First Place: Once-ler Upon a Christmas

by Layla, Colby & the Mackie Family

“We were inspired by the redemption story of the villainous Once-Ler, who cut down all the beautiful Truffula trees, but after being taught a lesson by the Lorax, realized the error of his ways and replanted the Truffula trees for everyone to enjoy again. For our display, we wanted to illustrate our interpretation of the positive ending of the Once-Ler’s story by transforming his once shabby house into a beautiful home decorated for the holidays, nestled in a grove of Truffula trees. Truf-FA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA!!!!”

Ingredients used: Gingerbread, Royal icing, meringues, candy canes, isomalt, rice cereal treats, peppermint candy, lollipops, and frosted wheat cereal.

Second Place: The Grinch in Whoville

by Magdalyn McLarey 

This display was made with gingerbread, modeling chocolate, frosting, airheads, twizzlers, sprinkles and love.

Third Place: Trouble Getting to Solla Sallew

by The Arvantely Family

“We always hear of the things that will make our lives better: if we move to a new place or get a popular pair of sneakers then everything will be perfect. In his 1965 book “I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sallew,” Dr. Seuss creates a character who is trying to escape his troubles.  They find adventures along the way but realizes that they are better off facing their troubles at home. 

The crazy buildings of Solla Sallew are made of structural gingerbread covered in frosting. The birds and the characters are shaped out of fondant and food coloring. To decorate all these surfaces we used M&M’s, gum drops, licorice, and all sorts of other colorful candies, all glued on with frosting.”

First Place: The Smirkbega Pal-alace

by Wesley, Annie, Mom Smiga, Dad Smiga, Grandma and Grandpa Berk

“Here’s to all of our favorite Seuss-ness

But let’s just suppose that we add…

A gingerbread crowd who is dressed to impress,

A stately gate that is quite complex,

All in a land where sweetness is best!

We are so happy to create a scene that will be great!”

Ingredients used: gingerbread, icing, hard candy, cake decorations, fondant, food coloring, edible glitter, gummies, and gumballs.

Second Place: Night at the SEUSScracker

by The Schettler Family

“The theme “In the Land of Sugar and Seuss” made us think of the Nutcracker and then how we could turn the Nutcracker and Rat King battle into something fun with Dr. Seuss!”

Ingredients used: Gingerbread, frosting/gel, fondant, food coloring, rice krispie treats, m&m’s, starbursts, black licorice, green licorice, twizzlers, Swedish fish, sour airhead cubes, fruit roll-ups, ring-pops, dots, candy canes, pretzles, peanut butter wafer bars, candy eyeballs, a little wine and lots of love.

Design: Violet Schettler

Build Supervisor: Evelyn Schettler

Laser Engraver Extraordinaire: Clayton Schettler

Creative Consultant: Melissa Schettler

Special Guest Bakers: Matilda Levine, Katy Mann, Charlie Levine, and Murray Levine

Supply Chain Manager: Katie Allen

Snacks Supported by: Levine Law

Third Place: Seussing around the Christmas Tree

by The Johnson Alves Family

“We were inspired by the many Dr. Seuss characters coming together as a family to celebrate Christmas around the tree. We made Seussian inspired presents like bikes, balls and horns and kites.”

Ingredients used: Andes mint floor tiling and Twizzler rug, Giant Nerd ornaments on a gingerbread circle tree, and marshmallow tissue paper for the presents.

First Place: Stackable Seuss

by The Salva Family

“Our display was inspired by our family’s many years of reading Dr. Seuss books as well as a visit to the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum. It is meant to depict a representation of everyday objects he used with characters and images from his stories in a three dimensional collage.

The largest components of this display are made with gingerbread including the travel bag and table top. Fondant, ginger clay and assorted candies and various foods such as dried pasta are used for the remainder.”

Second Place: The Once-ler’s Christmas House

by Sue

“I was inspired by The Once-ler’s house from The Lorax. My display is made of gingerbread, royal icing, candy canes, biscuit sticks, wheat thins, ginger snap, licorice, gumdrops, sugar pearls, sanding sugar, a lollipop, and cactus candy.”

Third Place: MERRY MAYHEM

by Tammy Richter

“My inspiration was Dr. Seuss meets Traditional Christmas. Thank you to my husband, Steve, for all his help.”

Ingredients used: Lots of gingerbread, sugar paste, edible fabric, and assorted candies.

First Place: Lessons Learned from the Lorax

by Patricia Bessette & Kathryn Bessette-Dubour

“We were inspired by this year’s theme, “Sugar and Seuss.” “The Lorax,” one of our favorite books by Dr. Seuss, might seem a little depressing until you get to the last part when the Onceler gives the little boy the last truffula seed. That little word “unless” says it all. The message that each of us has an important role in saving our planet is appropriate for today’s climate issues. What do you do to care for our earth?

Our display has a layer of rice crispy cereal and marshmallow as a base covered in royal icing and sprinkled with toasted coconut. The Onceler’s hand, the little boy, the truffula seed and the fish are made from fondant. The Onceler’s four-story house, the Unless bricks, and the Thneed factory are made from gingerbread. The truffula tree stumps are mini marshmallows covered in royal icing with tree rings drawn on with edible marker. The pond is made with royal icing. Royal icing is the “glue” that holds the buildings together, the details on the factory and house, and the decorative blobs around the display.”

Second Place: Lorax’s Picket Line for the Planet

by Angela Chaffee, Blooming Table Events of Springfield

 “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

—Lorax

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

—Margaret Mead

“Blooming Table Events joins the Lorax and his friends, the Brown Bar-ba-loots and the Humming Fish, in speaking up to protect the planet. At Blooming Table, we love Mother Nature and believe that there are little things we can all do to make a difference for our planet. It’s why we do our best to make our events low waste and eco-friendly by reducing and reusing as much as possible, while still making each event special and unique. When we all work together, anything is possible. Mother Earth thanks you!”

Ingredients used: gingerbread, royal icing, isomalt sugar, rice paper flowers, almond paste, fondant icing, Swedish Fish, Teddy Grahams, licorice, sugar flowers and leaves, buttercream icing, and candy canes.