Night in the Barn is Dec. 16-18 years ago
At the first "Night in the Barn" live nativity event a decade ago, sheep broke down a fence and escaped just before show time, leaving poor, lowly shepherds no "flocks to watch by night."
Despite its "baad" beginning, the event has become a stable tradition.
That first year, nearly 500 people made their way into the barn nestled in the hillside, and they've been coming ever since.
This year's Night in the Barn event will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 16-18 at the farm owned by Carol Duerksen and Maynard Knepp, located between Hillsboro and Goessel.
"It's a tradition for many people," Duerksen said. "One guy tells us that his Christmas doesn't start until he's been here."
This year's come-and-go event will feature original music by Doug and Jude Krehbiel, the "Story of Donkey," hot chocolate, and singing Christmas carols around a bonfire.
And, of course, there'll be lots of live animals in the manger scene, including donkeys, sheep, llamas, horses, turkeys, peafowl, geese, a cow with her baby calf, and a potbellied pig.
Ten years ago, when the youth group and sponsors of the Tabor and Goessel Mennonite churches prepared for their first living nativity, they didn't know if the animals would cooperate, or if anyone would show up.
Two minutes before the event was to begin, they got their first answer, when the entire herd of sheep pushed down a fence and escaped.
But the people came. And they've been following the yonder star to the stable ever since.
Directions to Night in the Barn: from Goessel, 3 miles north, 4 east, 3/4 north. From Hillsboro, 4 miles south, 3 west, 3/4 north. For more information, call 620-367-8432.
