More than 20 years ago, a group of volunteers in the Valley began to organize Bethlehem Village, a live nativity scene performed in Afton.
“What we do is say: ‘Find your place in the Christmas story,’” said Ken Bryant, who handles marketing for the annual event held at Hebron Baptist Church.
Volunteers from several churches and the surrounding community bring Bethlehem to life on the night that baby Jesus was born.
“It’s not like it’s one church or group that could pull this off,” Bryant said.
The group took a two-year hiatus from performances during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“People were all excited and interested when we said we were coming back,” Bryant said.
In the beginning, approximately 2,500 individuals would attend during five nights of performances. In recent years, the group has performed for three nights and it’s not unusual for approximately 2,500 to attend each night.
Participants will enter an authentically recreated Bethlehem Village with approximately 60 characters in full costume. Camels, sheep and other animals will complete the setting. Bryant said that some volunteers have performed the same characters for a long time.
Visitors are welcome take their time walking through the village, and to enjoy shops, such as the blacksmith and weapons shop.
“There’s a lot of stuff that goes on behind the scenes,” Bryant said of preparation for the weekend’s performances.
Cost of admission is free, but monetary donations are appreciated.
“It was just kind of right from the beginning people wanted [to accept donations only].”
Bryant’s favorite part about the village is that participants enter a heated tent where they are given plastic coins. They are greeted with: “You’ve come to Bethlehem and you’ve come to pay the Census.”
After exiting the tent into the village, participants are greeted by Roman soldiers who caution that if they do not pay their taxes, they will go to jail. A small structure nearby serves as the village’s jail.
While village residents know a star has guided visitors to the village, they do not know why. Some will say: “We do sense something is going on here. We don’t know what it is.” Village residents will not mention the birth of Jesus, because, on that historic night, none of them knew about the significance of the birth of a boy in a manger.
Bryant said that the cue that the birth of Christ is about to happen is that villagers will begin saying: “A savior is born.”
Participants often ask the characters challenging questions about the village and life on the night of Christ’s birth.
“It’s really neat to see the young families, I think, because it really gives you hope for the future,” Bryant said.
All are welcome to visit Bethlehem Village, regardless of religious faith or belief just as they would have visited before Jesus was born.
Bethlehem Village will be performed on Friday, December 22, 2024, from 6 to 9 p.m., and Saturday, December 21 and Sunday, December 22 from 5 to 9 p.m. All performances are weather permitting.
Event parking is available. Hebron Baptist Church is at 66 Tanbark Drive, Afton.
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Follow the star to Afton: The real story of Christmas comes to life with Bethlehem village
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Rebecca Barnabi
