Solvang's Annual Nativity Pageant

The community Nativity Pageant is an elaborately staged presentation of the Nativity story featuring live animals, music, an all-volunteer cast and narration by renowned actor Efrem Zimbliast, Jr.

This production takes place on December 10th in Solvang’s beautiful outdoor Festival Theatre. Shows are at 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM . Bring the whole family and remember to dress warm and bring blankets.

-- A Look Back --

A little bit of nostalgic history is still going on in the Santa Ynez Valley during the Christmas Season. Preparations are underway for the Solvang Nativity Pageant which has been a fixture during the holiday season for several decades. The year was 1984 and local resident was willing to help

The way this man tells it he got the idea for the event when a traveling animal show came through Solvang that same year. So with the help of friends Bob and Donnie Rohrbaugh he decided to bring the great story of the very "First Christmas" to any in the town who had never heard it. Earl decided to hire some of the animals from that show, and the Rohrbaughs engaged the local churches, pastors and talent to participate.

The team then put a narrative together from the gospel accounts, used biblical carols, transformed the llama into a camel, and along with the sheep and donkey they were on their way. The performers were all ages, the pastors rotated each year to tell the story and the costumes were a mix of PCPA donations, drapes and second hand clothes. That's how the first annual Solvang Nativity Pageant was conceived.

The small company of players started out in Solvang with folding chairs and local soloists. After a few years they outgrew that location and it moved to Frederick Court. The noise from the fountain at that location interfered with the telling of the story. According to Bob there was a year however, when they didn't have to turn the fountain off because the temperature dropped so low it froze solid. The Rohrbaughs produced the play from 1984 till 1991 at which time it was handed over to Everett and Dorothy Parker who in about 1995 passed it on to Ralph and Margorie Tayloe. To accommodate the growing audience the Tayloes were able to relocate the event to the open air venue of the Solvang Theaterfest, its present location. Marjorie and Ralph left for Dubuque, Iowa and handed over the production to Steven Battaglia and Janette Swanson in 2007.

Local actor Efrem Zimbalist Jr. has been bringing warmth and charm to the telling of the story ever since he was offered the part in 1995.

So after all these years the Pageant is still true to its original roots by telling the biblical account of the first Christmas, using local folks and is still performed under the beauty of the same sky. Congratulations Solvang!

Tags: