BANGOR – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Bangor will demonstrate in December that it’s more blessed to give than to receive when it presents its seventh annual Creche Exhibit at the church, corner of Grandview Avenue and Essex Street. There is no admission fee and monetary donations to what has become a seasonal tradition in the city are respectfully declined.

Because of the growing popularity of the exhibit, organizers have decided to open it for four days instead of three as in past years.

The exhibit theme will be “City Sidewalks,” said Haze Martin of Brewer, who with his wife, Anganette, help organize the event.

“We’ll create a downtown that gives the illusion of window shopping,” he said. The setting will include a city square where a nine-piece, life-sized nativity the Martins sculpted from joint compound will be placed.

New this year will be an exhibit of creche drawings by children ages 3 to 12.

“These will be their own creations,” Martin said, “not from coloring books” and represent the child’s idea of what a creche is and what the Nativity is all about.”

The annual exhibit, which in past years has drawn as many as 1,500 people to the seasonal event will display as many as 400 creches, all privately owned and on loan from individuals belonging to many Christian denominations in Farmington, Machias, Millinocket, Waterville and villages and towns in greater Bangor, Martin said.

“There will be creches [that range] from the handcrafted and simple to the elegant and expensive,” Martin said.

One creche is so small a magnifying glass is needed to see it. The exhibit also includes a living Nativity, enacted several times throughout the four days.

The Martins encourage families, groups and residents of nursing homes to attend the event. There is ample parking and the building is handicap-accessible. It is hoped that 2,000 people will visit the exhibit this year.

It takes a year to plan the exhibit and 15 to 30 people a week to set it up and another week to take it down again, Martin said.

The schedule of activities at the exhibit is:

Friday, Dec. 1

3:30 p.m., Bangor High School Strings.

4:30 p.m., Live Nativity re-enactment.

5 p.m., MJMS Flute Chorus.

6 p.m., Live Nativity re-enactment.

Saturday, Dec. 2

2 p.m., Liza Butler, harp.

3 p.m., Sweet Adelines.

3:30 p.m., Live Nativity re-enactment.

4 p.m., Waterville Ward Chorus.

5 p.m., Live Nativity re-enactment.

6 p.m., Lincoln Youth Chorus.

Sunday, Dec. 3

2 p.m., Gabrielle Price and Alexander, violin.

3 p.m., Live Nativity re-enactment.

4 p.m. Hampden Jubilee Ringers.

Monday, Dec. 4

6 p.m. Live Nativity re-enactment.

The Creche Exhibit will be open:

. Noon-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1.

. 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2.

. Noon-8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3.

. 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4.

The creche exhibit will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, corner of Grandview Avenue and Essex Street in Bangor. For more information, call Haze Martin, 989-2982.