For many Christians, the Christmas season is a time to celebrate and commemorate the birth of Jesus. Joyful carols, special liturgies, family traditions and festive foods all have become part of the celebration, and in Long Beach one of those traditions has become the annual “Portraits of the Prince of Peace” pageant.
The Prince of Peace pageant, which took place earlier this month, drew hundreds of people who walked along a path that featured 16 different nativity scenes with live actors, and even animals, aiming to tell the story of Jesus’ birth.
“The Journey to Bethlehem” is one of the scenes brought to life at the annual Portraits of the Prince of Peace Christmas Pageant on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Visitors read the Beatitudes displayed at the Portraits of the Prince of Peace Christmas Pageant on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The manger is depicted at the annual Portraits of the Prince of Peace Christmas Pageant on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Valley Christian Handbells performing at the Long Beach Christian Reformed Church during the annual Portraits of the Prince of Peace Christmas Pageant on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
A live musical performance inside University Baptist Church during the annual Portraits of the Prince of Peace Christmas Pageant on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The prophet Isaiah in the temple foretells the birth of Jesus in one of the scenes portrayed at the annual Portraits of the Prince of Peace Christmas Pageant on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The three Wisemen are depicted at the annual Portraits of the Prince of Peace Christmas Pageant on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Herod sits before the Three Kings in one of the nativity scenes at the annual Portraits of the Prince of Peace Christmas Pageant on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Valley Christian Handbells performing at the Long Beach Christian Reformed Church during the annual Portraits of the Prince of Peace Christmas Pageant on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
A live musical performance inside the Alliance Bible Church during the annual Portraits of the Prince of Peace Christmas Pageant on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
An angel of the Lord brings a message to Joseph in a dream in one of the scenes portrayed at the annual Portraits of the Prince of Peace Christmas Pageant on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The heavenly birth is announced in one of the nativity scenes at the annual Portraits of the Prince of Peace Christmas Pageant on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Attendees of the annual Portraits of the Prince of Peace Christmas Pageant gathered outside the Long Beach Christian Reformed Church on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
A jazz performance at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church during the annual Portraits of the Prince of Peace Christmas Pageant on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
“The Journey to Bethlehem” is one of the scenes brought to life at the annual Portraits of the Prince of Peace Christmas Pageant on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Visitors check out nativity scenes and scripture readings on display at the annual Portraits of the Prince of Peace Christmas Pageant on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Visitors check out nativity scenes and scripture readings on display at the annual Portraits of the Prince of Peace Christmas Pageant on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Visitors check out nativity scenes and scripture readings on display at the annual Portraits of the Prince of Peace Christmas Pageant on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Elizabeth blesses Mary in one of the scenes brought to life at the annual Portraits of the Prince of Peace Christmas Pageant on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
“No Room in the Inn” is one of the scenes brought to life at the annual Portraits of the Prince of Peace Christmas Pageant on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
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“The Journey to Bethlehem” is one of the scenes brought to life at the annual Portraits of the Prince of Peace Christmas Pageant on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The pageant, originally established by three local churches in 1973, has become an integral part of Long Beach’s cultural fabric and is a collaborative effort among six congregations located within a few blocks of one another.
The churches include St. Cornelius Catholic Church, St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, The Anointed Place, Long Beach Christian Reformed Church, University Baptist Church, and Alliance Bible Church.
As people made their way through the outdoor nativity scenes, which started at the corner of Bellflower Blvd. and Wardlow Road. Attendees also went inside the sanctuaries to take a seat, eat some light refreshments, and watch live musical performances – including Christmas carols, a jazz performance, a performance by the Valley Christian Handbells, and more.
Volunteers of all ages played live statues for the Prince of Peace pageant, which took place on Dec. 6 and 7, as hundreds of people enjoyed the half-mile scenic walk, making their way through the story of the birth of Jesus.