An Interactive and immersive 鈥楩irst Christmas Experience' attracted an estimated 2,000 visitors over three days at the 91原创 Christian Life Assembly (VLA) church, from Dec 6 to 8.

Visitors walked through the sights and sounds of Bethlehem, interacting with shepherds tending their flocks, hearing the angels announce the birth of the Christ child, and following the star to the manger where Jesus was born.

About 200 volunteers worked on the nativity story, crafting sets and playing live characters.

The goal was to capture the true meaning of Christmas "in a way that touches hearts and inspires hope,鈥� Derrick Hamre, CLA lead pastor, said.

鈥淭his is more than an event; it鈥檚 an invitation to reflect on God鈥檚 gift to the world," said Hamre. "Our desire is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with clarity and hope, reaching hearts with the transformative message of His love.鈥�

CLA began holding the live-action Christmas celebration in 2021, an expansion of a Christmas-themed show the previous year, held in cars because pandemic restrictions were in effect.

鈥淲e did a drive-through of Bethlehem, and Charlie Brown told the story in two minutes,鈥� Hamre recalled in a 2021 interview. 鈥淲e thought, let鈥檚 take what Charlie Brown did in two minutes, turn it into 20 minutes, get people out of the cars, get people walking around, and invite them in for hot chocolate and cookies, and warm them up.鈥�

At this year's First Christmas, tours happened every 20 minutes from late afternoon into the evening.