Girl Scouts take over Gingerbread Festival

The Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida hosted a sweet competition Saturday and Sunday at Westfield Sarasota Square Mall.

It was its first year hosting the 8th annual event, which has previously been hosted by Community Youth Development.

“We’re keeping it alive,” Resource Development Specialist of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida Jaime Estes.

All the gingerbread houses were sold and the proceeds benefited the scouts. The store space and tables were donated by Westfield Sarasota Square Mall, which Estes believes makes all the difference.

“There is something special about walking in and seeing them all at once,” she said.

Estes said she is already looking forward to hosting it again next year.

“If we didn’t I feel like we would have a lot of upset people,” Estes said.