Hundreds of versions highlight Nativity festival

By THERESA HOGUE
Gazette-Times reporter

Hundreds of versions of the Holy Family in the manger were showcased under a canopy of lights Thursday evening, with more being added every minute. Organizers of the annual community Nativity festival at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints were gearing up for a three-day event.

This year’s display promises an extra glow because of the series of hanging spotlights which have been installed specially for the displays, illuminating the crèches underneath them.

“We’ve put the tables where we can put lighting,” said Nancy Oar, who helped to design this year’s display. Last year, Oar said, there were not enough display tables, leaving some exhibitors feeling frustrated. Now they have plenty of tables but had to position them carefully to make sure the suspended lights illuminate the Nativity scenes just right.

“This has been a full-time job, but I just love it,” Oar said, also commenting with a grin about her daughter’s pen-and-ink Nativity illustration:

“I think it’s the nicest one.”

Nativities have been loaned from across the community, and feature everything from carefully sewn manger scenes to hand-carved Holy Families from Poland. Christians the world over are represented. Crèches on display include ones from Africa, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Germany, Spain and Israel.

Plenty of homegrown and homemade nativities also were on display. Ileen Barlow, director of the exhibit, said approximately 325 volunteers worked together to make the annual event happen.

One of the highlights this year is the children’s room. Its walls are covered with murals of the Nativity story, and handmade costumes are stacked in one corner so children can dress up as the Holy Family and pose in front of one of the murals for a Christmas photograph. Kids also can make their own angel ornaments at one of the craft tables.

Because it’s an annual event, Barlow said, organizers make changes every year. That includes altering the categories so creches are displayed in different areas, using new tablecloths and, of course, new lighting. But no matter how fancy they make the wrapping, Barlow said it is the Nativity scenes that shine through as the real attraction.

“The idea of a creche exhibit is almost 1,000 years old,” Barlow said. “If you’re a religious person, it’s that idea of birth and hope of the Savior and redemption. If you’re not religious, it’s about the artwork and the care that goes into making it.”

Last year, between 1,500 and 2,000 people visited the festival.

“That idea that hope is eternal; it really appeals to people.”



IF YOU GO

WHAT: Annual Nativity scene festival hosted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

WHERE: 4141 N.W. Harrison Blvd.

WHEN: 1 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.

HIGHLIGHTS: Tonight at 7 p.m., the Heart of the Valley Chamber and Festival Choirs will perform.

Saturday at 7 p.m., the Good Samaritan Handbell Ensemble will appear.

At 5 p.m. Sunday, a live streaming concert of the Christmas Devotional by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City will be piped into the chapel.

Live manger scenes also will be depicted on stage, featuring families who’ve recently had babies.