Mary sits by baby Jesus in a manger during a past Live Nativity at Roy Raley Park. This year’s event is Saturday, Dec. 17, 6-9 p.m.

PENDLETON — More than a dozen churches are coming together to bring the Living Nativity back to Pendleton. The event has been canceled the past few years because of the coronavirus pandemic and a need to re-organize. This year, volunteers came together with a new energy to bring back the longtime event.

“People were feeling like it’s time to do it again,” volunteer Tim Pilch said. “People who have heard we’re doing it again are so excited.”

This year, the Pendleton Living Nativity will be Saturday, Dec. 17, from 6-9 p.m. at Roy Raley Park. The Living Nativity will have 10 stations telling the Biblical story of the birth of Jesus. Each station has two sets of actors.

“We have to have two of every cast member because you can’t stand out there for three hours,” volunteer Doreen Matteson said.

Local businesses have agreed to serve as warming centers for the cast members between shifts. Other businesses have volunteered materials or people to make the Living Nativity possible, and the City of Pendleton’s ice skating rink will be closing early to accommodate the event.

In the past, the Living Nativity has been a walk-thru and drive-thru event, but the volunteers hope to make it a peaceful and encouraging event this year with one major change: the event is still in Roy Raley Park, but it’s walk-thru only.

“This is going to be a lot more personal than it has been in the past,” Pilch said. “We’re bringing the sets closer. We want to encourage people to plan on spending a little bit of time. There’s no hurry, they can wander.”

Parking is available nearby and, although it is a walking event, a limited number of golf carts will be available to shuttle visitors with mobility issues.

With so many volunteers from so many different churches participating, the organizers have set up 11 teams to handle different aspects of the event, including costumes, sets, and “park rangers” who help keep the event running.

“It is a huge, huge amount of work. Just getting it up and running has been a huge task, but in the hustle and bustle of Christmas and the holidays, if even a handful of people who come through have their spirits lifted or get the message of Christmas, we’ll have met our goal,” Matteson said.

The organizers say they plan to host it the third Saturday of December next year as well. The event is, and will continue to be, free.

“It is completely free,” Mike Jones said. “This is a gift to the community.”