News
Be part of the Gingerbread Shed Festival 2026
In partnership with WD-40 and Men in Sheds
We’re bringing something brand new to Midsummer Place this Christmas with our Gingerbread Shed Festival, in partnership with WD-40 and Men in Sheds
We’re inviting local businesses to team up with a charity or good cause of their choice to sponsor and bring their very own Gingerbread Shed to life.
Each sponsor will be given a base Gingerbread Shed to transform into a festive creation. It’s a chance to get creative, showcase your business and give a local charity valuable exposure, right in the heart of Midsummer Place during the busiest time of the year.
The finished sheds will form a festive trail throughout the shopping centre, giving thousands of Christmas shoppers the opportunity to discover the businesses and charities behind each creation.
Visitors will be encouraged to explore the trail and vote in-centre for their favourite Gingerbread Shed, with the most popular creations winning cash donations for their chosen charities.
The Gingerbread Shed Festival will run from 14 November to 24 December 2026, giving participating businesses and charities more than six weeks of exposure across the Christmas period.
It costs a £300 charitable contribution to sponsor a Gingerbread Shed, with 100% of contributions going directly into the festival’s charity prize fund. The total charity prize fund will be shared between the charities represented by the top three Gingerbread Sheds, as voted for by visitors to Midsummer Place.
So, choose a cause you care about, get your team together and show us what you can create.
Register your interest using the form below and help bring a Gingerbread Shed to life this Christmas.
Please note: This is not the final design or mock-up and is shown for illustrative purposes only, to give an idea of the approximate look and scale of the Gingerbread Sheds.
The WD-40 and Men in Sheds logos will appear on each side of every shed, positioned in the right-hand corner and clearly identified as Principal Partners of the Gingerbread Shed Festival.
Each participating business will be provided with its own Gingerbread Shed structure, similar in style and scale to the example shown.
From there, it’s yours to transform! You’ll have the freedom to design and decorate both the outside and inside of your shed, bringing together your business, your chosen charity and plenty of Christmas creativity.
Bring the Inside to Life. The creativity doesn’t stop at the front door. Use the interior of your shed to create an eye-catching festive display, tell the story of the charity you’re supporting and showcase the personality of your business.
Please note: All designs, decorations and displays must be family-friendly and suitable for a busy shopping centre environment, as the trail will be enjoyed by visitors of all ages throughout the Christmas period
Terms & conditions apply. Businesses and charities are responsible for maintaining their display throughout the festival. Midsummer Place cannot accept responsibility for any loss, theft or damage to items used within the display.
In partnership with WD-40 and Men in Sheds