Live Nativity Ideas and Resources

Walk-through or drive-through nativity scenes

The Advent Trail described above creates devotional signposts/stations to walk between. The stations have scriptures and contemplative activities.  They can also feature graphics or some sort of staged scene, such as a "manger." The Trail can be walked at any time and changed during the season, and reimagined or re-themed EACH YEAR.

A "Live Nativity" tends to be more of a "single scheduled event" --an evening or two for a limited number of hours. It poses one or more "scenes" from the Christmas story that participants typically walk or drive past. Live Nativity scenes take less space than a "trail" but are also limited to the number of hours and days which actors are able to stand outside, weather permitting.  Live Nativities are often combined with fellowship/refreshment events.

Both have their pros and cons. It is also possible to combine elements of both! (See the suggestions above.)  For example, the "Wiseman" station could be staffed by a group of rotating volunteers on weekend evenings when the trail was open to the public. The wiseman could be holding a small treasure chest that was open to reveal the slips of paper that participants can be given that have the  words, "The gift Jesus wants this Christmas is ________," A manger station could be staffed by a volunteer shepherd with a donkey on certain evenings. This simple manger station would have a message posted in the empty manger that says, "may the Spirit of Christ be in you this Christmas."

What we learned during the pandemic about "Live Nativities"

During the social distancing requirements of the 2020-21 COVID pandemic, many churches needed to rethink their "live nativities" in a way that kept the actors safe, rather than huddled together.

One solution for churches that did live nativities was to recruit families units to staff the manger, since mom, dad, and the kids were not socially distancing from each other.  What they learned was that "taking our turn staffing the manger scene" could become a family tradition. Moving out of the pandemic, some churches began to create MORE "manger time-slots" that could be filled by families and other groups that wanted to make this kind of service part of their Christmas experience.

Social-distancing requirements also made us rethink the practice of creating ONE scene to view, in favor of creating several scenes which had the added benefit of separating people (both actors and audience).

So for example, instead of "everyone at the manger scene," Live Nativities can be more like "Live Advent Story" scenes:  Isaiah and preparing the way, Mary and Joseph on their journey, a simple manger, a scene of the shepherds and angels, and finally, a scene of the Magi following the star.

After all, the Magi weren't at the Luke 2 manger scene anyway!  According to Matthew, they visited the baby Jesus later in a house.

Drive-through Nativities have long created many scenes, and not just one. Walk-up natitivities can do the same.

Typically, drive-through nativities have more than one station. Each "station" can have live or recorded music. Words can be read aloud at each station, or the scene can simply be self-explanatory, or each car can be given a cd with prerecorded readings and music. A "traffic volunteer" can "hold" cars back at certain points to wait their turn to drive up and view the scene (so that you don't have bumper to bumper cars which can be dangerous if the driver isn't paying attention.)  Here are two churches that have presented the Nativity Story this way for years: Cornerstone UMC in Newman, Georgia and Old Tennant Presbyterian in Manalapan, New Jersey

How can your "Live Nativity" be more than just a "Christmas card" to the community?

Here are some ideas:

1. Make the "price of admission" a bag of groceries for the local food pantry or a toy drop off.
   
   
2. Create a "Christmas sing-a-long" outdoor station so participants have the option to stop and sing a few familiar Christmas songs with your live singers.
   
   
3. Create a "photo station" for participants (especially kids) to step into to take photos of themselves next to a donkey and manger (with a doll in it). Have a live actor angel standing by.
   
   
4. Live "nativity" animals are a popular draw but can be pricey or difficult to arrange. An alternative is to assemble pets!   (dogs, rabbits, parrots, a horse)
   
   
5. Display "QUESTIONS to PONDER" after each station that ask people to reflect on a scene and its meaning for their life.
   
   
6. Have "BE AN ANGEL," and "BE A SHEPHERD" stations.  Angels tell the story, so how can you visually encourage audience members to tell the story? How about handing out a Christmas booklet to families with young children? A short devotional to others?  Shepherds are guides and protectors, so how can you encourage your audience members driving or walking by to be a guide or protector in your community and support those who are?  (Nurses, teachers, cops, firefighters, pastors, etc).
   
   

See the Outdoor Nativity Store (yes, one exists!) for a guide to organizing and setting up.

Please post your suggestions and photos by reply!