Spectators gather to view the Living Nativity at the Vinland County Fairgrounds on Wednesday. The Lehmann family, of Eudora, is shown portraying the holy family, with Roberta as Mary, Dirk as Joseph, their infant son, Derek, as Jesus, and daughters, from left, Olivia, 8, Sophia, 9, and Cecilia, 12, as the shepherds. The families change every 30 minutes.

Tonya Hemphill passed a family tradition on to her son, Duane, as he portrayed the baby Jesus on Wednesday night at the 30th annual Living Nativity in Vinland.

She was the first baby Jesus in the original Vinland Nativity program, and even though 8-month-old Duane this year was two months older than the age limit, organizers with the Vinland United Methodist Church approved him for the role.

“They fudged because I was the first baby, so they allowed me to have him in it,” Hemphill said.

The Living Nativity, which is open to the public, will run again from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. today and Friday inside a heated barn at the Vinland Fairgrounds.

With Tonya as Mary, her father, Howard, as Joseph and Duane as baby Jesus, the Hemphill family took their places from 8 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.

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Families and their babies take turns in half-hour shifts at the Nativity scene. As of Wednesday afternoon, organizers were still looking for at least four families with babies to fill slots, said Paula Johnson, one of the event’s organizers.

“We’re still praying that we get enough babies,” Johnson said.

Music, shepherds and live animals are part of the re-enacted manger scene. A free-will offering is taken, and all proceeds are donated to United Methodist Youthville, an organization in Newton that provides housing and other services for children.

To volunteer to be part of the Living Nativity, call Johnson at (785) 594-3578.