Away in a manger rests a familiar little babe, born in a town known for irritable Roman soldiers and donkey handlers from New Jersey. Oh, and it’s a drive-thru.

Starting tomorrow will be the 10th year that Living Faith Fellowship puts on a drive-thru nativity scene. Rather than a typical nativity story, the event is like driving through an enactment of biblical Bethlehem, featuring community members acting as the townspeople and living livestock, bracing for the winter nights.

“We’ve had everything from glorious weather to pouring rain,” said Curtis Troll, director of worship at Living Faith Fellowship. “(It’s) a thing that our community has come to expect.”

The scene includes blacksmiths, shepherds, a carpenter’s shop, and Roman soldiers on horseback. There’s a variety of live animals, such as sheep, donkeys, horses, and even a sheepdog.

Caffi Fitzgerald, who plays the role of Mary this year, said the livestock comes from Troll, who coordinates with farmers and some in the congregation itself. They even use a living baby to play Jesus, played by Caffi’s youngest child.

“The baby is the warmest person out there,” Caffi said.

In case of cold weather, a doll is used instead of a living baby. Caffi said they usually have fire pits around the scenery so people can rotate out and stay warm.

Caffi and her husband Dan Fitzgerald, who plays Joseph, have been going to church at Living Faith since they started in college, and they worked with the nativity drive-thru since its start.

“I would describe it as a car ride through Bethlehem,” Dan said. “(It’s) a great time for families, especially.”

The drive begins with people at the door giving out hot chocolate and a gold coin. Then participants drive on up and through the Living Faith parking lot, passing the people of Bethlehem.

At one point, the Roman soldiers might harass the people coming through. Don’t worry; they just need the gold coin from the beginning of the drive.

“I love (that) the soldiers kind of harass you a little,” Caffi said. “You come up to the entrance of the city and the soldiers are sitting there with their spears. (They) have a lot of fun with it.”

The event finishes with the manger scene, showing Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus, and the livestock.

The volunteers give the extra push toward authenticity. Everyone is in costumes and in character; the carpenter works on woodwork, the blacksmith hammers away at a sword and the bustling marketplace features people of the time selling carpets and pottery, Troll said.

Over the years, the church has gathered a large collection of costumes from past events such as their Easter presentation, Troll said. These costumes range from elegant to simple, and some of the props were built by hand.

“We have some pretty unique costumes,” Dan said. “Mary and Joseph get to be a little more decked out than everybody else, (and) we get the best spot because we’re under shelter.”

Beside telling the story of Jesus’ birth, Troll said the drive-thru nativity is an interactive way for people to have fun. The Romans talk to people driving in, and people can hear the wise men and the donkey renters.

“This is our way of being able to use a fun event to proclaim Christ’s birth,” Troll said.

Dan said he’s excited is that it’s not going to be too cold this year, but even with braving the elements it’s worth it to be out there. He described the nativity scene as a fun thing to do that’s a blessing for the community.

“It’s hard to think about how cold it is when people are driving by and their laughing,” Caffi said. “It’s a real privilege to be a part of it.”

People can drive through the nativity scene anytime from 6 – 8 p.m. on Dec. 11, 12 and 13. The scene is located in the Living Faith parking lot at 1035 South Grand. It can be found by looking for the large cross with a star on top while going down Grand Ave toward Walmart.