Bethlehem Marketplace:
An Immersive Theatrical Experience at

 

Pathway Church
611 E Cyprus Ave, Redlands, CA 92374

 

Step back in time and experience the story of our Savior’s birth like never before. Based on the Gospel of Luke, this walk-through theatrical adventure transforms nearby Pathway Church into a bustling first-century marketplace filled with sights, sounds, and unforgettable encounters.

How to Get Involved
There are three ways you can help us bring Bethlehem Marketplace to life.
You can attend as a guest, volunteer, or donate as a financial partner.

Event Details

Dates:
Dec. 9–19, 2026
(Closed Dec. 13)

Location:
Pathway Church
611 E Cypress Avenue
Redlands, CA 92374

Times:
Tours depart every 10 minutes
from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Tickets:
Adults (13+) – $20 per person
Children (3-12) – $15

Donor Tickets:
Donors of $100 or more receive two
free tickets to Bethlehem Marketplace (free
tickets must be booked through the Box Office)

 

Attending as a Guest

“Bethlehem Marketplace is not merely a play—it’s a unique adventure and cultural experience that transports guests back in time. As the narrative of this amazing tour unfolds, guests are profoundly moved by the true meaning of the season. I encourage everyone to walk this journey, encounter the story, and witness the birth of Hope.”

—Wayne R. Scott, Founder and President of LifeHouse Theater

Based on the Gospel of Luke, this walk-through theatrical event brings the Christmas story to life like never before. As a guest, you will be led in a group of 10-14 people by one of our tour guides—Zebulun or Rebekah—through the bustling village streets of Bethlehem. The 80-minute tour features experiences with Roman soldiers, marketplace merchants, gossiping villagers, census takers, philosophers, folk dancers, and other biblical sights and sounds—all culminating in a powerful and reverent encounter with a living Nativity scene.

Tour groups depart every ten minutes between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. each evening. The staggered entry times and small group sizes provide a personal and intimate journey through the carefully recreated city.

Although guests will visit and experience life in the marketplace of Bethlehem, the presence of the Roman guards and the curfew they impose will prohibit any actual sales transactions among visiting tourists—there is no need to carry currency with you.

As our guest at this event, please read the advisory statements at the bottom of this page for important Bethlehem Marketplace Information and Policies that are in place to ensure a safe and authentic experience.

Volunteering

Bethlehem Marketplace is not possible without the combined power of our dedicated volunteers who help bring the ancient city to life. LifeHouse Theater welcomes participants to join the effort in a variety of roles—including performers, set builders, costumers, technical crew, and general support staff. A sign-up link will be available on this page soon for those interested in being a part of this remarkable experience.

Performers
If you wish to volunteer as a performer, please be aware of both the physical and mental demands of this production. Tour Guides must be able to stand/walk for long periods of time, memorize lines, and interact directly with guests.

All those who wish to volunteer for smaller or non-speaking roles must be willing to repeat the scenes they are assigned every ten minutes with consistent energy so each group may experience the full potential of this production.

Donating as a Financial Partner

More than 50,000 people walked through our live, immersive Bethlehem experience from 1989 to 2000. Nearly 4,000 people experienced it last Christmas alone. It’s a sight-sound-taste-touch-smell storyline with a journey back in time to the first Christmas. Bethlehem Marketplace has seen thousands recommit their hearts to Christ. Thousands more have prayed to receive Him as Lord and Savior for the first time.

That’s why this unique outreach is worth every effort. And it’s why we humbly request your support. You can make your tax-deductible donation by clicking here.

Together, we can help thousands discover the miracle of Christmas as they witness amazing biblical events.
We deeply appreciate your consideration.

Tickets are now on sale!

Reserve your tickets online now or call the Box Office at (909) 335-3037. To receive Donor’s Tickets, please call or visit the Box Office.

FAQs

 

Please Read Prior to Reserving
BETHLEHEM MARKETPLACE INFORMATION AND POLICIES

LifeHouse Theater’s “Bethlehem Marketplace” is an immersive walk-through experience. Because of the unique nature of this theatrical adventure, we ask guests to please keep in mind the following important information about the event and related policies:

What to Expect
The immersive “going-back-in-time” nature of this theatrical adventure includes unusual sights and sounds as a storyline highlighting the first Christmas unfolds along the tour. Guests should be prepared for loud and lively noises as well as encounters with period Roman guards, who will interact with tour guide performers and, occasionally, guests.

As guests step into the story, each group member will receive a robe to wear over their modern clothing to permit blending in with the ambience of ancient times.

Guests are asked to keep with their group at all times and be able to walk at a reasonable pace with only limited times to be seated along the tour route. Each segment is carefully timed, with the entire tour lasting approximately 80 minutes.

Warning: This production contains flashing lights and lighting effects that may trigger seizures for individuals with photosensitive epilepsy.

Age Requirement
This tour experience is recommended for guests ages 3 and up. Children under age 3 will not be admitted. We strongly encourage that young people who attend have strong attention spans, are able to walk on their own, will not be a distraction to others, and be able to enjoy the educational benefits of the tour. Minors must be accompanied by an adult.

Guest Participation Guidelines for the Tour
Due to safety concerns and the theatrical nature of the event, in accordance with copyright law, no recording, photography or videotaping of any kind is permitted on the tour. We ask that cell phones be kept out of sight. 

Water bottles are permitted if desired, but guests are kindly asked to please “travel light” and not carry unnecessary items, food of any kind, or anything that would hinder reasonably easy mobility. Most of the tour experience is indoors, however some portions feature brief outdoor scenes that may be chilly.

Due to certain circumstances that may be beyond the control of LifeHouse, Bethlehem Marketplace tour departure times may change without notice, including up to the time of scheduled departure. Every effort will be made to avoid such a situation, which is rare, and LifeHouse will work to be as accommodating as possible to the nearest time scheduled. We appreciate your understanding.

Accessibility
We can accommodate ONE wheelchair per tour group, with a maximum width of 35 inches. If more than one wheelchair is present for a particular time slot, we reserve the right to move a second guest in a wheelchair to another group.

To make the tour comfortable, we ask that guests using wheelchairs be accompanied by a companion who is capable of assisting in navigation. We are only able to accommodate manual wheelchairs during the tour experience because some tight turns and textures of the ancient-Bethlehem set can be more challenging with powered chairs. We will have a limited supply of manual wheelchairs onsite for guests to transfer into during the experience if necessary.

Procedures and policies are subject to change without notice.

Thank you for your understanding as we work to ensure a safe, enjoyable, and memorable experience for all. We look forward to you joining us on LifeHouse Theater’s “Bethlehem Marketplace” adventure!