Nearly 200 view Nativity Scene Festival at Kiowa's Senior Center
Share
Tweet
December 13, 2017
Yvonne Miller
Wise men wrapped in jewels and velveteen were part of this nativity scene that received so many compliments at the display at Kiowa's Senior Center. Organizer Darlene Cloyd said this set came from Wichita. She said her sister Deanna Wetzel is neighbors with a Wichita woman Phillis Schumaker who recently moved to a retirement center. Schumaker loved going to estate sales. When the women helped move her things, this ornate nativity scene is a treasure she shared with them. That's how the keepsake ended up displayed in Kiowa.
As beautiful as anything you can imagine at Christmas – the display of 83 nativity scenes at the Senior Center in Kiowa, Kansas. There were ornate jeweled scenes, metal ones, porcelain pieces, tiny sets, tall fired-pottery glazed ones, totally simple – all were centered around baby Jesus born in a manger so long ago.
Darlene Cloyd had a vision to do this display with donated nativity scenes, not knowing if anyone would even bring one of the treasures in to display. The generosity of people sharing their displays was overwhelming. Locals like Brenda Myers shared over 20 of her sizable nativity scene collection. It took Cloyd nearly a week to display the unique portrayals of the Christmas story. The scenes were nestled among netting and other textured cloths and tiny lights.
Cloyd estimates 183 people came through the center the first weekend of December to see the rows of beauty. She heard so many comments from people, some whom said a certain nativity scene brought back fond memories of their childhood. People thought they had spied their favorite scene – until they saw the next one.
Reader Comments(0)