Metro Richmond Zoo's "Miracle of Christmas"

Each year, as Christmas approaches, folks here in the Richmond area get to look forward to packing up the kiddies and heading to the live nativity at the Metro Richmond Zoo. This large scale event has become a holiday staple for many families who regularly attend the performance with their little ones. As living nativities go, this one puts all others to shame. This is the Big Daddy of living nativity shows in the Richmond area.

The zoo usually schedules the nativity, called the "Miracle of Christmas," for the weekend immediately preceding Christmas, on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings. Weather permitting; they have three shows a night beginning each evening around 7 PM. The actual nativity show is more on the order of a live play, complete with animals from the zoo.

It is usually packed with spectators so you should plan to arrive early if you want a decent seat, or a seat at all for that matter. Dress warmly and be prepared to sit outside, especially if it is raining. The zoo does sell hot chocolate and snacks onsite. In years past the snacks have consisted of the very popular Krispy Kreme donuts.

The Miracle of Christmas itself is sponsored by the Metro Richmond Zoo and the Mormon Church however, other area churches participate by providing vocal and bell choirs to accompany the performance and by providing parking and shuttle busses.

Once you arrive and get seated, expect to see the entire Biblical story of the nativity unfold before you in dramatic, colorful, three dimensional detail. Do not be surprised as Mary and Joseph, along with their donkey, approach the stage area from behind the audience. Later the three wise men and their camels may likewise approach from the side, along the audience's immediate front bringing additional realism and making the viewer feel a part of the performance.

Immediately after the show there is a brief chance for the audience the approach and interact with the performers and some of the animals. For the first two shows of the evening this is, necessarily cut short. The last show, however, tends to have a bit more time for the guests to enjoy this segment of the evening.

In order to get to the zoo simply travel west on US 360 from Richmond. Turn left on Beaver Bridge Road, at Grange Hall Elementary School and follow the signs to the event parking. You should come early and, again, remember to dress appropriate to the weather as this is an outdoor event. This year (2008) there will be three performances nightly on the 21^st, 22^nd, & 23^rd of December. Oh, and the best part of all, it is free to get into.