About a dozen people sat down to work on their small gingerbread houses after instructor Kevin Kiley handed out supplies and gave some brief construction tips at the Opera House at Boothbay Harbor on Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 17.

There was one table of four builders – a grandmother, son and two grandchildren – tables with two people and Trudi Mayhew of Boothbay Harbor was working alone, concentrating hard on doing her best.

“I am learning to become the grandmother of the year,” Mayhew said in jest, as she placed another gumdrop on her mini gingerbread house.

Kiley’s helper was Susan Brackett, who went around to each table dishing out various candies for decorating. Kiley, meanwhile, was also building a house from his spot behind tables displaying a multitude of kitchen utensils, books about constructing gingerbread houses, gingerbread house kits, newspaper clippings and photos of past classes and Gingerbread Spectacular shows, and more.

The “technical director,” as Kiley is called by Opera House director Cathy Sherrill, has been making gingerbread houses since he was a child. His mother, Pat Kiley, began the free classes at the venue in 2007 and the event prompted the beginning of the Gingerbread Spectacular and Dough Ball (a holiday social gathering to view the gingerbread creations) 15 years ago.

There is still time to enter the Gingerbread Spectacular (no Dough Ball again this year). Those planning to create an entry for this year’s event are asked to contact the Opera House (633-5159) to register. The Spectacular will be open to the public Dec. 16-19. There is no fee to enter the Spectacular, and prizes will be awarded for Most Spectacular, Best Traditional Gingerbread House Design, Most Delicious Looking, Most Hilarious, Best Representation of a Local Landmark and in other categories determined by the judges.