Bethlehem Christmas Village

Bethlehem Christmas Village Live the Christmas Story in the heart of Grand Lagoon! Food & Toy Drive. Dec 10-12, 2020. (850)234-3435 The village will be open rain or shine.

Register at the Census Office, bring your canned goods and unwrapped toys to the Tax Collector, look for lodging at the local inn and view the manger scene at Bethlehem Christmas Village. Then enjoy the music of local choirs and shop at the Bethlehem Village Christmas market! Construction began in the heart of Grand Lagoon in late November as fishermen, local merchants and community volunteers wor

k together to assemble the lagoon’s first Bethlehem Christmas Village on Thomas Drive.

“We’re so excited about this gift to the community!” exclaimed Pam Anderson, visionary for the project. “We hope that our visitors become inspired by the Bethlehem Village.” A group of volunteers is constructing a replica of one of the streets of ancient Bethlehem at Capt Anderson’s Marina so that visitors can become part of the historic Christmas story. Admission is free, but donations of canned goods and unwrapped toys will be gladly accepted by a different charity each night. Visitors will register for the census, pay taxes (canned goods and unwrapped toys), search for room in local inns, view the manger scene with live animals and stroll through the Bethlehem Marketplace to experience a bit of ancient Bethlehem.

“During the first Christmas, there were only about 900 residents in the tiny town of Bethlehem,” explained Pam Anderson. “All of the merchants came out to display their wares in the village because the travelers brought only what they could carry.” Anderson further explained that Roman ruler, Caesar Augustus, had imposed a census to check the declining marriage and birth rate in his empire. Birth and marriage rates were declining because Caesar had passed legislation that made promiscuity a crime. This legislation penalized bachelors in their right to inherit and bestowed political advantages on fathers of three or more children. Each citizen had to return to the city of their family's origin to register. Even the tiniest of towns experienced huge influx of visitors as citizens scrambled to comply. Bethlehem, a village in Palestine just south of Jerusalem, was no exception. Charity groups will be present each night to receive canned goods and unwrapped toys. Several local choirs are scheduled to sing and spread Christmas cheer.

“More than anything, we just want Bethlehem Christmas Village to be a warm and memorable experience at Grand Lagoon,” said Anderson. Visitors can find Bethlehem Christmas Village on Facebook, at http://www.captandersonsmarina.com/event/christmas-in-bethlehem-free/ and by calling 850.234.3435.

Less than a week away! Hope to see you there!
12/04/2020

Less than a week away! Hope to see you there!

A couple of great photos submitted by our visitors to Bethlehem Christmas Village!
12/23/2015

A couple of great photos submitted by our visitors to Bethlehem Christmas Village!

Here are some of the photos from last night...enjoy!
12/19/2015

Here are some of the photos from last night...enjoy!

Tonight is the LAST NIGHT of this awesome event!! Bethlehem Christmas Village will be open from 4-7pm, with live perfor...
12/19/2015

Tonight is the LAST NIGHT of this awesome event!!

Bethlehem Christmas Village will be open from 4-7pm, with live performances at both 4:45 and 6pm, featuring Bill Small and Woodlawn United Methodist Church.

The charity (aka Tax Collector) tonight will be BACKPACK BLESSINGS so please take a moment and select something to bring that can be put into a school backpack.

We look forward to seeing you and wish you a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS with all the blessings it brings!

Tonight's program at Bethlehem Christmas Village includes: West Bay Elementary Chorus & St. Andrew Baptist Singers.The ...
12/18/2015

Tonight's program at Bethlehem Christmas Village includes:
West Bay Elementary Chorus & St. Andrew Baptist Singers.
The Charity (aka Tax Collector) will be Center of Hope
Enjoy looking through some of the photos taken last night!

TONIGHT's program includes: If I Had No Voice Dance Studio, and First United Methodist Church of PC. The Charity, aka Ta...
12/17/2015

TONIGHT's program includes: If I Had No Voice Dance Studio, and First United Methodist Church of PC.
The Charity, aka Tax Collector is PC Rescue Mission.
Here are some of the photos from last night's event, Bethlehem Christmas Village!
Come on down - the Village will be OPEN from 4-7pm!

We are SO excited today is here! Wednesday 12-16The Village will be OPEN from 4-7 pm, and there will be two full progra...
12/16/2015

We are SO excited today is here!
Wednesday 12-16

The Village will be OPEN from 4-7 pm, and there will be two full programs featuring:
Patronis Elementary Chorus & Gulf Beach Baptist Chorus

The TAX COLLECTOR tonight:
Boys & Girls Club
(Admission is free, unless you want to bring non-perishable food or unwrapped toys to "pay taxes"!)

There will be lots of things to see and do, so make sure you listen to the storytellers, grab a bite to eat & drink, view the Crab Pot Christmas Tree, and enjoy the evening!

12/14/2015

Well, the weather outside isn't frightful, but we wanted to let everybody know that rain or shine, the Village will be open all four nights. HOWEVER...some of the performance times may be adjusted to accommodate the weather.

The first year we did this, 2013, was clear and beautiful weather if just a bit on the chilly side. However, last year was wet 4 of the 5 nights. Only one of the performances got cancelled... a children's dance that had been scheduled in between some of the singing. Actually one of the nights it rained until just before opening up the village. Then the rain stopped, the moon and stars came out, and it was just perfect!

SO...this year, knowing that Mother Nature has a way of changing her mind at the last minute...we are just going to roll with whatever the evening brings.

We hope to see you all here and know that you will truly be blessed!

A few photos from earlier this week of the work that is being done to transform our parking lot into Bethlehem...see you...
12/10/2015

A few photos from earlier this week of the work that is being done to transform our parking lot into Bethlehem...see you all next week!

An update to our schedule...?? What night are YOU planning on being here??
12/01/2015

An update to our schedule...
?? What night are YOU planning on being here??

Our beautiful Angels overlooking the Grand Lagoon!
11/27/2015

Our beautiful Angels overlooking the Grand Lagoon!

Address

5550 N Lagoon Drive
Panama City Beach, FL
32408

Telephone

(850) 234-3435

Website

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