P.E.I. farmer shows the road to Bethlehem again, Dec. 2-4

CANOE COVE, P.E.I. — The spirit of Christmas will fill this rural south shore group as Chrys Jenkins and plenty of of his neighbours as soon as once more construct their distinctive highway to Bethlehem.

The Residing Nativity and Gentle Present takes place at Jenkins’ farm on Route 19, Dec. 2-4.

This would be the fifteenth consecutive yr Jenkins and his spouse, Doreen Francis-Jenkins, have turned their property into an intensive show of out of doors Christmas lights and decorations, mixing them with dwell actors, a choir, animals and Santa Claus.

The nativity, which is free to attend, raises cash for an area charity annually. Donations for this occasion will go to Anderson Home, a provincial emergency shelter for girls, trans and non-binary people and their kids.

Jenkins mentioned a number of work goes into the nativity, which options about 40 of his neighbours wearing costume every night time.

“I really like seeing the grins on individuals’s faces as they’re going by means of it,” Jenkins instructed SaltWire Community throughout a tour of the nativity web site on Nov. 29.

“It takes a couple of month and a half to set it up after which take it down afterwards. We have now some infrastructure already arrange, such because the manger scene and Santa’s sales space. However, we even have lights and inflatables, and it’s important to construct up the entire straw within the manger. The lights are the largest factor. We have now an terrible pile of lights, and it’s onerous to maintain them going.”

Francis-Jenkins mentioned her husband seems ahead to the occasion yearly.

“This has been Chrys’s labour of affection,” Francis-Jenkins mentioned. “He wished to create one thing to offer again to the group.”

The present will function a manger scene with cattle, in addition to volunteers taking part in the roles of Mary, Joseph, the sensible males, angels and shepherds. Along with a dwell choir, First Nation drummers will carry out, a dwell Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus might be in an old school sleigh, and there might be loads of flashing tree lights.

Jenkins mentioned Santa might be accepting letters from kids.

“Final yr he replied to each single one of many kids,” Jenkins mentioned.

At a look

Following is data on the drive-thru Residing Nativity and Gentle Present on Route 19 in Canoe Cove:

• It will likely be held Dec. 2-4, 5:30-8 p.m.
• About 40 individuals from the group participate within the nativity every night time.
• Santa Claus accepts letters from kids.
• There might be individuals on web site to assist with site visitors management.
• Admission is free.
• Organizers might be accepting donations with 100 per cent of proceeds going to Anderson Home.
• Final yr, organizers raised about $18,000 for Lennon Home. The yr earlier than, greater than $50,000 was raised for an area little one who had misplaced his eyesight.
• Different organizations which have benefited from this present over time embody native households, area people teams, Santa’s Angels, Make-A-Want Basis and the Higher Room Hospitality Ministry.

About seven years in the past, Karyn MacPhee, an area resident who works within the wardrobe division on the Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown jumped on board to produce the entire costumes.

“Once we determined to go together with the costumes, that was the start of a very good factor,” Francis-Jenkins mentioned.

Placing on the present comes with some expense. And whereas Francis-Jenkins would not need to discuss how all these Christmas lights affect their mild invoice, she did need to stress that the couple would not take a penny from the donations to cowl prices.

“Nothing comes off the proceeds for us,” she mentioned. “We have now 4 counters and three scrutinizers on the desk, so we all know what is available in each night time. All the pieces is above board.”

Jenkins mentioned he recommends persistence for anybody who arrives for the present, noting that individuals can wait an hour or extra to get in.

“We get hundreds of individuals every night time,” he mentioned.

Dave Stewart is a reporter with the SaltWire Community in Prince Edward Island. He could be reached by e mail at [email protected] and adopted on Twitter @DveStewart.