It will be a fun-filled day of activities at the third annual Nativity Festival in Jefferson.

Habitat for Humanity of Greene County is hosting the event and executive director Erich Kretzinger says this is their only fundraiser of the year for the community.  It will be at the First United Methodist Church on Sunday, December 14th.

He talks about how the Nativity Festival got its start.

“One of our local pastors came from another community where they were doing something very similar, a Nativity Festival, and we thought, well that’s perfect because Habitat (for Humanity) is a Christian ministry.  Tying to the Christmas season with something that is Christian-based such as the Nativity scene made sense for us.”

The afternoon will start with a public viewing of the over 75 locally-owned Nativity scenes, followed by a community Christmas concert at 4pm.  The performers for the concert includes Travis Graven with accompanist Keri Brooker, sisters Maureen Borkowski and Angie Pedersen in a duet, the “Joyful Noise” women’s choir from the First Presbyterian Church of Jefferson, the Central Christian Church Adult Choir, the “Ordinary Cowboys” duet of Curt Nelson and Dave Harding, poet Tori Riley doing the poem “Joseph’s Prayer”, soloist David Peterson and the Chancel Choir of the First United Methodist Church.

Habitat for Humanity Board President Harry Ahrenholtz will be the emcee of the event.  He will also introduce the new associate director of Habitat for Humanity of Greene County.

Then there will be a free-will donation soup supper meal at 5:15pm followed by a pie auction.

The day wraps up with the announcement of the silent auction winner of a 15-piece, hand-crafted Nativity set made by “Sticks” the Des Moines art and furniture company.  So far, the bidding is up to $1,000.  Call Chuck Offenburger to bid on it at 515-370-2659.

All proceeds will go to housing projects for Habitat for Humanity in Greene County.