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It’s a sweet spectacle for Santa Claus.
Christmas lovers in Regina have gone above and beyond cookies beside the fireplace for Old Saint Nick, transforming their homes into gingerbread houses.
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Creating the delicious decorations has become a passion project during the holiday season for Sharla and Tyson Cote.
“I just love Christmas and hearing feedback from strangers and from friends alike that just say how much they love it,” Sharla said.
The couple began spreading gingerbread joy about four years ago at their house on Albert Street near the Legislative building.
Sharla said more lights were added to illuminate the display this year. (Sharla Cote/Submitted)
Sharla said the inspiration came from videos she saw on TikTok.
She made candy cane window frames out of Styrofoam, and bought pool noodles to twist into swirls for a lollipop lane along the driveway.
Tyson started to pitch in when he saw the sugary dwelling come to life.
“Once he saw that it wasn’t just a passing fancy, he helped me out with actually cutting plywood and making it a little bit more robust,” Sharla said.
Tyson is the official handyman of the gingerbread house, drilling together candy cane framework, and occasionally crawling onto the roof to make sure the gingerbread inflatables stay full of air.
Tyson loads presents into the Gingerbread Express. (Gillian Massie/980 CJME)
“It’s fun building stuff that’s more durable, because we do this every year,” he said. “I think the enjoyable part is building something that you can use next year.”
Each year, the couple incorporates something new to their delectable display.
One of Tyson’s favourite additions is the gingerbread train that sits at the front of the lawn loaded up with presents and candy.
The icing trim adorned with glittering candy is what Sharla said makes the house pop.
“It honestly makes me smile every day,” she said. “It brings me so much joy.”
Kim Luterbach stands next to a gingerbread woman in her front yard. (Gillian Massie/980 CJME)
This is the first year Kim Luterbach has had gingerbread people to greet those who walk past her house on College Avenue and Broad Street.
She originally made the decorations for her friends business that had a float in the Santa Claus Parade.
Some of the sugary cutouts Luterbach created landed on her lawn once it finished.
“It’s fun because I love everything Christmas,” she said. “When I’m outside shovelling, or people are walking by, they’re smiling and they’re happy and they’re taking pictures.
“That’s what it’s all about — spreading the joy.”
Luterbach’s gingerbread house display has Christmas ornaments and lights. (Gillian Massie/980 CJME)
Luterbach spent about 100 hours over two weeks sketching, cutting, and painting the sweet treat decor, saying it felt much like Santa’s workshop.
“It was the funnest project,” she said. “I absolutely loved it.”
Sharla said lots of items in their display were made affordably, painting pails to look like gumdrops on top of the house. (Gillian Massie/980 CJME)
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