Follow the Star is returning to Inverness this Christmas season with new faces and new scenes for the production.
For the fourth consecutive year, a host of area churches around Inverness are participating in bringing the Follow the Star program to life and giving groups multiple opportunities to witness the Christmas story as told by the townspeople.
The event will take place Saturday and Sunday nights from 5-8 p.m., starting at First Baptist Church of Inverness.
According to organizers, planning and prep work for the event began last spring and has intensified over the past couple of months.
The crew did a dress rehearsal this past Sunday and continue to do walk-through performances during the week.
The new scenes for this year’s production include a representation of The Three Wise Men, as they discuss their journey through the night, following the star to Bethlehem to find the baby Jesus.
Then there’s the new addition of a scene with King Herod, who in a toned down manner, makes his intentions clear when he hears about the birth of Jesus.
One new scene features Joseph and baby Jesus in the stable after his birth, which includes a lullaby sung by Joseph to the baby.
Groups of about 40 at a time will converge on First Baptist Church first, then move by bus to All Saints Episcopal Church.
With the help of a tour guide, carrying a staff with a star on top, the groups will assemble in the church sanctuary for a scene from the Christmas story.
The group will then move to First United Methodist Church of Inverness for two scenes before moving to the living nativity scene.
Groups will be given the opportunity to take Communion and each person will receive a Christmas ornament as they are leaving.
