Night in Bethlehem a hit with visitors
Adults and children enjoyed stepping back in time this weekend as they walked through what Bethlehem would have looked like during the very first Christmas.
It was the first weekend of Redeemer Bible Church’s A Night in Bethlehem, where the Montrose Road facility’s basement was turned into an interactive space so visitors could experience sights and sounds of the old town, and meet some townspeople dressed in period garb.
St. Catharines resident Lindsay Jonovich brought her 10-year-old son, Jacob Jones, to the event Sunday.
The event was also held Saturday. “It gives you more insight to the background of it all, and how it was back then,” she said.
“This is the first time I’ve ever been, and I just find it’s a different way to tell the story.”
Estelle Friske and Linda Stark helped visitors to learn how to write their names in Hebrew.
“We’re getting a lot of good feedback,” said Friske. “The children, the adults, they love it because it’s not easy to try to write in Hebrew.”
Stark said the re-enactment is meant to highlight the true meaning of Christmas to the public.
“It’s about bringing hope to people, and to hopefully share God’s love.”
A steady stream of people visited a market where they tasted different foods of that time, tried their hand at pottery and interacted with about 70 live actors, including the tax collector, the innkeeper, and Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus.
A Night In Bethlehem continues next Saturday (5-8 p.m.) and Sunday (1-4 p.m.).