As people filed through the Bellevue Washington South Stake center over the last few days, they had the opportunity to view hundreds of Nativities, see Christ-centered paintings and visual arts, and hear musical numbers celebrating the Christmas season.

“While we display 600 Nativities from around the world, the entire focus of our festival is Jesus Christ,” committee chairs David and Meggin Mann wrote to the Church News.

The festival — which began in 2008 — expanded this year beyond the original stake to include 11 stakes in the area. 

A unique aspect of the event was a room focused on the life of Christ. Mann said the stake center’s Relief Society room was transformed into a sacred place displaying artwork, scriptures, quotes, props, lighting and a depiction of the tomb.  

The baptismal font in the Bellevue Washington South Stake center is transformed into a depiction of a tomb. The room was part of the Bellevue Festival of the Nativity, which ran from Dec. 6-11.

Lindsey Longhurst

The Relief Society room in the Bellevue Washington South Stake center in Bellevue, Washington, is transformed into a space full of artwork and paintings depicting the life of Jesus Christ. The room was part of the Bellevue Festival of the Nativity, which took place Dec. 6-11, 2022.

Andrew Jones

“Guests reverently ponder Jesus Christ and His mission in this room, and it is common to see them in tears as they stand by our depiction of His tomb,” which is a transformed baptismal font, the Manns said.

Organizers said comments from those in the community who attended from Dec. 6-11 included:

• “Exquisite. Unparalleled. Touching. Spirit impacted my every step.”
• “This Festival makes me so emotional I can’t even talk about it.”  
• “Spectacular, what a visual treat… This Spirit is so strong and touches my heart. Every year I look forward to coming.” 
• “One word, speechless.”  
• “Thank you for helping us begin our Christmas season with a focus on our Savior, Jesus Christ.  We love Him and the feeling of peace we feel here.” 
• “Inspired work! I leave with my heart full and eyes moist.” 
• “I was told this was amazing but came with doubt in my mind.  I was blown away.  Thank you.” 
• “Touched me! The details were phenomenal! My heart was bursting at the artwork and spirit I felt in the Christ Room.” 

The festival also included a snowflake room with Nativities available for younger audience members at their eye level, an activity room with games, puzzles and coloring sheets for children, a scavenger hunt among the Nativities and a photo room where families could dress up in period attire meant to represent the time when Christ was on the earth.

The children’s activity room in the Bellevue Washington South Stake center in Bellevue, Washington. The room was part of the Bellevue Festival of the Nativity, which took place Dec. 6-11, 2022.

Lindsey Longhurst

A backdrop in the Bellevue Washington South Stake center allows participants to take photos together in a Nativity scene in Bellevue, Washington. The event ran Dec. 6 -11, 2022.

Lindsey Longhurst

Fifty different musical groups performed nightly in 30-minute slots, and on the last night, Dec. 11, an orchestra and choir joined the congregation in a singl-along of Handel’s “Messiah.”

The Manns shared some of the numbers behind the effort.

• 600 Nativities
• 208 poinsettias
• 10,532 attendance
• 173 Christmas trees
• 900 feet of garland hung
• 50 musical groups performed
• 2,000 scavenger hunts completed
• 52 countries represented by Nativities
• 9,000 lights strung outside the property
• 206 pieces of artwork and sculptures displayed
• 1,000 feet of tape to cover lighting and sound cables
• 40,000 festival pass along cards distributed by missionaries 
• Thousands of volunteer hours to organize, set up, host and take down the event

This year, the stake also opened the doors to hundreds of first responders gathering and staging a procession for a fallen officer.  

“They used our peaceful festival venue to gather, remember, enjoy refreshments and receive instructions for the procession to the memorial site,” the Manns wrote. “It was an amazing sight to see the Seattle temple surrounded by hundreds of police cars, motorcycles and fire trucks with lights flashing Tuesday morning, Dec. 6.” 

The stake center is adjacent to the Seattle Washington Temple. The Manns said they wanted to create an environment where all felt welcomed, loved and valued, as well as to “engage thousands of people in the Pacific Northwest to come unto Christ and feel of His love.”

See more photos below.

A basket of bread sits on a table in a display depicting how things may have looked at the time of Christ’s life, during the Bellevue Festival of the Nativity in Bellevue, Washington. The event ran Dec. 6-11, 2022.

Lindsey Longhurst

Carpentry tools are displayed during the Bellevue Festival of the Nativity in Bellevue, Washington. The event ran Dec. 6-11, 2022.

Lindsey Longhurst

A crown rests among other costume props for families to take pictures at the Bellevue Festival of the Nativity in Bellevue, Washington, Dec. 6-11, 2022.

Lindsey Longhurst

Nativities from around the world are displayed on tables in the Bellevue Washington South Stake center in Bellevue, Washington, Dec. 6-11, 2022.

Lindsey Longhurst

Nativities are displayed closer to the ground for younger audiences in the snowflake room as part of the Bellevue Festival of the Nativity in Bellevue, Washington, Dec. 6-11, 2022.

Lindsey Longhurst

The entrance to the Bellevue Washington South Stake center in Bellevue, Washington, is decorated with lights for the Bellevue Festival of the Nativity, which ran Dec. 6-11, 2022.

Lindsey Longhurst