Celebrate Christmas with these Minnesota Live Nativity Events!
We found many upcoming Live Nativity/Christmas Story Drive-Through and Walk-Through Events! These are a wonderful way to celebrate the season and meaning of Christmas.
Minnesota Live Nativity Events 2023
Albert Lea
December 8 and 9, 6:30-8:30pm
New Life Christian Church
Come and experience Bethlehem, the night that Jesus was born! This is our Christmas gift to you. Bring your family and friends and enjoy the live animals, the angels and shepherds, Mary & Joseph at the inn, and more.
🚗 Alexandria
December 3, 4:30 – 6:30 pm
First Lutheran Church
All are welcome to join us as we follow Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem and bring the nativity story to life. The Living Nativity has been a Christmas tradition for 39 years here at First Lutheran.
Buffalo
December 16 and 17, 5 – 7 pm
Buffalo Covenant Church
The Living Nativity is an interactive, walk-through event with live character portrayals of the wisemen, shepherds, soldiers, angels, Mary, Joseph and the baby, and a stable filled with live animals. Browse the Bethlehem marketplace, spend time at the stable, and interact with the characters. It is mostly indoor, with some animals outside. Enjoy cookies and hot chocolate as you remember the reason we celebrate Christmas. This is a Christmas gift from BCC to our community. Join us for this FREE interactive event!
Burnsville
December 11 and 12, 6:30- 8:30 pm
SouthCross Community Church
Come drive by and enjoy the splendor!! No matter the weather, our wonderful volunteers will be dressed up in their costumes, outside, and displaying the glorious night that Jesus Christ, our Savior, was born.
Circle Pines
December 11, 4 – 6 pm
St. Mark Lutheran Church
Join us for our 3rd Annual Live Nativity in our parking lot! There will be stations for you to visit that explain the whole nativity story! And there’ll be animals as well! There will be light refreshments for purchase inside our church as well so you can warm up! All are welcome!
Cottage Grove
December 3, 4 – 6 pm
Cottage Grove United Church of Christ
Come celebrate the joy of the Christmas season at the Live Nativity at Cottage Grove United Church of Christ on Sunday, December 12th from 4-6 pm. This is a FREE outdoor community event and everyone is invited! Petting zoo is 4-6pm, live nativity is 5pm.
Duluth- no info yet for 2023
December 17, 3 – 5 pm
Duluth Gospel Tabernacle
Come drive through our parking lot and see the town of Bethlehem as it might have been on the night Jesus was born. The Wise Men will be riding their horses through the town, Romans will be stopping people and asking if they registered, and more! Kids will all get a candy goody bag! Come alone or bring the family and neighbors! Make this a new Christmas tradition for your family. There will be goats and sheep and lots of hustle and bustle. And you will see Jesus in the manger!
Elk River
December 2, 9 am – 12 pm
Lord of Glory Lutheran Church
Start your family Christmas festivities at the place where it all began, Bethlehem! Join families from around the area in for a breakfast and interactive visit for adults and children in the community to come together to seek out and find the true meaning of Christmas, to come help celebrate the birth of the Christ child, experience the joy of giving and create a special keepsake.
Hastings
December 2 5-7 pm
St. John’s Lutheran Church
Join us for our Living Nativity as we re-enact Christ’s birth. Free outdoor performances will be held on a continuous basis every 20 minutes beginning at 5pm. The last performance will be at 6:40 pm. Live cast and real animals including donkey, sheep, goats, and even a camel are part of the performance. Free refreshments will be be served inside the church. Everyone is welcome!
Hawley
December 10, 4:30 – 6:30 pm
Hawley Lutheran Church
Join us at Hawley Lutheran Church for a joyous Christmas Celebration. All are welcome for an evening featuring: 3:30pm Manger Tales Christmas program, 4:30pm a visit from Santa, 4:30-6pm Live Nativity, horse drawn sleigh rides, cookies, cocoa and crafts.
Isanti- no info yet for 2023
December 3, 3 – 7 pm
Long Lake Lutheran Church
Long Lake Lutheran Church will be transformed into the town of Bethlehem. You can meet the angel Gabriel, who saw it all. Meet Mary & Joseph who heard and believed. Meet the innkeeper’s wife, the shepherds, and the wise men. You can smell the straw and you can see the live animals. See the beautiful baby Jesus and come away with the true meaning of Christmas in your heart. Bring your camera for picture opportunities. After your visit to Bethlehem join us in the fellowship hall for a chili and chicken wild rice soup supper.
Jordan- not updated yet for 2023
December 16, 5:30 – 7:30 pm
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and School
A Living Nativity will be on display at St. John the Baptist Catholic School and Church in Jordan on Friday, December 16th from 5:30 to 7:30PM. See live animals, savor hot cocoa, s’mores, and more! All are welcome to this free event to celebrate this holiday event. St. John’s will also be collecting new unwrapped toys for the Scott County CAP Agency’s Hope for the Holidays initiative.
🚗 Lindstrom
December 9, 6-8pm
First United Methodist Church
Load up the Family Car and experience the CHRISTmas Story like never before! Enjoy live animals, music, outdoor fires and yummy treats.
Mankato
December 6, 6 – 7:30 pm
Crossview Rosa Parks
Make this Christmas season an experience your family will remember! “Travel back” to ancient Bethlehem and see what daily life was like when Jesus was born. Children will be able to craft jewelry, decorate cookies at the bakery, practice scroll writing, and more! Visit with friends in the Jewish home and learn about their customs and lifestyle. Before the night is over, the whole family will get to meet “Mary & Joseph” and hear about an amazing new baby, lying in the manger! This event is FREE for the whole family, so invite your friends & neighbors.
Minneapolis- no info yet for 2023
December 4, 2 – 3:309 pm
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
On Sunday, December 4 at 2:00 pm at the Minneapolis Campus, the ECHO kids, leaders, and choirs will join together for a fabulous “What Can’t Wait?” Christmas Program. We will sing, hear the Christmas story, and afterward eat some cookies, decorate the Christmas tree, and play with some animals at the live nativity.
Minneapolis- no info yet for 2023
December 11, 3 – 6 pm
Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church & School
Escape the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and take a moment to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. Come to the Stable, a living nativity, has become a holiday tradition in South Minneapolis and you are invited for a family-friendly afternoon featuring a live nativity complete with Mary, Joseph, angels, shepherds, animals, and, of course, baby Jesus. Experience the calm and peace that Christmas brings through the coming of Christ into the world.
Minnetonka
December 17, 4 – 5:30 pm
Minnetonka United Methodist Church
Moorhead
December 9, 5-7pm
Harvest Hope Farm
Join us to prepare your hearts for the Christmas season. View the live nativity scene in the barn with real animals, look for 3 kings traveling with their llamas from afar, hot chocolate and Christmas music. This is a walk-through event, please bring a canned food donation.
Oakdale
December 2, 4 – 6 pm
Grace of God Lutheran Church
A FREE interactive outdoor walk-through Christmas experience featuring a step back in time to see and hear the story of the first Christmas in Bethlehem. Including live music, take home crafts, and Christmas treats. ALL AGES ARE WELCOME!
🚗 Pillager
December 8 and 9, 6 – 8:30 pm
Cass County Fairgrounds
This will be a great way to kick-off your Christmas season. Drive thru the many scenes that depict the Nativity story with live actors and animals. Watch for the bright light in the sky to direct you to the location and the baby Jesus this Christmas.
Rochester- not updated yet for 2023
December 2 from 5 – 8 pm, December 3 from 3 – 8 pm
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Over 200 Nativity Scenes – Live and Prerecorded Performances of Christmas Music – Prepackaged Refreshments – Free Admission–Families Welcome – This year’s event will still feature many of the same elements as previous events, with modifications that will foster a safer environment during the Covid-19 pandemic. Masks are required.
Rosemount
December 8, 5 – 7 pm and December 9, 3-7pm
Our Savior Lutheran Church
Experience what life was like at the time Jesus was born. A visit through Bethlehem will transport your family back to that amazing night! This is a family-friendly experience that takes about 30 minutes to enjoy. Free admission & live animals. See you at Bethlehem!
🚗 Sacred Heart- not yet updated for 2023
December 18, 5 – 7 pm
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church
Experience the beauty of Christmas by joining us at a drive-by Outdoor Live Nativity! Sponsored by the members of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Sacred Heart, MN. Free Event – all are welcome! Characters surrounding the birth of Christ, live animals, narration, music & lights enhance the experience. Follow posted signage on Hwy 212 in Sacred Heart for driving directions!
Sandstone
December 9, 4:30 – 6:30 pm
Dell Grove Emmanuel Lutheran Church
Come to Manger and see! Join us for an evening at the Manger with a living nativity, animals, chili, refreshments, crafts, children’s activities, and more! This gift of hope that comes each year is for everyone, and is always free.
Springfield
December 8 and 9, 7 pm
Riverside Park
See the nativity come to life at this annual, outdoor presentation. Local actors bring you the sights and sounds of the Christmas story, with Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus in a live manger scene, with real camels, dancing angels, and more. Enjoy Christmas music sung by the community choir. After the show refreshments are served at the Springfield Community Center. Admission is FREE.
St. Cloud- not yet updated for 2023
December 24, 3 p m
Hope Covenant Church
We would love to have you and your family join us for Christmas Eve! Beginning at 3 pm we’ll have a Live Nativity, photobooth with a llama, Christmas barrel train rides through a winter inflatable land, professional photographer for Christmas Eve Photos, Hot Cocoa bar, Christmas Crafts for kids, and more! THEN, join us at 4:30 pm for a Candlelight Christmas Eve Service.
St. Louis Park- not yet updated for 2023
December 9 and 10, 6 – 8 pm
Knollwood Christian Church
Our live animals weren’t able to make it this year, but the “live” people will still be dressing up in costumes at each station. Plus, we are offering, for the very first time, a bonfire that you can warm yourself at, make new friends, roast marshmallows and make smores (everything provided free). Also, the very talented, Sawyer’s Dream, will be providing live music. The event is absolutely free, but we are asking people to please bring food or cash for the local food shelf (STEP) to help out those in great need at this time of year.
Waconia
December 10, 12-3pm
Trinity Lutheran Church
Join us on The Journey to Bethlehem as we take your family back in time for a live, walk-through experience centered around the birth of Christ! Journey through Bethlehem at the time of the census, walk through the streets, experience the shops, spend your denari (but watch out for the tax collectors!), and follow the star to the newborn baby Jesus. You’ll see and even smell what life was like when Jesus was born. Great for all ages. Come to experience a live nativity, crafts, food and fellowship!
Wyoming- no info yet for 2023
December 10, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Linwood Covenant Church
Bring your family to experience the Christmas story from the inside — walking through each scene and gaining new perspective from key players. Follow a candlelit trail through our backyard and into a different time and place. We promise you’ll emerge from your journey with a new understanding of what Christmas is really all about…and of course, top it off with homemade Christmas cookies and cider.
We would gladly add other events here to share with our readers if you know of others! Please let us know and we can add them.
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Laura is a former high school English teacher turned avid deal shopper following the birth of her first child. Now she’s a work-from-home mom of six which keeps her plenty busy!
Laura grew up in southern Minnesota and has called the Twin Cities home for over fifteen years. On the off chance she gets some free time you’ll find her with her nose in a book, spending time with family and friends, or enjoying a hot cup of coffee.
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Circle Pines
December 17, 4 – 6 pm
St. Mark Lutheran Church
Join us for our 3rd Annual Live Nativity in our parking lot! There will be stations for you to visit that explain the whole nativity story! And there’ll be animals as well! All are welcome!