Nativity Crib festival
Festival 'first' with cribs, crafts and a cafe.
Nativity Crib Festival organisers Joanne Riches and Mary Tiso pictured with Adam Riches and the set of Nativity figures knitted by Anne Jackson. The crib scene will be one of many on display in St. Matthew's Church Harlaston.
Christmas is very much a time to follow age-old traditions, but a village near Tamworth is trying something new this year.
St. Matthew's Church in Harlaston is holding its first ever Nativity Crib festival which will showcase crib scenes from around the world.
The Christmas story will be celebrated with a display of the familiar Bethlehem stable scene depicted in a variety of materials including ceramics, glass and wool.
"We have cribs from around the world including a hand-carved crib from the Holy Land, ceramic crib from Italy, light-up cribs from Germany and a hand-made crib from Uganda with figures made from maze." said Joanne Riches, one of the organisers.
"The local community have been involved and produced a. knitted crib and the children have made their own crib at 'Messy Church.'
The festival will run at the church on Saturday, December 10 and Sunday, December 11 between noon and 4pm.
The event is designed to interest the whole faily as well as the array of crib scenes to admire, the Crib Cafe serving festive cakes and refreshments and there will be craft activities for children. All proceeds will go towards church funds.
"We will also have a grand Christmas draw with a cash prize, a hamper, crackers, whiskey and many other prizes to be won." said Mrs Mary Tiso, co-organiser of the crib festival.
On Sunday there will be a toy and Crib festivalService from 10.15am to 11.15am.
