KOHLER, Wis. – January 2, 2025 – Exciting news from the 28th Annual Gingerbread Festival. The Kohler Foundation has tallied the votes, revealing the winners of this year’s festival. 57 entries were viewed and voted on by more than 4,000 visitors to the Waelderhaus. Securing the title of the festivals highest vote-getter is “We love little baby Jesus” created by Suzette Schermacher’s 3K class from St. John the Baptist Catholic School in Plymouth. Prizes, based on tallied votes, have been awarded in seven categories.
The first-place winners in each category were awarded $500. They include:
Pre-school: St. John the Baptist Catholic School “We Love Little Baby Jesus”
Grades K-2: Lake Country Academy “Hansel and Gretel”
Grades 3-5: St. John Lutheran School Plymouth “There is NO place like church”
Grades 6-8: St. John Lutheran School Plymouth “Winter Invasion”
Grades 9-12: Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah High School Culinary Arts Class “Up, Up, and Away”
Community Groups: Beacon Specialized Living “Hogwarts Castle”
Open: TeBeest Family “2024 Olympics in Paris”
Second-place winners earned a $250 cash prize. They include:
Pre-school: John Michael Kohler Arts Center Preschool “Little Legume Lodge “
Grades K-2: St. John Lutheran School Plymouth “Santa’s Village”
Grades 3-5: Sheboygan Christian School “Gingerbread Liberty”
Grades 6-8: St. John Lutheran School Plymouth “Whoville”
Grades 9-12: AFS Intercultural Exchange Elkhart Lake, Kohler, Random Lake “All Paths Lead to the USA”
Community Groups: American Heritage Girls WI0235 “Christmas Island”
Open: Watershed Hotel “Christmas at the Watershed Hotel”
Third-place honorees and recipients of a $100 award are:
Grades K-2: St. John Lutheran School Plymouth “A Cabin in the Forest”
Grades 3-5: St. Sheboygan Christian School “New York Candy Towers”
Grades 6-8: St. John Lutheran School Plymouth Deer Camp”
Grades 9-12: AFS Intercultural Exchange Plymouth “Pathways to International Holidays”
Community Groups: Nourish Farms “Nourish Greenhouses”
Open: RCS Empowers “RCS Candyland Train”
Award winners that are not already associated with a school or a non-profit are able to choose a 501c3 organization to donate their winnings to. Beacon Specialized Living is donating their winnings to Mel’s Charities, an Ozaukee county nonprofit that supports several initiatives, including individuals with intellectual or physical disabilities. The TeBeest Family plans to donate their winnings to Sheboygan County Super Eights Special Olympics. The Watershed Hotel will support Dogs2DogTags, an organization
dedicated to providing trained dogs to veterans, bringing hope, companionship, and healing to those who have served. Everyone at Waelderhaus extends their thanks to everyone who joined for the 28 th year! Mark your calendars for the 29th Annual Gingerbread Festival, happening from November 28 to December 30, 2025. Stay in the loop about all things Waelderhaus, including Arts at the Waelderhaus, by visiting KohlerFoundation.org and follow Kohler Foundation on Instagram and Facebook for the latest updates!
