Jacksonville's beloved Gingerbread Extravaganza is getting a fresh start this December. The Historic Springfield Society has taken over the 23-year-old holiday tradition from the Jacksonville History Center, moving it to the society's own headquarters — a 118-year-old former Presbyterian church at 210 W. 7th St. at Silver Street.
The event had called the History Center's Old St. Andrew's Church museum site home from 2007 through 2024, then spent one year at the center's newer Palmetto Street facility. History Center CEO Alan Bliss explained the handoff as a natural fit, noting that as the center focuses its energy on developing its Palmetto Street campus, passing the tradition to another history-minded nonprofit made good sense.
The Rotary Club of South Jacksonville originally launched the Gingerbread Extravaganza in 2003 as a nonprofit fundraiser. The Historic Springfield Society — itself more than 120 years old and dedicated to preservation and community education in the Springfield neighborhood — says its board unanimously backed taking on the event.
Specific dates for the 24th annual display haven't been finalized, but organizers plan to spread the event across 15 dates in December. Dozens of gingerbread creations are expected to fill the historic church space, continuing a sweet Jacksonville holiday tradition.
This story was originally reported by Jacksonville Today.
