This show is considered one of, if not the largest, holiday productions in the southwest. Over two million people have come to see it over the last four decades, and we are sharing how you can get in for FREE!
Get ready for the 40th Anniversary of the Celebration of Christmas at Dream City Church in Phoenix.
There's a 40-piece live orchestra, special effects, professional acrobatic silk artists hired from Las Vegas, and some characters actually soar through the sky!
Artistic Director Mark Stoddard told us there are about, "350 people performing in the show...And then, we have 350-400 working behind the scenes. That includes the technical crew, as well as the greeters, ushers and those working the cafe. It takes close to 1,000 people to make the show go on each time!"
The pastor's wife, Angel Barnett, told us, "We do have some live animals, and the camels are really a show stopper. They are so cute. You can smell them before you even see them. So, you know they're coming... We are excited to share the camels with everyone each night."
We were told the story takes place in an airport on Christmas Eve. There's a big snowstorm, so everyone is stuck there, giving them time to get to know each other. The scenes are actually flashbacks and dream sequences taking you all over the world and through the decades. The show ends with a nativity scene, hence the camels mentioned above!
The show tickets typically range in price from $9 to $27, all going to good causes. Pastor Luke Barnett told us, "Back in 2011, the cause was starting a human trafficking relief program, which is now one of the largest in the world. Then, in 2012, we began Mom's Pantry, which feeds thousands of people every single week."
THE FREEBIE:
There are around 3,200 seats, but 600 balcony seats are free every night! You "just need to show up an hour before the show starts, stand in line, and you can get free tickets that night," said Stoddard.
He also told us that some non-profit organizations or groups can request a block of tickets to go to the show. Click here for more information. Note that there are specific requirements that must be met, and tickets are only available in advance for certain shows.
The show runs December 6-9 and 13-19. Nightly performances are at 7 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday, it's at 3 p.m. To get tickets, you can either click here or call: 800-431-9734
IF YOU GO:
Dream City Church (located on Cave Creek Road between Cactus and Greenway roads)
13613 N. Cave Creek Rd.
Phoenix, AZ 85022
.