WINNING IS SO SWEET — The Weirton Festival Committee recognized the winners of this year’s Christmas on Main Street Gingerbread Contest, awarding prizes for the top spots in each of seven categories. -- Craig Howell

WEIRTON — A sweet and spicy holiday tradition continued this year’s with the Christmas on Main Street Gingerbread Contest, and winners gathered Tuesday to be recognized for their festive creations.

In its third year, the contest continues to grow, according to members of the Weirton Festival Committee, which organizes the contest.

“We had 20 entries this year,” explained Assistant City Manager DeeAnn Pulliam.

The number of categories also grew with this year’s competition.

In previous years, entries competed in the categories of business, adult, group effort and Youth, with judges selecting the entry they felt was most original.

This year, formal categories included adult, group effort adult, group effort youth, youth, and original. Residents attending Christmas on Main Street were able to vote on a people’s choice winner this year, and then members of the Festival Committee picked their favorite, for a total of seven awards.

This year’s winners were:

Original: Elli Cowden

Adult: Jeri Emery

Group Effort Adult: Pulice Demolition: Amanda Pulice Hamilton, Angela Pulice, Justin Hamilton, Vince Pulice and Ashlyn Suppa

Group Effort Youth: Geno and Sophia Quattrochi

Youth: Sophia Quattrochi

People’s Choice: Linda DeAngelo

Committee’s Choice: The Zuros Family

Pulliam noted, while the youth and group effort adult categories only had one entry each, the adult category had three entries, and the group youth featured seven.

The original category had the highest participation, with eight entries, she said, noting the decision had been inspired by an entry in the previous years.

“Each structure is handmade gingerbread,” Pulliam explained, noting those entering the original competition cannot use store-purchased items.

Paul J. Zuros said his family had entered the original category, and said their structure, inspired by Weirton Steel, was a true family project, with all six members contributing.

“It was so much fun,” he said. “It was a group effort.”

The build reflected some of the buildings no longer in existence in Weirton, and featured the imagery of a ladle pouring molten steel made from sugar, as well as a steel coil from an Oreo cookie, steel slabs from Kit Kat candy, a rail line using Tootsie Rolls, smokestacks from ice cream cones and more.

Following Tuesday’s awards recognition, Pulliam announced Pulice Construction had opted to donate the cash portion of their prize back to the committee to assist with future contests.

Sponsors of this year’s competition were Taylor & Makricostas PLLC, Sheetz, Gus’s Goodies, Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar, Theo Yianni’s, Papa Johns, DeFelice Bros. Pizza, Fairfield Inn by Marriott, Sweet Temptations Pastry Shop and Fiesta Tableware Co.