World's largest gingerbread village could be at New York Hall of Science in Queens

Kemberly Richardson Image
Thursday, December 8, 2016
Huge gingerbread village display in Queens
Kemberly Richardson has the story of what could be the world's largest gingerbread village.

CORONA, Queens (WABC) -- The New York City borough of Queens could be home to the world's largest gingerbread village.

In fact, the massive 2 1/2 ton display is vying for a Guinness world record for a fourth straight year.

The display, located in the New York Hall of Science in Corona, consists of about 1,200 houses and buildings.

All of the gingerbread creations were baked by one person - John Lovitch. In all, there's about 600 pounds of gingerbread, 4,700 pounds of icing and 800 pounds of candy involved in the huge display.

"I get everything as cheap as I can," Lovitch said. "Candy, I get the day after Christmas, day after Valentine's Day and after Halloween. It's all on sale. You see a theme here?"

2016 marks Lovitch's 23rd season making the houses. What started as just 14 has ballooned into the now massive masterpiece.

If you look closely at the gingerbread homes, you'll find one thing in common.

"Gingerbread and icing do not like to stay together, time pulls them apart so if you look on the corners, you'll see a lot of stones, bricks, candy. I have some houses that weigh 50 pounds behind me," Lovitch said.

And this may be best part of it all. When it's all over on January16, Lovitch gives the houses away.

So does he save any for himself? We asked if he even likes gingerbread.

"Not even a bit. I don't touch the stuff. I hate icing with a passion," Lovitch said.