Berlin readies for the season of giving with live nativity parade on Nov. 25
BERLIN ‒ The streets of Berlin will again be filled with shepherds, animals and angels as the village prepares for its annual nativity parade, a growing tradition that draws visitors from throughout Northeast Ohio.
This year's Berlin Main Street Merchants event is set for Friday, Nov. 25, to celebrate the start of the Christmas season.
The parade features Mary and Joseph, the three wise men and carolers and live animals such as camels, sheep, goats, and donkeys, all donated by The Farm at Walnut Creek. The farm also will provide a horse-drawn sleigh and a team of oxen.
Frosty the Snowman and the Gingerbread Man will be dance down the street, giving candy to children along the parade route.
Celebrating 24 years of live nativity in Berlin
What began as a few merchants in the street singing Christmas carols has developed into an annual event now in its 24th year.
“This has grown in leaps and bounds since then,” said Elsie Sommers, a former Berlin business owner and longtime member of Main Street Merchants. “Now Berlin sees thousands of visitors every year for this event and some make this an annual appointment on their calendar, driving many miles and returning year after year.”
The nativity parade steps off at 5:45 p.m. at the Berlin Village Gift Barn. It concludes at the stage at the center of town, where a candle lighting ceremony is held and "The Christmas Story" is read by Rev. Larry Kaufman.
“Come watch the parade and catch the spirit of that first Christmas so very long ago,” said Vanessa Troyer, spokesman for Berlin Main Street Merchants. “You can even sing a few Christmas carols led by Jeff Polen to help get you into the spirit.”
More information is available at: www.BerlinOhioInfo.com.
Operation Christmas Child
Main Street Merchants will again partner with members of the community in sponsoring Operation Christmas Child.
They will serve hot chocolate, coffee and cookies for a donation. All proceeds sponsor shoeboxes that provide children with school supplies, hygiene items and a small gift items. Every year a local group travels to Charlotte, N.C., with a bus of volunteers to help prepare shoeboxes to be sent overseas.
Operation Christmas Child is a division of Samaritan’s Purse, a ministry started in 1970 and headed by Franklin Graham, son of the Rev. Billy Graham.
More than 4,500 locations will open to collect Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts. Volunteers are preparing to collect shoebox gifts during National Collection Week, Nov. 14 – 21.
Individuals, families and groups still have time to transform empty shoeboxes into fun gifts. Learn more at www.samaritanspurse.com/occ or call Ohio East Area Coordinator Lynette Mahaffey at 330-204-7244.
The goal for Operation Christmas Child this year is to collect enough shoeboxes to reach 11 million children. Since 2013, the Ohio East Area of Operation Christmas Child has packed and shipped 265,643 boxes.
“Now more than ever, children around the world need to know that God loves them and there is hope,” Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse, said in a release. “A simple shoebox gift opens the door to share about the true hope that can only be found in Jesus Christ."
Where and when boxes may be dropped off
Following is list of Holmes County area Samaritan's Purse drop-off sites and the hours of operation:
United Dayspring Church, 5641 Township Road 362, Berlin: Monday, Nov. 14, 4-8 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 15, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 16, 4-8 p.m.; Thursday, Nov. 17, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 18, 4-8 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 19, 9 a.m.-noon; Sunday, Nov. 20, noon-3:30 p.m.; Monday, Nov. 21, 9-11 a.m.
Gateway Fellowship, 1287 Massillon Road, Millersburg: Monday, Nov. 14, 5-7 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 15, 9-11 a.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 16, 5-7 p.m.; Thursday, Nov. 17, 9-11 a.m.; Friday, Nov. 18, 5-7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 19, 10 a.m.- noon; Sunday, Nov. 20, noon-3 p.m.; Monday, Nov. 21, 9-11 a.m.
Berean Community Church, 1504 U.S. Route 62, near Wilmot:; Monday, Nov. 14, noon-2 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 15, 6-8 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 16, 1-3 p.m.; Thursday, Nov. 17, 10 a.m.-noon; Friday, Nov. 18, 3-5 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 19, 9-11 a.m.; Sunday, Nov. 20, 3-5 p.m.; Monday, Nov. 21, 10 a.m.-noon.
Oasis Tabernacle, 531 Dover Road NE, Sugarcreek: Monday, Nov. 14, 9 a.m.-noon; Tuesday, Nov. 15, 4-7 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 16, 9 a.m. - noon; Thursday, Nov. 17, 4-7 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 18, 9 a.m. - noon; Saturday, Nov. 19, 9 a.m.- noon; Sunday, Nov. 20, 1-3 p.m.; Monday, Nov. 21, 9 – 11 a.m.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Nativity parade, Operation Christmas Child kick off holidays in Berlin
