ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Stepping inside Return to Bethlehem is more than attending a Christmas production, it’s entering a living, breathing journey back to the very first Christmas.
The immersive experience, presented by ABCCM, transforms a church gymnasium into the sights, sounds and even smells of an ancient Bethlehem marketplace. For Executive Director Scott Rogers, it’s a gift to a community that gives so much year-round.
“Return to Bethlehem is ABCCM’s gift back to the community,” Rogers said. “It’s telling the most meaningful story ever told, not just at Christmas, but around the world and it’s our way of saying thank you to a community that supports our neighbors with their time, food, clothing and financial gifts.”
{ }’Return to Bethlehem’ event, held by ABCCM. (Courtesy: ABCCM)
That sense of gratitude and collaboration is woven into every detail. While Groce United Methodist Church provides the space, Rogers says it takes more than 30 churches and plenty of volunteer hours to bring Bethlehem to life.
More than 50 cast members fill speaking and acting roles, supported by another 20 volunteers behind the scenes. With six performance shifts, the production relies on roughly 70 volunteers per show.
“It takes a community to really put together the Marketplace at Bethlehem,” Rogers said.
‘Return to Bethlehem’ event, held by ABCCM. (Courtesy: ABCCM)
Visitors don’t simply watch the story unfold, they walk through it. The experience begins with a Roman soldier and census taker, echoing scripture many recognize instantly.
“Everyone must register for the census,” explained the census taker as you step inside the experience.
As guests move through the marketplace, they hear familiar voices, a carpenter, a prophet, shepherds, each offering pieces of the story that scripture describes as being “treasured in the heart.”
The script itself, Rogers notes, has been carefully reviewed and authenticated to remain faithful to biblical text.
“The story has been meticulously gone through so that we’re very true to the scriptures,” he said.
Actors portray moments of fear, hope, prophecy and promise, from whispered concerns about staying warm through the night to powerful declarations foretelling the coming Messiah. The shepherds share their awe of a heavenly light and an angel’s invitation, ending with a simple question posed to every visitor, “Do you want to see the child?”
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“It knits together a holistic story,” Rogers said, “helping all of us walk our own journey to Bethlehem.”.
The experience culminates in a quiet, powerful nativity scene, the birth of Jesus, which Rogers describes as the ultimate expression of love.
Return to Bethlehem has become a holiday tradition for an estimated 1,500 people who attend the event. Rogers says just as important as gathering longtime participants is welcoming newcomers.
“It’s about community and inviting new folks to experience it for the first time,” he said.
For many, that first step into the marketplace becomes a moment they carry with them long after Christmas lights fade, a reminder of why the season matters.