Chris Julian, left, and his mother, Vicki Julian, are entering the 13th Annual Gingerbread Festival and Auction together. The gingerbread creations will be auctioned at 7 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Eldridge Extended, 201 W. Eighth St. Proceeds will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Douglas County.

The gingerbread tradition continues in the Julian family.

November is when Vicki Julian starts baking gingerbread, the key ingredient in creations such as a Victorian house and a Jayhawk Santa Claus that are sold at the annual Gingerbread Festival and Auction. This year’s auction is Dec. 4 at the Eldridge Extended, 201 W. Eighth St.

“It’s the start of the season for us,” she said amid the smell of gingerbread wafting through her home.

For years, Vicki Julian and her husband, Steve, collaborated on gingerbread ideas for the auction.

Steve died last year from cancer. Chris Julian, 29, stepped in to help his mother continue the holiday tradition. Last year, he prompted his mother to construct a Noah’s Ark, something his father always wanted to do.

“It was just special,” Vicki said. “I didn’t think anyone would want it, but it was great.”

The ark attracted the highest bid at the auction and won third prize for decoration.

Now Vicki and Chris are preparing new creations.

Vicki has a three-dimensional Santa Claus in the works, and Chris has his bright red triplane finished. Next is a Jayhawk Santa Claus, the Kansas University Campanile and clouds to set the scene.

The Julians are among more than 80 adults and children whose gingerbread designs will be auctioned.

Vicki said she and her husband started making elaborate gingerbread homes 30 years ago. They would sell them to Lawrence confectioneries and donate the money to a charity.

“A labor of love is what my husband called it,” she said.

She is a former preschool director and corporate director of parent-relations at La Petite Academy.

“It’s nice to do something that has children involved,” Vicki said.

Her son is expanding the family tradition and helping a 15-year-old family friend to build a gingerbread house.

“I like the fact it’s helping raise money for a good cause,” Chris said.

Douglas County Big Brothers Big Sisters director Becky Price said the gingerbread auction typically raises about $25,000.

“Like most nonprofits, the end of the year is always a challenge for funding, so this just comes at a great time for us,” she said.

Price said it costs about $1,000 to match and maintain a pair of big and little siblings.

“Basically, 25 kids are going to get a brother or sister,” she said. “This is 25 kids whose lives are going to be changed.”