Hundreds watch pageant

Springfield event continues today

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

SPRINGFIELD -- Several hundred people watched the 19th annual Springfield Nativity Pageant Friday from the bleachers at Riverside Park.

For Springfield soybean and corn farmer Ed Meidl, it wouldn't be Christmas without his participating for the 18th time, in the 19th annual pageant.

This year's event was unusual in that the weather was more like fall than winter. Thursday's dress rehearsal was performed in a steady rain for the first time ever.

"I'm used to snow, not mud," Meidl said before he walked onto the nativity scene as one of the Three Kings. He's performed in ice, snow and below-zero temperatures, even during a few blizzards.

"It makes my Christmas. It wouldn't be Christmas without it," Meidl said of the pageant that included four of his sheep.

The Springfield Area Nativity Theatre Association (SANTA) meets monthly in preparation for the event. Last May, it began scanning the local hospital birth report for a child to play baby Jesus.

Last summer, the organization hosted Christmas in July, their primary fund-raiser.

The pageant began with a number of Christmas songs performed by several dozen adult singers directed by Dr. David Preuss, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Springfield.

Dan and Martha Renner portrayed Joseph and Mary while their six-month old infant son Maximilian was baby Jesus.

The child stayed warm part of the night in a nearby automobile before the pageant began. He braved the cool weather with little hair on his head and was content during most of the performance.

Last month, male performers began growing beards. Rehearsals began a week ago.

Four years ago, a blizzard and extreme cold forced the cancellation of the pageant for the first time in history.

Cold is always expected. Participants wear snowmobile suits and gloves under their pageant garments.

Nineteen years ago, two casts performed the pageant in six performances, twice nightly over three days.

Doris Weber, SANTA communications director, said handling two casts and six performances became more easily handled by moving the pageant to the high school football field in Riverside Park where more spectators could enjoy each show.

Camels used in the pageant come from Wisconsin.

After the performance, the Burnstown-Brookville 4-H Club served hot beverages and assorted bars at the Springfield Community Center just across the Cottonwood River from the park.

The pageant continues at 7 p.m. Saturday. There is no admission charge but free-will donations are accepted.

Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com