DRIVE-THRU HISTORY: Athens church attraction returns this year

Published 6:30 am Wednesday, December 7, 2016

By Adam Smith

adam@athensnews-courier.com

A popular attraction allowing those who want to relive the story of Jesus’ birth without leaving the comforts of their personal vehicle is back again.

Emmanuel Baptist Church in Athens will host a free drive-thru presentation of “The Christmas Story” this weekend. Times are 5:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. It will be presented again Dec. 17-18 at the same times.

As in years past, the presentation will feature live actors. Organizer Nancy Wallette estimated 30 church members would serve as actors, though only 18 participate at one time. Others serve as stand-ins for those in need of a break.

More than 100 church members are typically involved the project. Wallette said planning for this year’s presentation began in September.

The drive-thru presentation was a popular Christmas tradition before going away for several years. Wallette said at least 1,300 people saw the 2015 production.

“We had a positive response from just about everybody last year,” she said. “People are excited we’re bringing it back again this year.”

In addition to the live actors, there will again be live animals. Wallette said a horse and some goats will be part of the production. The animals in last year’s production were pretty well-behaved, she said, though that hasn’t always been the case.

Wallette explained one of the earliest presentations featured a donkey who briefly left Bethlehem and ran across U.S. 72.

“He ran into someone’s garage because someone had left the door open,” she said. “Our shepherds went chasing after it in their costumes.”

Emmanuel Baptist Church is at 1917 U.S. 72 West in Athens. For more information, call 256-232-6193 or visit www.ebcathens.com.