The three wise men will have to wait until next year.

Concordia Lutheran Ministries canceled its eighth annual live Nativity scene for this year. Organizers cited the increase in coronavirus cases across the county.

The organization planned to hold Nativity scenes with actors and animals Sunday in front of the Haven II building at 148 Marwood Road on the Concordia at Cabot campus. This year, it was planning on having people walk by to see the outside display, but on Monday it announced the decision to cancel the event completely.

“We felt it was the right thing to do, given the circumstances,” said Frank Skrip, the director of public relations for Concordia. “We thought if it was outside that would be safe, but with the numbers being what they are in the county area, we'd rather err on the side of caution.”

Skrip said they would hold something online instead, but haven't settled on specifics.

“We'll have something to celebrate the reason for the season,” Skrip said.

He said that in years past, the event was popular and drew crowds from all over the area.

“One thing we're always proud of is how much participation we get from Concordia family — residents, staff, church members and many others,” Skrip said.

“The staff would usually be the actors. Residents have been narrators. Lutheran churches in the area have come to sing. Every aspect of Concordia family was involved, so we're definitely saddened that we have to cancel,” he said.

The cancellation of the event comes a week after Concordia Lutheran Ministries' facilities across Butler County experienced a resurgence of virus cases among staff and residents.

According to combined reports by the company, across all of Concordia's county locations roughly 27 residents and 26 employees have active cases of the virus.

Skrip said the decision to cancel the Nativity wasn't because of their own resurgence, but because of the rise in virus patients across the region.