                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, December 6, 1995            TAG: 9512050139
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON    PAGE: 16   EDITION: FINAL 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   33 lines

A DELICIOUS-LOOKING VILLAGE

The Sugar Plum Gingerbread Festival kicked off Friday with a grand illumination of the Gingerbread Village in the Pavilion lobby. More than 220 gingerbread houses made by children at Virginia Beach recreation centers were displayed among elaborate, candy and icing covered creations made by the Sugar Plum Bakery. A miniature train chugged its way through snow-covered villages and around the Pavilion's 20-foot-tall Christmas tree. The illumination also featureed holiday carols performed by the men's choral group of the First Baptist Church of Norfolk, First Presbyterian's combined cherub and carol choirs and several gospel groups. On Saturday, kids were able to make their own real gingerbread house in workshops, and Santa was available at lunch time. The event continues through Dec. 17. ILLUSTRATION: Photos by L. TODD SPENCER

ABOVE, LEFT: Tom O'Grady, Rosemarie O'Grady and Erin O'Grady, 2 1/2,

work on Erin's gingerbread house during Saturday's Kid's Day

workshop activities at the Pavilion.

ABOVE, RIGHT: Caroline Finley, 3, and Sam Foster, 4, enjoy music

from the lap of babysitter Peyton Hoffman.

by CNB