Leesburg Nativity Tour draws shoppers to historic district

Leesburg, Virginia - The third annual Nativity Tour runs December 1 – 24 at twelve Leesburg shops, restaurants and businesses displaying unique nativities memorializing the birth of Jesus Christ. New on the tour is a Lenox First Blessing Nativity on loan from Stacy Leggat displayed at Ketterman’s Jewelry on Catoctin Circle. The tour emphasizes a child focused nativity which in the past has included Lego nativity figures, hand crafted fabric stuffed dolls and a gingerbread nativity. This year the child focused Nativity is a Charles Schultz inspired Charlie Brown Christmas pageant.

The “tour” can begin at Stockman Title & Middleburg Reality at the corner of King and Market streets. The nativity displayed in a window is visible at any time. During business hours, brochures listing all twelve merchants are available. Other historic district sites include Leesburg Vintner, Rouge Boutique, King Street Oyster Bar and the Trinity House Café.

A new effort this year is to include a list of additional nativities on display by shop owners. These are listed on the website at http://leesburgnativitytour.org/

Website links to Christmas church services will also be listed on the website.

Christmas is a season of thankfulness for the goodness of God. The Leesburg Nativity Tour goal is to remind shoppers about the history of Christmas -- a celebration of the birth of Christ -- an event which reset the world clock for marking time.

Nativity Tour founder Patricia Phillips recalls the days when the Leesburg Courthouse grounds became a battleground for atheists opposing recognition regarding the Christian roots of the Christmas Holiday on public grounds. Today, the court house grounds and Leesburg town green display both secular and non- secular symbols of the season. Now folks can observe a Santa Claus, a Christmas Tree and a Menorah in addition to the Nativity. The Leesburg Christmas season is much calmer these days and the local news media no longer publish articles featuring outrageous anti-religious displays.

Take a break from the commercial hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Make the Leesburg Nativity Tour part of your Christmas Tradition while accomplishing your business in downtown Leesburg! The tour begins December 1st and ends December 24th.

Visit Stockman Title office at King and Market Streets, located in the heart of historic, downtown Leesburg to pick up a brochure, or at any of the twelve shops or restaurants:

Market Street:

Leesburg Jewelers (312 E)

The Piano Store (206 E)

Trinity House Cafe (101 E)

King Street:

King Street Oyster Bar (12 S)

Rouge Boutique (17 S))

Very Virginia (16 S)

Leesburg Vintner (29 S)

Loudoun Street

Madison Belle (5 SE)

Merlin Art Gallery (2 SE

Catoctin Circle/Harrison Street

Ketterman's (38 S. Catoctin Cir)

Tuskies (203 Harrison)

Doner Bistro (202 Harrison)

To contact the Leesburg Nativity Tour about any of the opportunities listed above, please contact Patricia Phillips at Patricia@LeesburgNativityTour.org or 571-243-5800.