Ashland’s Annual Festival of Nativities Opens This December with Expansive 700-Piece Exhibit

Ashland’s Annual Festival of Nativities

Opens This December with Expansive 700-Piece Exhibit

Rebecca Hemlock

The Ashland Beacon

In a sunlit room at Ashland Grace Nazarene Church, something magical has taken root. What began as a seed of an idea after a trip to a Festival of Nativities in Charleston, West Virginia, has blossomed into a beloved December tradition that now showcases more than 700 nativity sets from around the world.

The festival, born from the vision of two church members, Jodi Kage and Cecilia Brown, has become a window into global cultures and a reminder of the universal language of celebration that connects people across oceans and borders.

The spark for Ashland’s festival came a few years ago when Kage visited Charleston’s nativity showcase and thought the idea could light up her own community. “I knew that between myself and another lady at our church, Cecilia Brown, we had enough that we could start one,” she recalled.

December 2019 marked the inaugural year for Ashland’s event, which opened with about 150 sets on display. Since then, the collection has grown steadily as more volunteers from the church added to the display, turning a single room into a rotating, living museum of Christmas traditions.

            Today, the festival has earned a reputation for its breadth and its warm invitation to visitors. “We now have just over 700 different nativities from around the world,” organizers say, a number that continues to expand as more families and organizations lend their pieces to the exhibit.

Visitors travel through the aisles and marvel at the diversity—each nativity a story, each country a voice in the shared Christmas chorus. Many attendees arrive with questions about what they’re seeing, and staff are eager to share the origins and meanings behind each piece. It’s not just a display; it’s a conversation starter about culture, faith, and community.

One piece has repeatedly captured the imagination of visitors and volunteers alike: a nativity made entirely from peanuts. Yes, peanuts. The surprising and playful creation has become a talking point for guests who are invited to look closely and discover the craftsmanship behind it. And for the dedicated observant, “you’ll have to take your time to see all of them or you’ll miss one,” the organizers note, underscoring the care that goes into curating the collection.

The festival isn’t the only tradition drawing crowds to this church campus. Ashland Grace Nazarene also hosts its outdoor Live Nativity, a hallmark of the community’s Christmas calendar since 1980. Now in its 43rd year, the live nativity has only missed two winters, a testament to the dedication of volunteers who bring the scene to life under the winter sky. The live performances are free and open to the public, reflecting the church’s commitment to welcoming everyone to participate in the holiday spirit.

This year’s Live Nativity runs over two weekends, with performances scheduled for Dec. 12–14 and Dec.19–21, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The cozy, candlelit setting invites families, neighbors, and visitors to pause, reflect, and share in the timeless story of the season. Both the festival displays and the live performances are held at Ashland Grace Nazarene Church, located at 2413 S. 29th Street in Ashland. Entry is free, and the organizers emphasize that everyone is welcome to experience the light and warmth of the season together.

Behind the scenes, the effort remains a labor of love. “It took a lot of planning and a little bit of convincing the church to take up almost half of the sanctuary, but I’m so glad we started it,” Kage shared. The success of the festival is as much about community as it is about the nativity sets themselves—a collaborative achievement that has grown from one woman’s inspiration to a city’s shared holiday treasure.

As the lights come on each December, Ashland’s Festival of Nativities stands as a shining example of how a local idea can become a beacon of cultural exchange, faith, and festive joy. For those seeking to be moved, inspired, and introduced to a world of traditions, the invitation is open—free of charge and open to all."