Talented students from Frederick Community College’s (FCC) Hospitality, Culinary & Tourism Institute (HCTI) and Frederick County Public Schools’ (FCPS) Career and Technology Center (CTC) collaborated to design and build this year’s iconic gingerbread display at the Willard InterContinental Washington, D.C.

The breathtaking 4 ft. x 12 ft. gingerbread display captures the spirit of the National Mall, featuring detailed replicas of landmarks like the Washington Monument, National Gallery of Art, U.S. Botanic Garden, and National Museum of the American Indian. After months of preparation in FCC’s Baking and Pastry Lab, the display was transported to the hotel, where FCC and FCPS students spent two full days assembling and decorating the final display.

This celebrated display, described as the oldest continuous gingerbread display in the District, will be exhibited December 9-31, 2024, and is open to the public for viewing.

The project began in summer 2024, led by HCTI Instructor Chef Mark Mills, who guided students through every phase, from design and construction to assembly and decoration. Chef Mills was supported by HCTI Chef Missy Miller, FCPS Instructor Phil Arnold, and Ginger’s Breadboys Founder Virginia Bramante, who each brought unique expertise to the project.

The culinary and pastry teams at Willard InterContinental Washington, D.C. have traditionally led the gingerbread project in-house each holiday season. In 2021, the hotel expanded the initiative to include community involvement, with the goal of adding a 'giving back' element to the cherished tradition.

“We are proud to partner with the talented students and aspiring chefs of the Hospitality, Culinary & Tourism Institute at Frederick Community College, whose unwavering passion for their craft, dedication to the art of hospitality, and commitment to their community resonate with our gingerbread project,” said Markus Platzer, Regional Director of Operations and General Manager at the Willard. “This partnership feels like a natural alignment for us this holiday season, uniting two like-minded parties to create something truly extraordinary that will spread joy and cheer throughout our community.”

The team at Willard InterContinental Washington, D.C. reached out to Chef Mark Mills in late 2023 with a proposal for a collaboration on the gingerbread project for the 2024/25 holiday season. Both parties were eager to join forces and create a special experience for Willard InterContinental and its surrounding community and worked together to conceptualize this year’s display, which was unveiled on December 9.

“We’re honored to have been selected by Willard InterContinental for this high-profile project,” said HCTI Manager Elizabeth DeRose. “It has been an incredible learning experience for our students to be part of a project of this scale and scope. It’s been a pleasure to collaborate with FCPS CTC students in their CAD architecture/engineering program under the master tutelage of Phil Arnold, who was awarded Washington Post Teacher of the Year just a few years ago. Together, students and instructors of both programs have dedicated countless hours of hard work, dedication, and passion to bring this gingerbread display to fruition.”

Don’t miss the chance to view this masterpiece at Willard InterContinental Washington, D.C., 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004, through December 31, 2024.

For more information, contact Elizabeth DeRose at [email protected]. To learn more about FCC’s Baking and Pastry Arts program offerings, click here.