Crèche event in Kalispell expanded to two days
In the glow of a dozen or more Christmas trees, hundreds of artfully crafted nativity scenes will delight the eye as live choirs, soloists and musicians launch the spirit at The First Noel, A Community Christmas Celebration today and Friday.
Scheduled from 5 to 9 p.m. each day, this second free interdenominational event takes place next to Edgerton School at the Kalispell Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Whitefish Stage Road.
Lee Wight, president of the stake, said a similar crèche display in another area has drawn large crowds for 20 years. He said it was created as a way to celebrate the birth of the Savior with people of many denominations.
“Last year was our first year and it went wonderful,” he said. “We had over 300 crèches displayed along with choirs and music. About 900 to 1,000 people came and visited.”
Based on the popularity of that display, The First Noel celebration this year expanded to two days with local groups such as the Valley Voices, Choral-Aires, Glacier Echoes and Flathead Valleyaires as well as musicians playing harps, violins, pianos and other instruments.
Michele Reese, the prime mover behind the crèche festival, said some people in the community have collected as many as 40 or 50 nativity scenes from around the world. She continues to look for more crèches to add to the festival.
“We take real good care of them,” she said.
On Monday and Tuesday, her crew erected Christmas trees, distributed huge poinsettia plants and set up tables and covered them in golden material. Nativity scenes by the hundreds arrived for set-up on Wednesday.
When the doors open today, the public will enter a magical place with trees twinkling in dimmed light and harpist Connie Frank of Eureka filling the room with heavenly music.
“From 5 to 9, it’s live music the entire time,” Reese said. “It’s just gorgeous. You can walk through the building and enjoy all the crèches. There’s really nothing like it in the valley.”
She said some of the crèches are simple with just Mary, Joseph and the Christ child while others have 15 to 18 pieces. Some have fanciful figures such as Disney characters and Santa Claus.
“The only thing we ask is to have the baby Jesus in the manger,” Reese said.
Nativities showcase a diversity of cultures around the world and of art forms and materials. Reese pointed to a traditional scene bought at a dollar store that contrasts with other unique pieces such as the one intricately carved from a tree trunk.
A few are so tiny that organizers set up a curio cabinet for them.
“We have simple ones made out of corn husks and beautiful blown glass ones,” she said. “Last year with had life-size ones.”
The First Noel features a live nativity scene staged at one end of the room. Visitors may enjoy it in the comfort and warmth of the building.
“We have six or seven new parents who have volunteered to play Mary, Joseph and the baby,” Reese said.
She said the free event is planned so that people may drop by at any time and enjoy the music, decorations and nativity scenes.
“There’s no program other than to come and enjoy and talk and relax,” Reese said. “People may remember when they were a kid and the centerpiece of Christmas was the crèche on the mantel.”
Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.