Within each community is an abundance of unique traditions that its residents carry on to celebrate the holiday season. Certain towns have a history of annual celebrations that span decades, such as Strasburg's annual Christmas pageant. After a hiatus that lasted several years, the pageant returned in 2022 to Wesley United Methodist Church (UMC), 40 W. Main St., Strasburg. "People were so excited. Our church was filled for all three performances," said Pat Lewis of Wesley UMC. "All of the feedback I heard was that everyone was absolutely thrilled."

The pageant will return this year through a partnership between various members of the community, inside and outside of Wesley UMC's congregation. The church will still host the event, which will take place on Friday, Dec. 8, and Saturday, Dec. 9, at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, Dec. 10, at 4:30 p.m. Seating will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Prior to the start of each pageant, Wesley UMC's choir will sing a series of traditional Christmas songs. Once the music has concluded, the story of the Nativity will be portrayed by a cast of congregation members. The actors will play the parts of angels, shepherds, village children, King Herod and the Holy Family, and the performance will begin with a depiction of the Annunciation. Although none of the actors have any dialogue, each scene from the story will be told by a narrator. The narrator will read Scripture passages as the actors visually depict them, and the choir will return to offer musical accompaniment for certain scenes.

"For many area residents, the production is a tradition that heralds the Christmas season," said Lewis, the director of the Christmas pageant. "It brings a reverence to this time of year amidst the drumbeat of retail advertising."

The pageant will feature multiple immersive elements, such as the crying of baby Jesus as He is portrayed by a real infant. The church will be transformed to resemble the stable and inn in Bethlehem, and the actors will pass through the aisles as audience members spectate from their seats.

The tradition of the Christmas pageant began in 1955, and it was held every year until 2017. The church discontinued the event in 2018 due to a lack of young congregation members to play many vital roles in the pageant. The final factor in Wesley UMC's decision to pause the annual re-enactment was the lack of an infant to play the role of baby Jesus. The actors who had played the baby in the manger in previous productions had also aged out of the part. Wesley UMC's initial plan to bring the pageant back in 2020 was derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Strasburg community has banded together to reinstate one of its most beloved Christmas traditions.