Berlin to welcome Christmas with Live Nativity Parade Nov. 28

It’s that time of year again when camels, shepherds and angels may be seen roaming the streets of Berlin. The Berlin Area Merchants invite everyone to join them on Nov. 28, the day after Thanksgiving, to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season with a Live Nativity Parade and a candlelighting ceremony. The parade will feature Mary and Joseph, the Three Wise Men, angels, shepherds and a variety of live animals, including camels, sheep, cows, donkeys and horses, provided by The Farm at Walnut Creek. Cheerful snowmen will also be strolling along the streets, handing out candy to delighted children.

The Berlin Area Merchants are once again partnering with Dayspring Mennonite Church to support Operation Christmas Child. During the event, volunteers will be serving hot drinks and cookies, with every donation helping to sponsor life-changing shoeboxes, filled with school supplies, hygiene items and small toys that bring joy and hope to children around the world. 

Each year, members of Dayspring Mennonite Church travel by motor coach to Charlotte, N.C., joining hundreds of other volunteers to help prepare and ship the boxes overseas. Operation Christmas Child is a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, founded in 1970 and led by Franklin Graham, son of the late Reverend Billy Graham.

What began as a few local merchants gathering on a street corner singing Christmas carols has blossomed into a cherished community tradition. Over the years, this hometown parade has grown, now drawing thousands of visitors to Berlin each holiday season.

For many, it’s become a beloved annual tradition — one worth traveling miles to experience year after year.

The parade will begin at 5:45 p.m. at Sheiyah Market and conclude at the stage in the center of town. There, a short service will take place featuring a candlelighting ceremony, a reading of the Christmas story by Larry Kaufman and carols led by Jeff Polen. 

Berlin is nestled in the heart of Amish Country along state Route 39.