The Christmas Eve pageant put on by the First Congregational Church of West Tisbury has been a tradition going back over 60 years but most likely much longer.

The first mention of the pageant found in the Vineyard Gazette was in 1957. During that year Jim Athearn, owner of Morning Glory Farm, played one of the three kings in the 1957 production. In an interview with the Gazette in 2017, Mr. Athearn said he remembered carrying a box full of gold colored beads.

“I was the king that apparently was carrying the gold,” he recalled.

Over the years the production has grown and moved from the church to the Agricultural Hall, where each year some 800 to 1,000 Islanders gather together to hear the story of the first Christmas and sing holiday songs.

The service begins at 5 p.m. on Dec. 24. and features 22 children in the pageant, ranging from the baby Jesus to older kids taking on roles as Mary and Joseph, angels, shepherds, wise men and animals. Over the years, one child may play five or six roles until they age out of the production and become audience members.

The production is directed this year by Sara Ream and Molly Conole, with Charlotte Watts choreographing the dances. Brian Weiland leads the children’s choir and Hope O’Brien directs the bell choir.