Top Christmas Live Nativity Experiences Near You

Posted byfamilyadventuresvaPosted inHoliday Fun, NativitiesTags:, , , , , , , , , , ,

**Many have been updated for 2025. If you find a 2024 date, look online for an update.

December is a busy time, but it’s also a time to reflect on the birth of Jesus. Many area churches take the holiday season as a time to share Christ’s birth through Live Nativities or Walks through Bethlehem. Each year our family likes to attend a few of these events. There are always favorites and new ones to try. I’m amazed by the creativity and work that goes into each of these offerings.

In 2021, we attended our first Culpeper event. When we heard about A Night in Bethlehem , we immediately signed up for our free tickets via EventBrite. This event was sponsored by the Reformation Lutheran Church in Culpeper.

Unfortunately, it was raining the night we had tickets. Because of this, the petting zoo was not up and running. My kids were disappointed about this. During a normal visit, groups would visit the petting farm after their scheduled visit unless scheduled for the last visits on Friday and Saturday.

Even though the tickets are free, you must make sure that each person is registered in his/her name as these will be needed for check in. Arrive 15 minutes early so you can get registered.

At registration each child will receive a treasure keepers bag. When they visit the merchants they will receive a treasure.The program begins with a visit from John The Baptist, a group of shepherds and a host of angels.

You then enter the Marketplace and watch the merchants work (carpenter, wool dying, basket making, scribe, herbs/spices, women at the well and the bakery). My children loved this area. You will have approximately 30 minutes in the Marketplace so plan your time wisely to visit each merchant.

A host of angels will lead you past ‘The Inn’ into the stable where the pastor will deliver the message of the birth of Christ. In this room you will hear some carols and see Mary and Joseph.

You will then be escorted into the Modern Day Christmas to sing carols and enjoy homemade cookies.

A lot of effort really went into this event. Unfortunately, this event is not happening for 2025. The church said it will be back again in 2026.

There are several additional churches in the area hosting Live Nativities or other Christmas events. If you see a 2025 date below, the date has been confirmed. If not, we are still waiting for an update. As always confirm with the location before heading out.

Bealeton:

  • There’s a Live Nativity at the Family Worship Center on December 15, 2024, from 5 – 9 pm. There will also be bonfire with s’mores!

Bowling Green:

  • Journey Through Bethlehem will be happening at the Calvary Baptist church in Bowling Green on Sunday, December 7th, 2025, from 6-8pm.

Culpeper:

  • There’s a Live Nativity at Mount Lebanon Baptist Church. This event used to be held at the Ole Country Store in Culpeper but is now being held onsite at the church on Dec. 19, 2025, from 5-8 pm.
  • Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church will have a live nativity on Friday, December 19, 2025, from 5-8 pm. The address is 6131 Sperryville Pike in Boston, VA.
  • Make sure to register for A Night in Bethlehem being held Dec. 9 & 10 at the Reformation Lutheran Church in Culpeper. This event is not happening in 2025. They are looking at 2026.
  • The Open Door Baptist Church in Culpeper will be hosting A Walk thru Bethlehem on Dec. 6 & 7, 2024, from 6 – 8 pm. This event is FREE to the public.
  • Novum Baptist Church is hosting a Drive-Through Nativity on Friday, December 15, 2024, from 5 – 7 pm. They are located in Reva, VA, in Culpeper County.

Richmond:

  • One of the largest live nativities in the area is the Bethlehem Walk in Richmond. Here you will experience the Christmas Story in person! This is a FREE park and walk event. You must register for your free tickets. Registration opened this year at 9 am on (more info on Nov. 3). You can reserve up to 10 tickets. If you need a group of 30 or more, you will need to email bethlehemwalk@salembaptistchurch.info. The event this year runs Dec 3-7, 2025. What’s different this year is that for Dec. 3 & 4, you will not need a reservation. Bethlehem Walk is hosted by Salem Baptist Church in Goochland County, Virginia, just 6 miles west of Short Pump. There is no on-site parking. You will park and then ride a shuttle bus to the Bethlehem Walk site. Make sure you have your tickets ready for the attendants. Handicap parking is available. Follow @familyadventuresva as I post when tickets are available. “Sold Out” — Check back for cancellations.
  • The Village Church in Chesterfield has a FREE drive-thru light show every night in December, 2024. It runs from dusk to 9:30 pm. As you pull in, turn your radio to 104.1. This will start the Saturday or Sunday after Thanksgiving for 2025.
  • Midlothian Baptist Church also has a drive-thru Christmas display. The lights turn on around 6 pm. It is open every night in December till Dec. 31, 2024. On December 21 (6 pm), there will be a Carols by Candlelight in their pavilion.
  • Broadus Baptist Church in Mechanicsville has Living Nativity December 5-7 and 12-14, 2025. This is a guided, trail walk with 9 scenes, over 70 actors, and live animals. The performance along the 1/2 mile trails takes approximately 45 minutes. Tickets are free and must be reserved.
  • A Walk in Bethlehem in the Richmond area is held at The Red Barn Farm in Dinwiddie. There is no reservation or admission fee for this event. In 2025, it is being held Dec. 6 (4-8 pm), Dec. 7 (2-6 pm), Dec. 13 (4-8 pm), and Dec. 14 (2-6 pm).
  • The Miracle of Christmas – Live at the Richmond Zoo is a popular live nativity in the Richmond area. There will be three shows each evening at 7:00, 7:45, and 8:30 pm, Dec. 20-22, 2025. The zoo gates open at 6:15 p.m. for the first show.
  • All Saints RVA will be hosting a Christmas Pageant December 21, 2025, at 10:30 am. This event is free and open to the public. Anyone can participate.
  • The Sounds of Christmas will be performed at the Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Richmond in 2024. There will be four performances: December 4 • 7pm; December 5 • 7pm; December 6 • 2pm. This event is FREE. No tickets or reservations needed.
  • Clover Hill Church in Midlothian will be hosting Christmas Mansions, Dec. 12 and 13, 2025. “Expect a night full of magic moments as your child builds their very own gingerbread mansion while learning about what Jesus’ birth means to them.” This is no longer a FREE event but is $5/pp. Tickets are already on sale.
  • There will be a Christmas Drive-Thru at Graceland Baptist Church in Powhatan on Friday, December 6, 2024, from 6-8 pm.

Ruther Glen

  • The Cardinal Baptist Church will be hosting a Live Nativity at Mount Olympus Berry Farm Dec. 5-7, 2025. This event runs continuously every 20 minutes, 6:30-8:30 pm each night. There is a 15 minute show that is performed on loop for the 2 hours. Park your car and walk to the set. The play is set up at the front of Mt Olympus. You can stay for as many showings as you want. There is a refreshment and fellowship area near the parking.

Fredericksburg Area–Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, & Stafford

  • Salem Fields Church always hosts a large FREE Christmas event. This year Christmas at the Fields will have a live choir, hot cocoa, cookies, games, crafts, story time & photo spots. This event will be held Dec. 5, 2025, from 6-8 pm.
  • Tabernacle United Methodist Church will be having a drive-thru community Christmas event, Christmas Lights and Love, December 13, 2025, from 5:30-7:30 pm.
  • Eley’s Ford Baptist Church is having a Birthday Party for Jesus on December 8, 2024, at 2 pm.
  • Glasgow Farm Church hosts a Live Nativity outside on their property. This year it will be held Dec. 12 (7 pm) & 13 (5 and 7 pm), 2025. The show is FREE and lasts about an hour. There is an online registration for this. You will need to create an account to register. We attended their first nativity in 2020 and thought it was a drive-through show. Nope. We were not prepared for the cold. We sat out on hay bales the entire hour. Remember to dress for the weather and bring blankets for the hay bales. After the presentation, you can visit the animals. Parking can get a little crazy here as most of it is on the grass in a field. (When the production is over, make sure to leave or you may end up staying for an hour of evangelizing. We were not prepared for that.)
  • New City Fellowship will be hosting a FREE Christmas Fest on December 14th, 2024, from 2-4 pm
  • Ferry Farm Baptist Church has been putting on a Christmas Pageant for decades. It was one of the very first live nativities that we attended when we moved to the area years ago. It is a LIVE presentation of the birth of Jesus featuring angels, shepherds, Mary & Joseph, and live animals. You will stay in your car for the entire presentation. The Ferry Farm crew has this down to a science. They will show you where to park. The show is approximately 12 min. This year the pageant will be Dec. 19 and 20, 2025, from 6-8 pm. In the past, we were given cookies to enjoy during the show. I’m not sure if they are still doing this.
  • Grace United Methodist Church in Hartwood (Stafford) will have a birthday party for Jesus on December 14, 2025, at 11 am. There will be lunch, cupcakes, and gifts.
  • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (161 Eustace Rd, Stafford, VA 22554) hosts a large Nativity Display of beautiful nativities from around the world. This event will be held Dec. 5 (6:30-8:30 pm) and Dec. 6 (4-7 pm), 2025.

  • Fredericksburg Seventh Day Adventist Church puts on a Live Nativity. It’s a walk-thru experience with nativity scenes and live animals. There’s music, caroling, and hot drinks and snacks.
    This event is FREE and will be held Dec. 13, 2025, at 6-8 pm.
  • Riverside First Church of God in Fredericksburg will have a Christmas program (One Night in Bethlehem) on Sunday, December 17, 2023, at 5 pm. After the program, they will have a birthday party for Jesus.
  • Ebenezer United Methodist Church in Stafford will host a KidzChristmas on Thursday, Dec 11, 2025, at 6:30-8:30 pm. Starting in the sanctuary with the KidzChoir performance and then moving outside for Living Nativity, petting zoo, hot cocoa. This is a FREE event. You can find their Christmas schedule at ebenezerumc.org.
  • Wilderness Baptist Church hosts a FREE outdoor nativity with cookies and cocoa.
    This event will be held Dec. 14-15, 2024, from 5-7 pm.     This will not be happening for 2025.

King George

There will be a live nativity at Belle Grove Plantation in King George on December 14, 2024, from 6-8 pm. This FREE community event will have live actors, animals, and choir members from local churches. This event takes place outside so dress warmly. This will not be happening in 2025.

Washington, DC Area

The Festival of Lights hosted by Washington D.C. Latter-day Saint Temple is back this year. Lights will illuminate the ground every evening December 4, 2025 – January 1, 2026 | 4:30 – 8:45 PM. Inside the Visitor Center there are beautiful Créche displays featuring nativities from around the world. Enjoy over 400,000 lights, beautifully decorated Christmas Trees, and a wide array of performances. This event is FREE. You must have a parking pass, though. These are FREE, but you must reserve. Most of the FREE performances start at 6:30 pm (check below schedule for exact times as some start earlier) with doors opening 45 min. prior.


Chantilly:

  • Gateway Community Church in South Riding is having their Christmas Kick-Off Event – “Joy to the World Christmas Walk”! Join them for their annual Tree Lighting, Live Nativity, Petting Zoo, and more! Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, from 5:30-7:30 pm. Tree lighting is at 6 pm.

Dale City:

  • Good Shepherd UMC in Dale City hosts a Live Nativity on Sunday, December 7, 2025, from 3-5 pm. Travel through a real-life scene of Bethlehem and experience what it was like the night baby Jesus was born. There will be live animals. Free.

Woodbridge:

  • Christ Chapel Church is having their Living Nativity on Sunday, Dec. 8 and 22nd, 2023, from 8:30 am – 11 am.
  • There will be a Drive Thru Living Nativity at All Saints’ Church in Woodbridge Friday, Dec. 15, 2023, 6:30-8:30 pm. “Stay in your car, and drive through five scenes from the beloved Christmas story. Each scene has a splash of lights, live animals, music, and costumes. Children’s Nativity Activity Bags will be distributed upon arrival. The community is invited to contribute a canned/boxed good upon arrival for the church community food pantry.”

Manassas:

  • St. Thomas UMC has a Carols, Cocoa, and Cookie Competition that includes a live nativity scene and petting zoo on December 13, 2025, from 5-7 pm. This event is free to the community. There is a registration if you’d like to participate.
  • Good Shepherd UMC in Dale City hosts a Live Nativity on Sunday, December 13, 2025, from 3-5 pm. There will be live animals. Free.

Alexandria:

  • Kingstowne Communion will be having a Candlelight Christmas at Nalls Produce on December 7, 2025, from 4:30-6:30 pm. ADMISSION–As your ticket into this event, bring one or more of the following items to aid Rising Hope Mission’s hypothermia shelter along Route 1 this winter: Warm gloves, beanie hats, warm socks, and hand and foot warmers.

Annandale:

Falls Church:

  • There’s a Living Nativity on the Lawn at Sleepy Hollow UMC on Dec. 20, 2025, from 5:30-7:30 pm. Hear the story of the birth of Jesus; enjoy live animals, music, hot cocoa, and snacks.
  • The Falls Church, an Episcopal Congregation is a St. Nicholas Party on Saturday, December 6, 2025, 2-3:30 pm. They will have a live petting zoo with a camel.

Gainsville:

Great Falls:

Burke:

  • The Foundry Church in Burke will be having a Living Nativity on Dec. 20, 2025, from 10 am – 2 pm.

Leesburg:

  • A Night in Bethlehem is happening at The Worship Center in Leesburg on December 6, 2025, at 6 pm.

Oakton:

  • On Christmas Eve 2025 at Oakton UMC, you’ll be able to stop by and visit nativity animals from 1-3 pm. Then join Christmas carols in the sanctuary from 3-3:30 pm followed by a family/children’s worship service at 3:30 pm.

Centreville:

  • Centreville Presbyterian Church Family Christmas Eve
    Hear the Christmas story from the children’s perspective in less than an hour at the Centreville Presbyterian’s Family Christmas Eve 2023 and Interactive Nativity, complete with live animals. This starts at 4 pm.

Vienna:

Maryland: Check online for 2025 updates.

  • A Live Nativity will be held Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, located at the Urbana Fire Hall Parking lot, 3602 Urbana Pike, Frederick, MD. Show times at 6, 7, an 8 pm. This is the 24th year that Wesley Chapel has presented this Live Nativity. Free hot chocolate and cookies.
  • Simpson Christian Community Church’s (New Market, MD) Live Nativity is Saturday, December 2, 2023, from 5:30-7 pm.
  • Christmas on the Farm’s Live Nativity at Jumbo’s Pumpkin Patch in Middletown, MD, will be happening Saturday, December 7, 2024, at 10 am.
  • Grace Pointe Community Church in Severn, MD, has a Living Nativity Drive-Thru Dec. 6-7, 13-14, 2024, from 7 – 9 pm.
  • Victory Baptist Church will be hosting My Journey to Jesus – Outdoor Christmas Nativity Program on Dec. 12 -15, 2024, from 5:30-7:30 pm. There will be a guided walk through a living nativity with live animals, active scenes, and live music. The program runs 25 min. and starts every half-hour. FREE tickets. Reserve online.
  • Holy Family Catholic Community Church in Middletown, MD (7315 Burkittsville Rd) has Live Nativity-A Journey to the Manger– on December 9, 2024, from 12-2 pm. There will be a petting zoo, crafts, and more. Pony rides are only $2.
  • Faith Lutheran Church (1700 Andrews Way, Eldersburg, MD) has a Live Nativity on December 14, 2024.
  • The Greatest Gift: A Christmas Production is happening December 14, 2024, at the Damascus Road Community Church in Mount Airy, MD. The times are on the hour from 3:45-9 pm. Register for a parking space. Walk through takes approximately 45 min.
  • Frederick Christian Fellowship Church in Frederick, MD, has their Christmas Walk on Saturday, December 14, 2024, from 4-6 pm.
  • Our Lady of Hope (8003 N Boundary Rd, Dundalk, MD) in Baltimore will have a Live Nativity this Friday (Dec. 8, 2023) and Saturday (Dec. 9, 2023) from 6-9 pm. Lights, Decorations, Music, and More. Bring your letters to Santa as a mailbox will be provided.
  • Down Home Poolesville’s Live Nativity will be Saturday, December 16, 2023, from 6-7:30 pm.
  • St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church’s Live Nativity in Libertytown, MD, is happening December 15, 2024, at 6 pm.

Do you know of any LIVE Nativities happening in the area that aren’t listed here? If so, please email familyadventuresva@gmail.com or DM @familyadventuresva so they can be added to the list. Thank you!

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