By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

WILTON–The seventh annual ‘Night in Bethlehem’ program will be held at Wilton Baptist Church Dec. 11-13 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for family and friends to get away from the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping to hear the story of why Christmas is celebrated.

The family hands-on experience will only take a little more than an hour to complete, and the journey will mostly be outside according to the church’s website.

“The response each year is overwhelming and the people in our church are excited and can’t wait to get involved,” said Greg Sellers, pastor of Wilton Baptist Church. “We will have more than 80 people in costume, and we want to show people that there’s more to Christmas than just a baby and that Christ came to be savior of the world.”

The production will start in Jerusalem with an evil king plotting for his own purposes followed by a walk to Bethlehem where you will encounter a census taker, a busy marketplace with shops and townspeople all of whom are hearing news of a baby being born. Along the way you will be required to stop at the tax collector and the inn. Your journey will continue with shepherds, an angel and animals all in search of the newborn king.

Some of the program will be viewed while riding on a hayride and any visitors who are unable to climb in and out of the hayride will be assisted by a golf cart.

The program is open to anyone interested in attending, and hot chocolate and cookies will be served after the program.

Sellers encourages anyone interested in attending to visit their website and make reservations online beforehand, but it is not required.

“This is open to anyone and is completely free,” said Sellers. “It will help people get through quicker if they register online, and they won’t have to wait in line if they make reservations beforehand however.”

For more information you can visit the church’s website at wiltonbaptist.com.