Thousands of luminarias light Holmes County, volunteers power Journey to Bethlehem

Volunteers spent months preparing for Journey to Bethlehem, laying out routes, coordinating parking, designing maps and managing crowd flow so visitors could move safely from one scene to the next. The route was lit with thousands of luminarias, which volunteers made from gallon jugs filled with sand and candles, and Amish teens played a central role in filling and lighting those lights. Churches, The Farm at Walnut Creek, local merchants and event staff worked together to stage moveable live elements including animals and wagon rides that helped preserve the biblical story for a broad audience.

Those small details, often unseen by visitors, were essential to the event running smoothly. Organizers said careful scheduling and volunteer deployment kept scenes staffed and wagons moving, while merchants and nearby venues adjusted operations to welcome increased foot traffic. For many residents the program was a rare shared civic moment, bringing together faith groups, families and youth to sustain a community tradition.

The scale and nature of the event raise clear public health and safety considerations. Open flames in luminarias require disciplined fire safety planning and volunteer training to reduce burn and fire risk, and live animals introduce the need for animal handling protocols and hygiene measures to protect both participants and livestock. Thoughtful crowd flow planning is also critical to preserve emergency access routes and to reduce strain on volunteers who often serve without formal medical training.

There are social equity dimensions to consider as well. Reliance on volunteer labor, including the contributions of teenagers, can create gaps in compensation and training that disproportionately affect young people and low income households. Accessibility for older adults and people with mobility limitations remains an important concern for future events, as does ensuring that transportation and cost do not exclude residents from participating.

As Holmes County reflects on another successful Journey to Bethlehem, the community might build on this volunteer energy by investing in volunteer training, coordinated emergency planning and accessibility measures. Strengthening those supports would protect public health, honor the contributions of volunteers and make the tradition more inclusive for all residents.