The Experience Columbia Christmas celebration is a special event for everyone young and old. People from all over come to feast on the lights, ice skating, The Grinch train, Candyland Tram and to see Santa. They also come to see something else: The true meaning of Christmas.
For the past two years, as part of the Friday and Saturday night festivities, a live nativity production has taken place to share the message of the birth of Christ. It was seeing the production last Christmas that made Karlie Jordan of Monticello decide she wanted to participate in it this year. During the holidays she had taken the time to drive nearly an hour every Friday and Saturday to volunteer in every production.
“Ever since I saw it last year, I had a desire to come and volunteer. I wanted to help spread the light,” she said.
Mickey Webb oversaw the production and put the word out about needing volunteers to appear in the production this year. Jordan saw the announcement and volunteered.
The first night of the production, Jordan came with her mother, Angela Jordan. She was assigned to be an angel. While at the Newsom building, where everyone was getting ready, Webb asked Angela if she would like to be an angel, too, so she joined in as well.
After that first night, they both were hooked. At first, they didn’t think they would make it to every production, living 45 minutes to an hour away, but both Jordans loved it so much they came back every night to continue their roles as angels. One night, Karlie portrayed Jesus’ mother, Mary.
“It just became routine. We were just volunteers; we weren’t paid,” Karlie said.
Karlie is also Lawrence County Miss Hospitality.
Karlie said she truly wanted to “Experience Columbia Christmas.” It was also important to her that children and people knew the real meaning behind Christmas, besides just the costumes.
“Not only was the production full of love, but it wasn’t an act. It was more like the town of Columbia has so much love and generous people,” Karlie said.
Karlie said she and her mother have both come to love Columbia and its people.
“We had so much fun, I think more than the kids did. It was such a good experience.” Karlie said.
The Jordans are already looking forward to next year. They intend to come back and participate in it again.
