43
Pageantry and music are emotional and inspirational
YOUNGSTOWN
If guests didn’t have the Christmas spirit when they arrived for the Boar’s Head & Yule Log Festival at St. John’s Episcopal Church on Sunday, they almost certainly did when the inspiring music and pageantry concluded.
A combined audience of several hundred enjoyed two performances at 1:30 and 4 p.m. of the 55th annual Boar’s Head Festival, which had a cast of about 90. It was cast and organized by Priscilla Hays of Boardman, church administrative assistant.
It is the second-longest running Boar’s Head Festival in the nation, said the Rev. Gayle Catinella, St. John’s Rector, in welcoming the audience.
The St. John’s Boar’s Head Festival is a long-time Christmas tradition for many guests and cast members while others were at or performed in their first festival.
Sometimes, children are the inspiration.
The children of Jessica and Mike Schubert of Boardman, Gabby, 8, and twin sons, Lane and Finn, 6, performed in the 2015 festival.
“After we saw the festival in 2015, we wanted to participate, too,” said Jessica.
Sue Mazon of Youngstown, who played the Sprite when she was 4 or 5, brought her daughter, Sarah, 16, and son, Alex, 15, to Sunday’s 4 p.m. performance.
As part of the festival, the Sprite carries a lighted candle into the darkened church symbolizing the coming of the Light into the darkened world. Representing the church, the Rector receives the light and uses it to light the altar, and then the lights of the church rise.
Sue, who said she particularly enjoys the costumes, pageantry and music, has been to the Boar’s Head Festival many times over the years and now wants to make it a family tradition.
Friends Carolyn Alexander of Mercer, Pa., and Joanne Lozier of Slippery Rock, Pa., who have seen the festival several times in the past, said they particularly love the costumes and the bagpipes that add much of the atmosphere.
Sophia Brooks, 83, of Youngstown, remembered Boar’s Head Festivals of the past, including the first festival 54 years ago.
“I sang a solo, “In the Bleak MidWinter.” I think about that,” she said.
Richard A. Konzen, music director and organist-choirmaster at St. John’s, directed the festival, which included the Salem Youth Chorus under the direction of Jon Simsic and the St. John’s Choir, as well as brass, bagpipes, and soloists.
“It was a great way to end the Christmas season. I absolutely plan to come back and will probably bring others that haven’t seen it,” said Eileen Bennett of Boardman, who came to the festival with her daughter, Sue Moran, and friend, JoAnne Nagy, both of Boardman.
“It was fantastic. It was very inspirational and emotional for all of us. It really tied the whole Christmas story together,” Bennett said.