Aberdeen will host their live nativity scene during their 3rd annual Festival of Lights at the community’s farm.
Submitted photo by Dena Marks
Live nativity scenes have returned to Johnson County as Christmas Day quickly approaches.
Community members have the chance to witness reenactments of the classic Bethlehem scene throughout the month of December.
Aberdeen
The Aberdeen neighborhood in Bargersville will host their live nativity scene during their 3rd annual Festival of Lights at the community’s farm on Dec. 16 from 2 to 6 p.m.
Dena Marks, marketing and events manager for Duke Homes, Aberdeen’s developer, said that the nativity scene will include ducks, chickens, lambs, goats, miniature horses and donkeys.
“They actually come from a company that provides live nativities,” Marks said. “We hire them to come in and do that for us, so it is professionally run. Everybody is always so gracious and thankful. We get so many nice compliments because we provide a nice family-friendly atmosphere that parents can bring their kids to participate in at no cost. The Aberdeen community really embraces it.”
Five volunteers, including kids from Center Grove High School, will handle the live nativity scene. They will be accepting donations for Blessings in a Backpack, which is a nonprofit that provides students who are on the free lunch program with nonperishable food items.
The nativity scene will take place earlier in the day than last year to take advantage of the daylight. It will be a featured activity during the festival alongside live music from a local fiddler, holiday markets, food trucks and a Christmas light competition.
Nearly 2,000 people attended last year’s event.
“It is getting bigger and bigger every year,” Marks said. “A lot of the homes will be decorated. We hold a contest for our homeowners and the winning home gets to make a $1,000 donation to a charity of their choice in their name. The last couple of years, it has gone to food banks in the area. It is a nice way to give back to the community and get the neighborhood involved in the contest. The gentleman who won last year started weeks in advance.”
The first 1,200 people in attendance will receive free sugar cookies. Event sponsors include Horizon Bank, JC Bank and Johnson County REMC.
The event is free and open to the public.
Center Grove Church
Center Grove Church will be hosting its 3rd annual Bethlehem Experience on December 9th at their church from 3 to 5 p.m. Families can sign up for various timeslots on the church’s Facebook page to participate in a guided tour from the perspective of someone traveling through Bethlehem during the time of Jesus Christ’s birth.
Different rooms will feature a myriad of live scenes including the inn that was full, a room with shepherds, an area with the wise men, and a stable outside of the church. The event will feature live animals including goats, chickens and a donkey.
“Once they are done at the stables, they will be guided back to the sanctuary where we will have a Christmas movie playing,” said Noelle Kane, family ministries director. “They are then free to go into our community room which will be set up like a marketplace. There will be different crafts and activities they can participate in, and they can also get a cookie and some hot chocolate.”
Kane’s son will be featured as baby Jesus during the experience.
The church is located at 2340 South State Road 135 in Greenwood.
Other
BYTAVI Boutique hosted its nativity scene during Franklin’s Holiday Lighting festival on Saturday, showcasing live animals and biblical characters to a multitude of downtown community members.
