Courtesy Grand Sheraton
The Sheraton Grand Seattle’s Gingerbread Village is a family tradition for many. This year’s theme is #ElfLife. Last year’s event Inspired by Whoville drew more than 200,000 people, and the event has raised more than $1 million for the Northwest chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation since it began 27 years ago. Grand Sheraton Hotel chefs partner with top architecture firms including Bailly and Bailly, 4D Architects, the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties, Gelotte Hommas, Drivdahl Architecture, MG2 and CallisonRTKL, and Hargis.
It takes 150,000 pieces of candy, 350 pounds of fondant, 15 gallons of egg whites, and 10,000 hours of volunteer time to create the life-size gingerbread structures that weigh about 350 pounds each. See the sugary creations through Jan. 1.