The road to Bethlehem
Chrys Jenkins, neighbours gearing up for drive-thru Living Nativity and Light Show
CANOE COVE, P.E.I. – The spirit of Christmas will fill this rural south shore community as Chrys Jenkins and many of his neighbours once again build their unique road to Bethlehem.
The Living Nativity and Light Show takes place at Jenkins’ farm on Route 19, Dec. 2-4.
This will be the 15th consecutive year Jenkins and his wife, Doreen Francis-jenkins, have turned their property into an extensive display of outdoor Christmas lights and decorations, mixing them with live actors, a choir, animals and Santa Claus.
The nativity, which is free to attend, raises money for a local charity each year. Donations for this event will go to Anderson House, a provincial emergency shelter for women, trans and non-binary individuals and their children.
Jenkins said a lot of work goes into the nativity, which features about 40 of his neighbours dressed in costume each night.
“I love seeing the smiles on people’s faces as they’re going through it,’’ Jenkins told Saltwire Network during a tour of the nativity site on Nov. 29. “It takes about a month and a half to set it up and then take it down afterwards. We have some infrastructure already set up, such as the manger scene and Santa’s booth. But, we also have lights and inflatables, and you have to build up all of the straw in the manger. The lights are the biggest thing. We have an awful pile of lights, and it’s hard to keep them going.’’
Francis-jenkins said her husband looks forward to the event every year.
“This has been Chrys’s labour of love,’’ Francis-jenkins said. “He wanted to create something to give back to the community.”
The show will feature a manger scene with farm animals, as well as volunteers playing the roles of Mary, Joseph, the wise men, angels and shepherds. In addition to a live choir, First Nation drummers will perform, a live Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will be in an old-fashioned sleigh, and there will be plenty of flashing tree lights.
Jenkins said Santa will be accepting letters from children.
“Last year he replied to every single one of the children,’’ Jenkins said.
About seven years ago, Karyn Macphee, a local resident who works in the wardrobe department at the Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown jumped on board to supply all of the costumes.
“When we decided to go with the costumes, that was the beginning of a really good thing,’’ Francis-jenkins said.
Putting on the show comes with some expense. And while Francis-jenkins doesn't want to talk about how all those Christmas lights impact their light bill, she did want to stress that the couple doesn't takes a penny from the donations to cover costs.
“Nothing comes off the proceeds for us,’’ she said. “We have four counters and three scrutinizers at the table, so we know what comes in every night. Everything is above board.’’
Jenkins said he recommends patience for anyone who arrives for the show, noting that people can wait an hour or more to get in.
“We get thousands of people each night,’’ he said.