Live Nativities: Mangers and More In Des Moines

Among the season of Santas and ugly sweaters, carol sings and cookie walks, area churches are keeping the reason for the season alive and well. Before they get to Christmas services and children's pageants about the birth of Jesus, a number of locations will hold live nativities that tell the story of the Christ child.

Here are some places you can see what happened in the manger:

In West Des Moines, this year marks the 53rd annual live nativity portrayed by the children of West Des Moines Christian Church, 4501 Mills Civic Parkway. The event is 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Dec. 8 and 9. As a bonus, the church's children's musical will be at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Urbandale is represented among the live nativities with a morning event, "Back to Bethlehem," on Saturday, Dec. 9, at Urban Heights Covenant Church, 7605 Aurora Ave. Guests will visit the town of Bethlehem and the stable where Jesus was born on the morning after the birth. Biblical characters and live stable animals will bring the event to life from 9 a.m. to noon.

First Church of God, 4201 E. Douglas Ave. in Des Moines, will round up the animals to watch over baby Jesus in the manger when it hosts its annual live nativity from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 9 and 10. Visitors can drive by or walk up to the manger for photos.

Capitol City Baptist Church, 5990 N.E. 14th St., will hold a drive-through nativity where visitors can see live animals along with the manger scene — plus Buddy the Elf Minions, the Grinch, Frosty, Anna and Elsa, Rudolph, Santa and more. OK, so they aren't part of the birth story, but it makes a fun addition to the holiday season. The nativity will be 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 15 and 16.

Grimes United Methodist Church has a mid-week event with "One Starry Night," its tour of Bethlehem during the time of Jesus' birth. Visit the tax collector, hear from the shepherds, see the wisemen visit King Herod, and see the nativity. Crafts, snacks and a marketplace will complete the experience from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 14 and 15. Gates open at 6:15 p.m. and tours begin every 10 to 15 minutes, with the final tour at 8:30 p.m.

To list additional events, email details to melissa.myers@patch.com.

Photo by Mary Turner/Getty News/Getty Images