Celebrate Christmas!
The Live Animal Christmas Show returns to Washington, Iowa this December. Admission is free. Reserve your seats now and experience the story of the first Christmas like never before.
- December 6 – 13, 2026
- Marion Avenue Baptist Church, Washington, Iowa
- Free admission, reservations recommended
Pick your showing
Ten showings across the week. Every seat is free, and every showing fills up, so reserve early and arrive 15 minutes before curtain.
- SundayDecember 65:30 PMReserve
- TuesdayDecember 86:00 PMReserve
- WednesdayDecember 96:00 PMReserve
- FridayDecember 116:00 PMReserve
- SaturdayDecember 1210:30 AMReserve
- SaturdayDecember 122:00 PMReserve
- SaturdayDecember 125:30 PMReserve
- SundayDecember 1310:30 AMReserve
- SundayDecember 132:00 PMReserve
- SundayDecember 135:30 PMReserve
Groups of 100 or more? Call the church office at (855) 825-4113.
Good to know
Admission is free
There are no tickets to buy. A free-will offering is received after each showing.
Arrive 15 minutes early
Reserved seats are held until the showing begins, then released to walk-in guests.
Bringing a group?
Churches, schools and bus groups can reserve together on the same form.
A Christmas tradition since 1974
What began as a simple Christmas play at Marion Avenue Baptist Church has grown into one of Southeast Iowa's most treasured holiday traditions. Each December the church auditorium becomes a Nazareth marketplace, a Bethlehem hillside and a humble manger, with live animals walking the aisles, an angel flying overhead and the story of the first Christmas told the way it happened. Around 300 church members give their time to make it happen, from the actors and singers to the crews who build the sets, sew the costumes and care for the animals. Admission has always been free. Our gift to you is the show; our hope is that you leave with the good tidings of great joy the angel announced.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:10-11
- 1974First performance
- 300+Church volunteers
- 10Showings this season
- FreeAdmission for everyone
Scenes from the show
From the Nazareth marketplace to the Bethlehem manger, with a donkey, a camel, sheep and a flying angel along the way.
Reserve your free seats
Choose a showing, tell us how many are coming, and we'll hold your seats. You'll get a confirmation by email with a QR code for check-in.