Main Street Bethlehem

Main Street Bethlehem, Burnet, TX
1st two weekends in December

This was much more than we had anticipated. The First Baptist Church of Burnet hosts this event. These are 'permanent' structures to simulate what Bethlehem could of looked like when Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem to register for the census (and there was no room at the inn and Jesus was born in a stable manger). I counted about 27 (?) structures including: a well, a jail, a synagogue, an inn (with no rooms available), basket weavers, loom, tax collector, tavern, oven (free samples of "Bethlehem bread"), an open air markets with fruit and vegetable sales people, a corral with camels, another with donkeys, another with sheep, a chariot, a rope maker, jewelry maker, a candle maker, campers, geese/duck sales people, dried fruit sales people, gallows, a typical Bethlehem home, and a cave used as a stable, etc. Very in depth.

And First Baptist Church has 50 - 75 period-dressed actors going around asking if you came to town for the census, did you come far, did you hear a child is born this night, etc. Very interesting. It's free (donations accepted). The line is LONG. But worth it. At the exit, there is free cocoa and cookies for everyone as well. Impressive.
On the first two Saturdays, the Austin Train Association has a train that departs Cedar Hill for Main Street Bethlehem as well. Reservations are needed in advance as early as possible.

We really enjoyed "Main Street Bethlehem".