Aspen’s Buddy Program is ‘all about the gingerbread’

Looking for a creative way to spend a night out? 

The inaugural 2025 Buddy Program’s “Not Your Childhood Gingerbread House Party” will take place from 6-8 p.m. on Dec. 10 at Woody Creek Distillers, located at 60 Sunset Drive in Basalt.

It promises to be a spirited evening of imagination, cocktails, gingerbread building, and community — an adult’s night out that continues to support youth mentoring programs. 

“We kept hearing folks say, ‘This would be so fun for adults,’ and we realized — why not?” said Marketing and Communications Manager for the Buddy Program Jennifer Balmes. “We knew we wanted to bring the holiday fun to adults, so we reached out to Woody Creek Distillery for a space and asked Alan Kokish to help with appetizers, and that’s when everything started to fall into place.” 

There are a variety of ticket options. Individual Gingerbread House tickets are $200, which includes one gingerbread house to build ($175 value), access to a candy buffet and decorating supplies, two alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks provided by Woody Creek Distillers, and hors d’oeuvres by Aspen Chef Alan Kokish. Tickets also include a tax-deductible donation to the Buddy Program.

Build with a Buddy Gingerbread House tickets cost $275 (for two people). These tickets include one gingerbread house to build together ($175 value), access to a candy buffet and decorating supplies, four alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages provided by Woody Creek Distillers, and hors d’oeuvres for two by Aspen Chef Alan Kokish. They also contribute a tax-deductible donation to the Buddy Program.

It’s also possible to sponsor a Big Buddy Mentor by donating a ticket. This option allows supporters to contribute to the Buddy Program without joining the party, while providing the opportunity for a Big Buddy and their guest to attend this special evening.

The Buddy Program empowers youth through mentorship to help them reach their full potential.

The $100 tax-deductible donation from each ticket at “Not Your Childhood Gingerbread House” party will help fund mentoring programs supporting youth, families, and volunteers from Aspen to Glenwood Springs and Rifle.

The Buddy Program has been creating gingerbread house kits for all ages since 2020 for a variety of community workshops, now producing about 400 kits annually. Kits are available for anyone to purchase at Gingerbread House Kits, with proceeds going directly to programming 

To find more about the Buddy Program, visit buddyprogram.org.