Festival shares nativities from around the world

A variety of views of the most famous scene from the very first Christmas will displayed in Modesto next weekend, an array of nativities set up and open for the public.

Between 200 and 300 crèches will be on display Dec. 2-4 at the Modesto Nativity Festival, now in its 12th year and presented by the Modesto Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The nativities are big and small, traditional and nontraditional, and represent countries from across the world, set up at the LDS church, 731 El Vista Ave., between Scenic and Edgebrook.

“There’s always a huge variety, from every continent,” said David White, president of the Modesto Stake. “Thirty or 40 countries – Africa, South Pacific, South America, Asia, all over the globe.”

Volunteers offer up their own crèches to bring in and display at the interfaith event, people from the Modesto Stake as well as those from several other churches across the region, White said.

There will be “very small ones that you can hold in your hand and very large ones that take up a lot of space on the tables,” he said. “Some traditional, some that look more modern or fit the culture of the country they’re from.”

The free festival also includes musical performances, an art competition, short Christian movies, refreshments and a children’s room where kids can decorate cookies and do crafts, according to White’s wife, Cindy White, who is organizing the event.

Music will be offered by several community groups – from high school and church choirs to local artists and troupes including Townsend Opera, San Joaquin Valley Swiss Echoes and others.

More than 1,000 people generally turn out to view the nativities each year, attracting a variety of faiths: “It’s really about coming together as different faiths to celebrate the season,” David White said.

“It’s a gift to the community,” he added. “It’s something we do to celebrate Christmas but also to provide something free and bring people into the Christmas spirit.”

This story was originally published November 24, 2016 at 10:34 AM with the headline "Festival shares nativities from around the world."