NORMAN PARK — Visitors to the Georgia Baptist Conference Center in Norman Park can make a return to the City of Bethlehem Friday and Saturday nights.

The Rev. Shane Ashley, pastor of Norman Park First Baptist Church, said the third annual “Return to Bethlehem” will be held at the conference center Friday, Dec. 5, and Saturday, Dec. 6. Tours will begin at 6:30 each night after visitors register for the census at the auditorium. There is no charge to attend the event.

“This is our gift to the community,” Ashley said. “We want people to come and rediscover the true meaning of Christmas.”

Once the tour begins, Ashley said groups will be taken to see and interact with more than 100 church members in costume and live animals. The interactive story will take groups from the Temple, visit with Mary and Joseph, see Caesar’s palace, walk through the City of Bethlehem and end at the manger. The tour will take about 30 minutes to complete.

While in the City of Bethlehem, Ashley said visitors will be able to pass through some new and semi-functional shops. There will be fish cooking on the fire, wares for sale and a carpenter building a cross.

“This makes Christmas a little more special and puts the focus on Jesus,” Ashley said.

After having its Saturday night tours rained out last year, Ashley said he and the church are excited about this year’s event. Despite the rain-out of one day, about 700 people made it to the Friday tours last year.

Groups of about 20 people will be taken through the tour at a time, but Ashley said there will be entertainment after registering. The gospel group The Revelators will be providing music in the auditorium as groups wait to be guided into Bethlehem.