SPRINGFIELD – Trinity United Methodist Church is once again presenting the Boar’s Head Festival, in fact this year’s production is the church’s 35th.

Boar’s Head Festival is a recreation of a medieval celebration of the Epiphany complete with period costumes, live animals and the music of the Christmas season

Becky Isaacson, the director of Music Ministry, said, “Every year we try to change the Festival in some way so that it will remain fresh for the audience as well as the participants.  This year we will be singing a new piece ‘I Saw Three Ships’ by Mack Wilberg at the beginning of the Festival.  In the piece is a long instrumental interlude just before the verse ‘and all the bells on earth shall ring.’  During this interlude all kinds of bells – school bells, ships’ bells, vintage bells, cast iron bells, etc. - will be ringing, many of them suspended from the platforms.  It will be very loud and noisy!”

Steve Hays is the artisitc director and Isaacson emphasized the complexity of the production.         

“Literally hundreds of people are involved in the cast and behind the scenes.  In the cast there are 80 singers (adult, youth, and children), 13 instrumentalists, 20 dancers, and an additional cast of 75.  Many people work long before the Festival occurs sending out the mailing, putting up decorations, filling ticket orders, repairing props, setting up the lighting and platforms, altering costumes, etc.          

“During the Festival there will be people doing many jobs such as ushering, make up, working the receptions for the audience, taking care of the animals that are in the Festival, working outside to help with parking, and preparing and serving dinners for the cast and crew (two meals for 250 people each night between shows on Saturday and Sunday.)  Then, of course, after the Festival everything needs to be taken down and put away – quite an undertaking!,” she said.   

The show is  a theatrical spectacle with a cast of live animals.

“Yes, the Festival uses live animals including three camels, a horse, donkey, goats, sheep, llamas, geese, roosters, doves, and a falconer with a bird of prey.  Sometimes it can get a little ‘fragrant’ in the Sanctuary.  We have had many funny and interesting moments that have involved the animals.  For example, one time a camel exited the truck and decided to run down Sumner Avenue with the shepherds chasing after him instead of coming into the Sanctuary.  Another time the roosters escaped from their cages during a show and were racing around the Chancel area with feathers flying while the singers and instrumentalists kept performing.    And, of course, there is no way to hush a goose or sheep, and they can become quite vocal,”  Isaacson said.

The Boar’s Head Festival, will be present at Trinity United Methodist Church, 361 Sumner Ave.  on Jan. 12, Jan. 13 and  Jan.14. Call the Boar’s Head Festival ticket office at 733-4759 for information.  Tickets are now on sale to the public and sell out quickly.  Ticket prices are $25 for adults and $15 for children ages 5-11.