Capital News Service photo by Alexis Gutter. This is the first year that cash prizes are being awarded to both the winning professional and non-professional gingerbread house submissions. This house is by Chris Traylor of the O'Callaghan Hotel.

Published on: Wednesday, December 08, 2010

By Alexis Gutter, Capital News Service

The fourth annual Gingerbread Parade of Homes will be sprinkled throughout downtown Annapolis until Jan. 2 to celebrate the city's rare, colonial architecture and raise money for local initiatives benefiting children.

“In addition to raising money for worthy causes, we want to emphasize the architecture and uniqueness of Annapolis," said Carrie Kiewitt, vice president of advancement for the Historic Annapolis Foundation. "It's not a cookie-cutter town."

Sponsored by the Historic Annapolis Foundation and Long and Foster, a real estate company, the Parade of Homes is divided into professional and non-professional categories.

The 34 non-professional houses will be on display at local businesses, while the eight professional houses will remain in the Historic Annapolis Museum.

This year marks the first time cash prizes will be awarded to winners of both the professionally judged contest and the people's choice for favorite. Winners will be announced at the Historic Annapolis Museum at 2 p.m. Dec. 18.

For an interactive map of the gingerbread house locations, go to: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=100868027317484061397.0004966efa064054d4d98&ll=38.988569,-76.492996&spn=0.031155,0.055189&z=14