Quentin Road Baptist's Christmas pageant transformed for virus safety

Small groups of people trekked through the woods and stopped at 10 different points to watch actors portray biblical characters during a half-mile outdoor luminary hike at Quentin Road Baptist Church in Lake Zurich on Saturday.

For more than 20 years, the church has held an annual Christmas pageant inside the church, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, members had to come up with a different event, going with the luminary hike instead.

Josh Julian, the church's marketing director, said he expected between 600 and 800 people per night to attend.

"It's our first time doing this, but last night went really well, even in the rain," Julian said.

The costumed characters portrayed the three wise men, Herod, shepherds, angels, and Joseph and Mary, among others.

At the conclusion of the outdoor event, guests entered the decorated church corridor, which was set up for social distancing, where they enjoyed hot chocolate, cookies and a visit with Santa.

The six-evening event runs next weekend also, Friday through Sunday, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m.

For more information on the show, which is already sold out, visit quentinroad.org/luminaryhike.