SMOKEY POINT — After a year off last year, the Arlington Nativity Festival is returning for its fourth year at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Smokey Point, from Thursday through Sunday, Dec. 10-13.

Cyndy Thompson, one of the coordinators of the event, noted that it’s consistently drawn about 500 nativity sets each year, so she expected this year would be about the same. That many nativities take up a large amount of space, which is why the event had to be cancelled last year, when the church wasn’t available.

Thompson reported that people come from not only Arlington and Lakewood, but also Darrington, Stanwood and Camano Island to lend their nativities to the event. She’s seen nativities that were acquired from “just about every nation on Earth,” in styles ranging from simple, bordering on abstract, to ornately detailed and elegantly crafted.

“We have nativities made from papier-mâché, woven in cloth, carved in cow bone, and cast in porcelain with gold trim,” Thompson said.

As always, a live nativity will serve as the centerpiece of the event, with an average of four shifts of people per day to inhabit the roles.

“We’re still filling in the others, but we’ve got Marys and Josephs enough for each night,” Thompson laughed.

In the children’s room, families can pose for photos while dressed as members of the nativity, complete with a manger set and costumes. While kids are doing thematically appropriate crafts and activities in this room, including playing with toy nativity sets, adults can take in the spectacle of the “Rejoice in Christ” room, which offers so many portraits of Jesus that event organizers have already had to schedule some of them for next year instead.

“Before, we had the Life in Christ room, which showed Jesus’ journey from a child to an adult, but this isn’t as chronological,” Thompson said. “Instead, it reflects the love that Jesus shows to all, and that others have for him.”

Each day of the nativity festival will include music from various individuals and groups throughout the community, playing instruments ranging from pianos to organs and even harps, from opening time to 6:30 p.m., while Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 12-13, will present choir and orchestra concerts from 7-8:30 p.m. “Sing! Sing Hosanna” will kick off at 7 p.m. both nights, featuring 60 musicians honoring the birth of Christ.

“The main reason we stage this festival is to have an event that’s centered around Christ,” Thompson said. “As we get so wrapped up in our gift lists and our home decorations, it can be easy to lose sight of what Christmas is all about. This event lets people calm down, and is entirely nondenominational. Visitors of all faiths are welcome.”

The Arlington Nativity Festival runs from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 10-11, and from 3-8:30 p.m. Dec. 12-13. The church is at 17222 43rd Ave. NE in Arlington. Admission and parking are free. For details, visit www.arlingtonnativityfestival.org.