Journey to Bethlehem draws crowds to Walnut Creek for living nativity experience

Walnut Creek was abuzz with activity Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5-6 for the annual Journey to Bethlehem, which has grown to draw people from many states as well as locals.

All parties wanted to partake in a slice of a story they believe remains central to the heart of Christmas, that being the celebration of the birth of Jesus.

From the moment visitors were invited into Elite Flooring to kick-start their journey with a map of the activities, the experience focused on what many people continue to call the true meaning of Christmas, from shepherds manning an open fire and a pen filled with live animals to the defining moment where Mary and Joseph kept watch over their newborn babe in the stable at The Farm in Walnut Creek.

Sam Gandee and his wife Cynda from Venus, Pennsylvania came to Walnut Creek to experience the Journey to Bethlehem for the third time. Sam, a pastor, said this time they didn’t come alone for the trip.

The group drove over Friday and made the trip back to Venus that evening, but in between they experienced something special.

Sam Gandee said experiencing the story of the birth of Jesus in this way is special enough to keep coming back, and he said the group hopes to expand next year.

“It’s just as enjoyable and meaningful as it was the first time around when we came,” Cynda Gandee said.

“The birth of Christ is just as new and exciting today as it was 2,000 years ago,” Sam Gandee said. “This story never gets old.”

Chris Argabrite, who is employed at Carlisle Inn, was one of the actors welcoming people to visit with the innkeeper who gave the holy couple a humble place to stay and birth their newborn.

She said being part of this experience continues to be important because of the meaning behind the story.

She said seeing everyone coming through excited, happy and soaking up the atmosphere around the event makes all the hard work worthwhile.

“I love all of it. But I think the thing I enjoy most is seeing the smiles and wonder on children’s faces as they come through,” Argabrite said. “We have welcomed people from all over the place to this event, and it’s wonderful to see the interest continue to grow because of the importance of this story. This is such a good thing for people to experience, and the uniqueness of it is something that continues to bring people back year after year.”

Wes and Cindy Wojciechowicz from Charleston, West Virginia made their first journey to Walnut Creek to hear the story. They were visiting the area for the first time and by happenstance found out the journey was taking place.

“We were scrolling the internet to see if The Farm in Walnut Creek was still open, and we read about it,” Cindy Wojciechowicz said. “We saw it, and it looked really interesting and really felt drawn to come experience it.”

The couple had no idea how big this event was, and they were blown away by the magnitude of the crowd and the authenticity of the scenes. They said they prepared to take the tour at 4 p.m. but decided to wait until dark to get the full effect of the luminarias, lights and sounds around town and at The Farm.

Both agreed the biblical story of the birth of Jesus was something that drew them to attend.

“The attractions and restaurants in this area are great, but at Christmastime, when most events like this are about Christmas lights and Santa Claus, this one is different,” Wes Wojciechowicz said.

He said the scene portraying the marketplace with its vendors passionately approaching people as they passed by and peddling their wares reminded him of the Bahamas, where they experienced that same sort of thing.

That is the type of authenticity that continues to make Journey to Bethlehem a must-see for so many people.

With a story committed to its biblical roots, the portrayal continues to be an adventure people seek as a connection to the message at the heart of the Christmas season.