These pictures were taken in prior years (including many from the year 2014).

This certainly does not show the entire process, such as fitting people (measuring them for costumes) and tailoring so that costumes fit just perfect. This selection of pictures does not do justice to some of the volunteers who worked quite a lot. For now, this just shows some bits and pieces of the process of making a miniature Bethlehem.


This is a daylight picture of a few booths: the Bakery, and the Jewish Synagogue.

This picture does great to introduce the basic concept. It doesn't show a whole lot of people, but it shows the skeletal structure of the buildings being created on the right, and a bit of progress decorating one of the buildings on the left.

These pictures are clickable! Hyperlinks permit full-sized pictures when you want to see more detail.

After the structures are created, they need to be decorated.


Here, the top piece of the Jewish Synagogue was added:



You may have noticed a youngster through the doorway in the second picture related to adding the synagogue's top. This was not an unusual sight.

This project involves many members of a church, including those of many ages. Seriously, even the children have really been some significant help!





(That last picture can be compared to an earlier picture showing this before the painting.)

After the buildings are finally constructed, decorations are added, including interiors of the shops.

















Many people in Bethlehem's vicinity were farmers.
Walk Through Bethlehem seeks out real livestock.






People dress up in costumes.


The public is invited to experience what's been created. The show goes on.

People start their experience with a visit to a throneroom where they get to see a few kings. Some of them are commonly called the “three wise men”, but people need to beware of the awful King Herod. (Especially young boys!)

(This particular picture is from King Herod's throne room from 2014.)

Afterwards, people are given coins that can be spent on things like apples. (Yes, real fruit, given out to visitors at no cost of modern money. The only charge is some of the coins freely available at the event.) However, guests are best off saving some of the money for their meeting with the tax collector.

Otherwise, the harsh Romans have been known to demand taxes, whether people have the money or not. Attempts to get donations from the Roman guards are not always very successful.

In such a land, previously wealthy folks just might
find themselves getting the experience of becoming a beggar.

Apparently, a big deal is made over a baby.
Just who is the baby in the manger?

It seems like that person is the star attraction. We wouldn't have it any other way!

A live baby is part of this event whenever possible (subject to availability).
(Because of the age requirement, we need
to check, each year, who may be available.)