For the third year, Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church will invite children to the church for “A Night in Bethlehem.”

Staff at the church will turn the entire building into a replica of the town of Jesus’ birth, with tents to represent different shops in a marketplace and a petting zoo in the courtyard.

“There are a lot of stations to go visit. They can go to a bakery and pretend to bake bread, visit a carpenter to help make a ladder and go to a pottery shed and make something out of clay to take home with them,” said Kid’s Director Kelly Griffin.

The children that attend will have the opportunity to visit multiple tents and make things to take home, including ornaments and a beaded key chain.

The church has always received a positive response from those that attend, so they continue to bring the event every year.

“We’ve gotten a good response from the community and from our church as well,” Griffin said. “People normally have activities for kids where they have to watch something, and we wanted to do something hands on. They have the chance to experience what it would have looked and felt like during the time of Jesus’ birth.”

Last year, the church had 500 people and 60 volunteers attend the event.

Everyone working the event will also be dressed in costume to keep along with the accurate theme.

Westminster prefers that people attending register online prior to the event on their website. This allows them to move through check-in faster and send pictures that are taken throughout the evening.

To get in, the church asks for a $1 donation or a non-perishable food item for entrance. In exchange for the donation, children receive a bag of coins so they can pay taxes at all of the stations.

All of the donations will be given to a local food bank.

The event will take place at Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church, 3488 Godwin Blvd., from 1 to 4 p.m. on Dec. 8. Those wanting to attend can register at the church’s website at wrpca.org.