Main Street Bethlehem (in Burnet!)

Austin families can step back in time this Christmas season to walk along the narrow, bustling streets of ancient Bethlehem, without ever leaving the Texas Hill Country. Returning for its 19th year, Main Street Bethlehem is an outdoor production that will immerse visitors to Burnet in small town Bethlehem life, as it was at the time of Jesus’ birth. Travelers from near and far are invited to attend this free event, presented by First Baptist Church Burnet, on the first two weekends of this month: December 2, 3, 4, and December 9, 10 and 11, from 6 – 9 p.m. each evening.

Main Street Bethlehem is a unique, interactive experience. It is not a scripted play, but each of the 120 costumed characters involved has a role. There are merchants, transients, craftsmen, bakers, shoppers, and grouchy Roman soldiers hauling ruffians off to jail. They carry on lively improvised conversations with each other, and welcome guests to join in as well. The actors remain in character, are knowledgeable about their trades, and are receptive to questions.

Live animals, torches and campfires add to the ambience of the small town, which consists of permanent multi-level stone structures built primarily using first century architecture. Guests are welcome to meander through the streets at their own pace, entering buildings and even visiting the jail (which will have an additional staircase this year, to facilitate traffic). It is enjoyable to linger and watch as skilled craftsmen make pottery, horseshoes, and baskets, or work with leather, wood, and dyes. Young visitors will delight in seeing donkeys and camels, tasting Bethlehem Bread, and hearing a rabbi singing prayers in the synagogue. Past the busy marketplace and the overcrowded inn, visitors can follow a trail to a large cave. It is there, in a quiet corner of town, that Joseph and Mary can be found, resting with their newborn babe.

Admission to Main Street Bethlehem is free and open to the public. Guests will also receive complimentary hot chocolate, coffee, and cookies at the exit. Donations are accepted.

If you go:

Friday nights have the shortest wait time to enter the city, followed by Sunday nights. Saturday lines are the longest because of the many tour buses that visit.
Try to arrive before 6 p.m. People come from far and wide for this presentation, and the combined total attendance over six nights may surpass 28,000 visitors. You don’t want to get stuck waiting in line with them.
Parking is free. The line forms at the entrance to the compound, located two blocks east of Burnet’s town square.
Consider taking the popular Hill Country Flyer to and from Burnet on December 3 or 10. The train departs Cedar Park at 2:30 p.m. and arrives in Burnet at 4:30 p.m., allowing time for passengers to attend Main Street Bethlehem. The train will depart Burnet at 8:00 p.m. to return to Cedar Park. Round-trip train tickets range from $18 to $40. To purchase tickets in advance, visit http://www.austinsteamtrain.org/rides.php.

• 90% of the city is wheelchair accessible, but electric chairs are not recommended due to the terrain and crowds.
• There are restrooms near the exit and nearby in the First Baptist’s Family Life Center.
• In the event of rain, the presentation will be canceled.

For more information, call the Church Office at 512-756-6033 or visit http://www.fbcburnet.org/mainstreetbethlehem.htm.