Bessemer Library hosts gingerbread workshop

BESSEMER - With an assortment of treats and candies to choose from, local children decorated gingerbread houses during the annual workshop at the Bessemer Public Library on Saturday.

This is the third year the workshop has taken place, and according to library director Melissa Rajala, the event gets more popular each year.

"I had some new names registering this year, so that was nice to see," she said.

Rajala said she always wanted to do the workshop, but when she was working at larger libraries, it was too difficult.

"It would have been too many kids, so it would have been unmanageable," Rajala said. "Here, the library is the perfect size, so it won't be too much to handle."

The goal every year is to find new treats for the kids to use on their houses. This year the items used included graham crackers and frosting for the structures and candy canes, pretzels, different kinds of cereal, marshmallows and other candies as decorations.

"We actually received a donation of the left over candy from the gingerbread workshop at the Downtown Art Place in Ironwood, so that was really nice," Rajala said. "We were really grateful for that."

In addition to the creating, attendees were also able to dine on some treats themselves and have story time.

"This is a really good outlet for them, because they get to be creative and show their ideas," Rajala said. "Plus, they get to eat their creation. How much fun is that?"

Throughout the school year, students from Washington Elementary School in Bessemer have visited in the library, and Rajala said she has been encouraging the kids to come to more events.

"We are also open the first Saturday of the month for a story hour and activities," she said. "It's open to all ages and we hope to see kids there."

As for future workshops, Rajala said she will definitely be doing it again. She also hopes anyone interested in attending the event will come and "have some fun."

"We have so much fun, and that is the whole reason why we do this," Rajala said. "I love to see the creativity the kids bring, and we have a blast. It's my favorite day of the year."

For more information, call the Bessemer Public Library at 906-667-0404.