The Live Bethlehem Christmas Pageant, a re-enactment of historical and Biblical events surrounding the birth of Christ, held its 39th annual performance Dec. 9 and 10 at the Rose Garden Park band shell in northwest Bethlehem. The Lehigh Valley’s first snowfall on Dec. 9 reduced the pageant’s attendance to 100 spectators, but higher temperatures and some sunshine attracted more than 300 persons to the event the next afternoon, according to pageant officials. A cast of some 100 costumed participants, live animals and musical accompaniment makes the admission-free event a family-oriented attraction. David Landis, president of the Live Bethlehem Christmas Pageant for 14 years, said he is “looking forward” to next year’s 40th anniversary. According to Landis, the pageant originated on Christmas Eve in 1978 at our Lady of Pompeii Church in South Bethlehem. “The event’s purpose is to commemorate Jesus’ birthday in a most real way,” said the Bethlehem resident.