Gingerbread Stroll 2024

The gingerbread houses have moved into Highland Park Village.

The popular Gingerbread Stroll is back, and this year’s edition comes with a milestone — 15 years of pastry-powered holiday cheer. The annual exhibition and silent auction, presented by Allie Beth Allman & Associates, returns to Highland Park Village Nov. 14 through Nov. 30, bringing a lineup of intricately designed gingerbread houses crafted by some of Dallas’ most talented pastry chefs, bakeries, and confectionery artists.

Christine McKenny, longtime Park Cities Realtor and resident, founded the confectionery-themed fundraiser in 2011, but she admits the Stroll didn’t begin as a grand plan.

Created by BIRD Bakery, this gingerbread hiny house village is one of this year’s Gingerbread Stroll entries to bid on

“It was just an idea I had,” she told CandysDirt.com.

Drawing on her experience as a philanthropic fundraiser and the mom blog founder of In the Loop Kids, McKenny pulled together a handful of pastry chefs that first year — and the community showed up. The inaugural Stroll raised $3,000 for charity, a small beginning that hinted at what the event would eventually become.

But why gingerbread houses? McKenny launched the fundraiser with her then-five-year-old daughter, who enjoyed building and designing fanciful gingerbread houses every Christmas. The mother-daughter tradition of making gingerbread houses, combined with McKenny’s career in real estate, became a way to turn that holiday ritual into something that could help others.

Gingerbread Stroll 2024

Gingerbread Stroll 2024

Today, the event draws hundreds of visitors, all strolling from shop to shop to admire the whimsical displays and bid on their favorites — with 100 percent of proceeds benefiting Community Partners of Dallas. As McKenny likes to put it, “I sell gingerbread houses two weeks of the year,” but the impact lasts much longer.

A Dallas Tradition With Staying Power

McKenny said the 15th year carries big meaning.

“We are so excited to celebrate the 15th year of the Gingerbread Stroll with a very exciting goal of surpassing more than $300,000 raised for local nonprofits since our first Stroll,” McKenny said. “The holiday fundraiser would not be possible without the support of Highland Park Village, our many retail partners, our sponsors, and of course, the talented chefs who create our magical gingerbread houses.”

Gingerbread Stroll 2024

McKenny said, “We invite the community to come visit the stroll and bid big in support of Community Partners of Dallas and the abused and neglected children they serve.”

Community Partners of Dallas president and CEO Joanna Clarke echoed the excitement.

“Congratulations to Christine McKenny and the Gingerbread Stroll for 15 years of what has become a beloved holiday tradition for so many. We are so honored to once again be the beneficiary of the stroll, especially for this milestone year,” Clarke said. “The funds raised will go a long way in helping us provide critical resources for the children we serve, making it possible for us to continue meeting the growing needs of abused and neglected children in Dallas County during the holiday season and beyond.”

Who’s Baking This Year

Gingerbread Stroll 2024

This year’s participating pastry chefs, bakers, and artisans include:
• BIRD Bakery team from BIRD Bakery
• Le Gourmet Creative Baking Team at Le Gourmet Baking
• Pastry chef Arielle Sutcliffe of Pastry Works
• CEO Pam G. Eudaric and her family and friends from Chocolate Secrets
• Pastry chef Adrian Arandela and the Hilton Anatole pastry team
• Pastry chef Samantha Cade of Cade’s Cakes
• Pastry chef Winter Lockwood-Frank of Charlie’s Burgers & Street Tacos
• Gingerbread House Master Creations by Kristen Schweiger and Marsha Schweiger

Where to See the Houses

The gingerbread displays will be hosted by Highland Park Village retailers including Beretta Gallery, BIRD Bakery, Bistro 31, Brioni, MARKET Highland Park, SIMKHAI, The Village Barber Shop, and Veronica Beard.

Gingerbread Stroll 2024

This year’s Stroll is supported by a full roster of sponsors: Allie Beth Allman & Associates; BabyB’air Flight Vest; Candy’s Dirt; Chambers Interiors & Associates; Christine McKenny of McKenny Real Estate; Cornerstone Home Lending – Susan Keene; Gary E. Alhadef, DDS; Henley & Henley, P.C.; Highland Park Village; HUB Personal Insurance – Tony Boyd; Mueller Family Law; Republic Title; Schorr Law Firm, P.C.; Trammell Crow Company; and Woolery Associates Interior Design.

The Stroll runs through Nov. 30 — plenty of time to take a lap, admire the craftsmanship, and raise a paddle (or scan a QR code) for a good cause. Visit GingerbreadStroll.com for more details and to bid to win.