Living Nativity returns

By on Friday, December 16th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

PENDLETON – The Living Nativity is coming back to Roy Raley Park for the first time since 2019, but there will be changes. Organizer Tim Pilch said that more than a dozen churches are involved in staging the nativity scenes. In the past, the nativity has been presented for a short time to people walking through the park and then for cars to drive through. This year, there will be no cars involved.

“The idea was that, by eliminating cars, we would make it more personal,” he said. “It’ll be quieter, no exhaust, and the big thing is, it’ll be safer.”

Parking for the Living Nativity will be across the street at Dave’s Chevron. For those unable to walk through, there will be carts, donated by Wildhorse and the Pendleton Round-Up, available for the volunteers at the event to pilot people through the scenes.

“There is, also, some live music planned this year,” Organizer Doreen Matteson said. “You’re in for a treat because every half an hour, in addition to the beautiful music filling the park, there will be live music.”

The Living Nativity will be held from 6-9 p.m. Saturday.