Crèche festival opens at monastery near SC coast

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (AP) — The Christmas season is getting under way at Mepkin Abbey near Moncks Corner.

The Trappist monks at the abbey open their 9th annual Crèche Festival on Monday. Each year the monks put on display dozens of manger scenes from the abbey’s collection of more than 500. This year’s festival also features nativity sets from local collectors and artists.

The festival runs through Sunday at the abbey’s library. It will also be open Nov. 25 through the 27th.

The week of Nov. 28 through Dec. 3 is reserved for tours by groups of 10 or more people.

The festival is free, although people must make reservations at the Web site www.mepkinabbey.org.