For the ninth year, Cochranites are able to show off their creative building designs by entering a gingerbread masterpiece into one of four categories.

The annual KIDS (and Kids-At-Heart) Gingerbread Competition is looking for all wannabe architectures to join in on the fun by constructing and decorating a gingerbread house to add to the festive spirit which will be felt by thousands of event goers this weekend.

Claire Breeze, Host of the Contest and Owner of the Kitchen Boutique on Historic Main Street says hosting the contest in conjunction with Cochrane Light Up has always been important to her. "I love Light Up and I have always been a fan. I think Light Up is a great time for everyone to come together but I know some years it is super cold and it's nice to be able to come into Mackay's (or other stores) and have somewhere to walk with kids through and have another activity to do at Light Up while trying to keep warm."

Kitchen Boutique and Mackay's Ice Cream work in partnership to sponsor the event which sees some amazing, creative talent. Seeing anywhere between 20 to 30 entries, Breeze says she encourages people to join in on the competition. "We have some very talented, creative people and it's fun every year to see how/what people do differently. You don't get the same entries; you get unique entries and people thinking outside of the box and that is always exciting to see."

There are four categories this year to partake in 8 and Under, 12 and Under, Family/Teen Category and Advanced (all ages). Breeze shares some changes were made to the youngest age categories this year to ensure entries represented and matched the designer's capabilities. "What we have seen the last couple of years (since we dissolved the adult category) is a lot of parents tend to 'help' their children but we're getting a lot of six-year-old entries that aren't six-year-old entries. So what I wanted this year was authentic creations (other than parents helping structurally) for both 8 and 12 and under, so it's more of a kids contest."

Participants are asked to drop off their creations at  MacKay's Ice Cream on Friday (November 16) from 10 am to 6 pm or Saturday (November 17) from 10 am until noon. All houses will be on display for the public to vote on their favourite the night of Cochrane Light Up, which runs from 4:30 to 7:30 pm, November 17th.

There are $360 Cochrane Dollars and $300 in Kitchen Boutique gift certificates up for grabs for those that place in their respective category. While you peruse the houses on display at Mackay's, you can also try one of four Christmas edition ice cream flavours such as Candy Cane, Rum and Eggnog, Baileys, and this years signature flavour, Gingerbread.

For more information on the annual gingerbread competition, go HERE.