File photo The First Baptist Church of Elkins will host its fourth annual ‘Night in Bethlehem’ on Saturday in the parking lot adjacent to the church.

ELKINS — The First Baptist Church of Elkins will host its fourth annual “Night in Bethlehem” on Saturday in the parking lot adjacent to the church.

The event, which is scheduled from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, has become a holiday tradition for many in the community. The live Nativity will feature portrayals of Mary, Joseph, the wise men, and friendly townspeople.

“Last year, the weather turned cold and it was icy in the evening, so we probably had half as many people as we did the first two years,” event organizer Rose Harvey told The Inter-Mountain. “But I expect us to have another good turnout this weekend. We’ve heard a lot of families say this is one of their new family traditions and they plan to come out to this every year. So it seems to have impacted our community.”

The event will feature live Nativity animals for children to pet and feed, and Christmas cookies and hot cocoa will be served while the true meaning of Christmas is celebrated throughout the evening.

“We have the live animals coming and we are looking at bringing two camels this year,” Harvey said. “The kids always enjoy the animals and we have a church member who is donating money so that every child will get to feed the animals for free.”

There will be 10 interactive shops filled with crafts, treats and fun activities. The shops will be filled with items that allow visitors to experience first-hand what it was like shopping in a first-century marketplace.

“We had puppets last year and that was a big hit with the kids,” Harvey said. “They will be part of the marketplace, where we will have 10 shops, the live Nativity and the animals. We will also have a photo booth where families can take pictures and hot chocolate.”

Those attending the celebration, which is free and open to the public, will step back in time to relive the sights, sounds and excitement of the night a “Night in Bethlehem.”

For more information, call 304-636-3448 or visit the First Baptist Church of Elkins’ Facebook page.