For 20 years, many local residents have begun their Christmas season by attending Follow the Star, a live nativity event full of live music, hot cocoa, and an awe-inspiring display of crèches from around the world.
The annual event is sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Held at the chapel on Altisima in Rancho Santa Margarita, Follow the Star retells the story of Christmas with elaborate sets, stunning costumes, and an original soundtrack. The grounds undergo a festive Christmas makeover as the trees drip in hundreds of lights and the rear grounds are transformed into ancient Bethlehem, complete with an inn, the humble manger from the beloved Bible story, and of course, the live actors.
While community members from Coto de Caza to Lake Forest make up the cast from the imposing Roman centurion to a celestial angel announcing the birth of a special baby, it is an entirely different cast that draws the most fans for photo ops after each performance: the animals! Each show also features a menagerie of live animals, and the star of the show is a large woolly sheep who watches over the manger scene. Fans delight each year in petting him and joining him for Christmas selfies.
Find out what's happening in Rancho Santa Margaritafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
As the event has grown, so have the reasons for families to come and enjoy the program. Each twenty minute show is preceded by an optional visit to the crèche display, a collection of nativity scenes from all over the world encompassing materials from Jerusalem olive wood to engine parts. From there, visitors can bundle up against the cool night weather and take a seat from the program outside where each performance is preceded by live music from Spanish guitar to talented vocalists. Afterwards, guests may warm up with complimentary hot cocoa served by local church volunteers.
This year, to commemorate the twentieth anniversary, Friday and Saturday night will also include choral performances of beloved Christmas songs.
Find out what's happening in Rancho Santa Margaritafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
According to one of the event’s founders, Brian Andre of Foothill Ranch, Follow the Star draws close to five thousand visitors over its three night run. One local resident’s perspective helps to explain why as Brittany Larsen of Rancho Santa Margarita says, “It wouldn’t feel like Christmas if we didn’t bring our family to watch this every year.”
Follow the Star will play December 8-10 from 6-9 pm at 29441 Altisima in Rancho Santa Margarita.
