Berlin Live Nativity Parade Sustains Small Town Tradition
The Berlin Main Street Live Nativity Parade, which began as a small caroling group in the early 1990s, returned to the town square on November 17 and reaffirmed its role as a central civic ritual for the community. The event drew thousands and highlighted local volunteerism, continuity of faith based tradition, and questions about how the town supports large public gatherings.
What began with five merchants and a few candles in about 1991 has become one of Holmes County’s most anticipated seasonal events. On November 17 the Berlin Main Street Live Nativity Parade proceeded from Shiyah Market to the main square, arriving for a reading of the story of the birth of Jesus, caroling and a candlelighting ceremony. The procession featured live nativity animals, wagons of carolers, angels, wisemen and shepherds, and concluded with Mary, Joseph and an infant Jesus taking center stage in the square.
Organizers trace the parade’s origins to a handful of local business owners who braved the cold to sing on Main Street. That small group included Karen Lamp, Delbert Schlabach, Elsie Sommers, and Clyde and Mary Sundheimer. Over time the event expanded as more merchants and residents joined, drawing thousands of spectators in recent years and creating what many attenders call a homecoming. "When we first started caroling way back in the day, we had no idea that it would grow into what it has become today," Lamp said.
A defining anecdote from the parade’s early years helped set its distinctive tone. Clyde Sundheimer, who has since passed away, suggested adding a camel to the caroling procession. "Clyde said, ‘If you can get me a camel, I’ll lead it down Main Street and we’ll sing.’ So we got a camel from Rolling Ridge, and I can so clearly in my mind see Clyde dressed up as a wiseman walking down Main Street leading this camel with us singing behind him," Lamp said. That moment drew bystanders into the walk and seeded the parade format that endures today.
The parade remains intentionally focused on the biblical account of Christ’s birth rather than on secular holiday imagery. "I think that expresses the real heart of our community and what we believe," Lamp said. She added that many out of town visitors have expressed gratitude for the parade’s faith based emphasis and sense of communal gathering. "We’ve heard so many people express their gratitude and appreciation for what we do. It’s become so popular that many people think of it as sort of like a homecoming in many ways where we as this huge family gather to celebrate the true reason for Christmas," Lamp said.
For local policymakers and municipal staff the parade’s continued growth underscores practical questions about event coordination, public safety, and the use of town infrastructure during peak visitor periods. The longstanding volunteer leadership and merchant involvement have carried the tradition for decades, with residents like Lamp still helping to dress characters and shepherd the production. As Berlin looks to future seasons, the parade’s blend of grassroots organization and public interest will remain an important measure of civic engagement in this community.
