On the weekend of Saturday, Nov. 21, hundreds of people visited Fort Assiniboine for the first night of a tradition called the Journey to Bethlehem.
The tradition was started in 1998 by the Fort Assiniboine Friends Christian Community and is modeled after a play in the United States.
The idea of the play is to have the audience follow a family on their journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, with the help of their guide Rachel, to register for the census to see what Mary and Joseph experienced more than 2,000 years ago.
Along the way the audience go past soldiers, a prophet, shepherds, beggars and even run into a pick pocket on their way to see the stable where Jesus is born.
The walk-through nativity story starts at 6:30 p.m. at the St. John Vianney Catholic Church on Main Street in Fort Assiniboine and ends at the Friendship Centre or museum. The event ends at 8:30 p.m.
It takes about 20 minutes to walk through the whole nativity scene. Depending on the number of people waiting, walk-throughs start every eight to 10 minutes.
For those people who have to wait there is music and entertainment at the Catholic Church and hot drinks and other refreshments at the Friendship Centre.
Because the nativity walk-through is held entirely outdoors, proper winter attire is recommended.
The Journey of Bethlehem will take place for one more weekend on Nov. 28 and 29.
