Santa Clara Weekly Story - Dec. 5th, 2012
Santa Clara Weekly Story - Dec. 8th, 2006
Santa Clara Weekly Story - Dec. 7th, 2005

For the 17th year, the ancient town of Bethlehem is being re-created in Santa Clara on over 40,000 square feet with actual-size buildings and bridges. The free event, which attracted over 17,000 visitors last year, runs from Dec. 8th through 12th (2016), from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m., at Santa Clara First Baptist Church, 3111 Benton Street, between Kiely Blvd and Lawrence Expressway.

To recreate the ancient scene, the church parking lot is covered with over 100 tons of sand. More than 100 actors from First Baptist and other local churches dress up in Biblical-style clothing, much like that worn in Bethlehem at the time of the census 2000 years ago. Roman guards patrol the streets. A busy market place has interactive booths where children learn about weaving, basket making, perfume making, and baking. There is also a booth where parents can taste wine fresh from a wine press.

The heart of the program is the retelling of the Christmas story. Roman guards enter the city and blow their horns to announce that a census is going to be taken; Joseph and Mary arrive on a donkey looking for a place to stay; the birth of Jesus is celebrated in the stable, accented by music and lighting; the shepherds are visited by a flying angel, then run through the city proclaiming the good news; and wise men from the East and their escorts enter the town on camel back, looking for the newborn king.