When it comes to Christmas pageants, every church has a different tradition. Some people trot out the same elder church members that they’ve been using for decades, and they put on a traditional and relatively tame pageant that tells the story of the Nativity and the birth of Jesus.
Other churches use children or hold tryouts. Some churches have singing, while others stick to narration or simply acting out the story.
But there’s one pageant that stands head, shoulders, and flying angels above the rest: the Prestonwood Baptist Church Christmas Pageant . It’s a no-holds-barred extravaganza that features flying angels, over 800 performers, live animals including camels and zebras, and special effects to rival the Super Bowl.
Here’s a quick rundown of the massive event, plus some thoughts from critics who find the entire display to be antithetical to the meaning of Christmas.
The Prestonwood Baptist Church Christmas Pageant is something to behold.
When you get to church to watch the yearly pageant, you probably don’t expect to see camels or zebras being led to the staging area. But if you attend Prestonwood, this is just the tip of the over-the-top iceberg. The Dallas megachurch hosts a yearly three-hour event that features $250,000 worth of special effects, sets, costumes, and music.