By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer

PELHAM—Kids lined up on both sides of a long white table, selecting the perfect candies to use for their gingerbread houses. The possibilities were endless with candy canes, gumdrops, Skittles, liquorish and dozens more.

It’s a tradition at the Pelham Public Library to host several sessions for families to make gingerbread houses together. Allison Moore, a library specialist, was running the show at the third and final session for the 2015 holiday season on Dec. 7.

“All of our sign up has been full completely,” Moore said. “We’ve had a great turnout.”

As dozens of families filed into the room, the kids picked the perfect spot for library helpers to place the milk carton and graham cracker gingerbread houses on trays. Each child was also given a bag of frosting and an empty ice cream cone to transform into a Christmas tree with colored sprinkles.

Dozens of people filled four long tables, stretching across the room, and the kids were nothing but smiles as they stuck the candies to the outsides of their gingerbread houses.

“We have several that come every year so they know what’s going on, and then we have a few new ones every year,” Moore said. “They always have a great time.”

She pointed out a group of boys who get creative with the craft, adding garages to their houses or utilizing the cones for other structures.

This was the second time Savannah and Graham Ailsworth participated in the gingerbread making at the library. Their mother, Leslie, said they came last year and were excited to participate again.

“They love it, they think it’s super fun,” Leslie said. “I love that I can pay $5 and everything is here for them and I don’t have to try and find it all myself. They organize it really well.”

Parents paid $5 in advance and $10 at the door for an all-inclusive evening of gingerbread houses. The kids could choose from buckets and buckets of candy variations, and parents didn’t have to worry about the cleanup.

The best part of the sessions, Moore said, is that families get to spend time together during the holiday season.

“We’re a part of the community too, so especially around Christmas, we want to have a lot of activities that kids can be a part of together,” she said. “Parents get to come and we have a lot of grandparents that come too. It’s just time they get to spend together and that’s always the most important part.”