Thousands Attend The 18th Annual Community Nativity in Carrollton

More than 4,300 hundred people started off their Christmas season by visiting the largest nativity display in the community! Visitors walked through an illustrious arrangement of nearly 900 nativities from around the world. The unique collection included rare nativities and art made from cornhusks, rice, and precious metals. The nativities are treasured heirlooms from local residents and were on loan for only four days for the community to enjoy. 

Organizers say it took about 1,750 hours and more than 100 volunteers to put the museum-like event all together.

“We were especially pleased with that turnout considering the rainy weather on Saturday,” said Sheryl Carroll, who served as the Nativity Director this year. “We had many school groups and community groups come and perform which brought a lot of new people together to the exhibit this year.”

The 18th annual Nativity display was complemented with live music filling the halls. Over 35 local music groups and 5 school choirs performed throughout the event. Two unique musical performances were the Indian Classical Choir and Slavveya Choir, which brought traditional Bulgarian Music to the event.

Ty and Nicole Bird, a couple from Coppell, experienced the nativity display for the first time this year. 

“We thought it was a great opportunity to come and celebrate the birth of Christ and the Christmas season in a way that is not always portrayed in the media,” Nicole said. “It was a good opportunity to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas, and feel his peace.”

Others like Rebekah Blake have grown up with the tradition. Her parents loan out hundreds of their nativities each year. 

“The Nativity represented unity to me from the beginning,” Blake said. “Growing up, walking around the nativity exhibit and seeing the hundreds of nativities from around the world showed me that I wasn’t alone in my beliefs. I hope others feel that joy and peace from worshiping the Savior with hundreds of others who also believe in Him.”

“Seeing hundreds and hundreds of different nativities in the same room always strengthens my testimony that Jesus Christ can and should be the focus of our lives, no matter our background, culture or experience,” Carroll said. “He is the Lord and Savior of us all.”