.

"Each piece has its own form. [I] did the hard candy, did the die, put it together - unfortunately I didn't realize that hard candy does evaporate. So it broke, twice.

But that didn't stop her.

Bartowski got creative and crafty.

"My dad would be so proud of me, he's in heaven right now. But, I went in and had to put in a sub floor. Then I had to put in studs to reinforce it and had to double the layers and just kept building. It leans a little bit because of that, but it just adds to the charm," Bartowski said.

Charming, yes; and sweet, of course.

She said spreading holiday cheer made all that hard work worthwhile.

Tickets for Gingerbread Wonderland are $5. Children under 12 and seniors get in free. Gingerbread Wonderland will be open at the Norway House through early January.

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