Rock River Current
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MACHESNEY PARK — Riverside Community Church will bring the story of Christmas to life this weekend with its 10th annual live nativity display.
The event incorporates live animals, including sheep and camels, and human actors to display six scenes depicting the birth of Jesus. The live nativity culminates with the portrayal of baby Jesus in the manager.
“It makes the Christmas story come alive,” said Pastor Bobby Sheets. “This is just a great time to slow down and catch your breath and see what Christmas is truly all about.”
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The live nativity happens from 6-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the church, 6816 N. Second St.
People often arrive early, sometimes as soon as 5:15 p.m., and you should expect to wait in line for the drive-thru event. Sheriff’s deputies provide traffic control.
Roughly 2,500 to 3,000 people are expected to drive-thru.
Sheets said the animals come from a friend in Indiana who transports them here.
“It gets loud; it gets crazy. Sometimes we’ve got to chase one of those critters around if it gets loose,” Sheets said. “That truly adds a dimension like no other dimension with the story.”
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The event is put on completely free with the help of roughly 125 volunteers. The church does not accept donations for the display.
“We want this to be a free gift to the community,” Sheets said.
Know before you go | A Night in Bethlehem
What: A Night in Bethlehem live nativity scene
Where: Riverside Community Church, 6816 N. Second St., Machesney Park
When: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10 and Sunday, Dec. 11
Admission: Free
More info: rcclivelovelead.com
Listen
Hear the full interview with Pastor Bobby Sheets by Steve Summers and Ryan Sartori on This Week in the Stateline below:
