Free Drive-Thru Live Nativity to Happen in Marion

An event in Marion this month will celebrate the reason for the season.

Described as an event that's a gift to the community, St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Marion is hosting "The Living Story", three consecutive nights at the church on C Avenue in Marion.

According to a media release from the church, the event

will feature multiple scenes and over 100 volunteers from the St. Mark’s congregation each night. Participants will stay in their vehicles during the experience and drive around the St. Mark’s parking lot to hear a narration of the nativity story, told from the unique perspective of his (Jesus') father, Joseph.

Last year, during the inaugural event at St. Mark's, over 1,000 vehicles drove through the display, which was attended by more than 4,000 people. According to Senior Pastor Paul Hennings, this year's event will be even better than the one in 2020. He says it will have "hundreds of lights, live animals... and a ten-foot-tall star high in the sky. Don’t miss out on this awesome family-friendly experience from the comfort of your own car."

The church will host the event from Thursday, December 16 through Saturday, December 18. Hours are 5 to 7 p.m. each night. It will be held in the St. Mark's Lutheran Church parking lot at 8300 C Avenue in Marion. When attending, you'll want to enter the parking lot off of E Robins Road.

The live nativity event is free to attend. Any money that is received will be given to The Churches of Marion Food Pantry. More information on the "The Living Story" live nativity is available here.