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Ontario’s historic nativity scenes, part of the city’s annual Christmas on Euclid Experience, will be up and ready for viewing Saturday.
The first Euclid Avenue nativity scene was displayed in 1958, and by 1976 local community and business leaders had helped to add eleven more, according to the Greater Ontario Convention & Visitors Bureau, which produces the holiday festival.
Rudolph Vargas, a Los Angeles sculptor known for his religious depictions, created the Ontario nativity scenes. He died in 1986.
This year, the displays will be blessed by a priest from Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, and the city will offer free tours that will include a lecturer. The tours will start at the Jack Mercer Bandstand, at Euclid Avenue and C Street, and will be held from 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. on Dec. 12 and Dec. 19.
“We are lucky to have a dedicated group of volunteers that understand the history and significance of these pieces of art,” said Michael Krouse, the bureau’s president and chief executive officer, in a statement. “Their work to raise funds will continue year after year to maintain the nativity scenes for future generations.”
The nativity scenes will remain on display through Jan. 2.
