BELLE GLADE — Gingerbread Land, held at the Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center on Dec. 15, was a beautiful night of sweet treats, gourmet donuts, games, dancing and, of course, a gingerbread house decorating contest.

Fifteen families, with children ages three and above, came from Belle Glade, Clewiston, South Bay, Pahokee and Wellington to participate in the event. The winners, Wyatt and Payton Allen, from Clewiston, assisted by their mother Zulma, created a cute “hurricane house” and won the hearts of the judges. They received the top prize of a holiday bingo set for the family.

Gingerbread Land was co-sponsored by Habitat for Humanity Palm Beach County. Felicia Duce, neighborhood revitalization community outreach coordinator for Habitat for Humanity’s Belle Glade office, gave a presentation on building houses in the Glades and the services the organization provides for those in need. Duce also donated delicious gourmet donuts.

The event was organized by Vera Valerio, the Dolly Hand’s new outreach coordinator, who joined the theatre staff in September, bringing expertise in event management.

“Gingerbread Land was such a big success that I’m already thinking of ways to bring it back next December, bigger and better. We can’t wait to make this a new Glades holiday tradition,” Valerio said. “We thank the families that participated — we loved having you here.”