CHARLOTTE, NC — Each year, thousands of people from across the Carolinas and the Southeast visit the Billy Graham Library to experience Christmas at the Library. The Christ-centered festivities have become an annual Christmas tradition for many, with more than 500,000 visitors experiencing this seasonal celebration since 2008. The 16th annual Christmas at the Library runs Monday through Saturday, Dec. 1-23, 2023.

“My mother Ruth Bell Graham loved Christmas. She always enjoyed decorating, and we have decorated the Library the way my mother would have wanted. We have a lot of fun with carriage rides and the live Nativity scene,” said Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. “The Christmas story is a message of hope. God’s Son, Jesus Christ, came from heaven to this earth to save us from our sins, and anyone who puts their faith and trust in Him will be saved—that’s Good News for all of us and it’s what Christmas is all about.”

Those who come to Christmas at the Library at the Billy Graham Library each year experience the retelling of the birth of Jesus Christ, through a live Nativity depicting the very first Christmas night. Live Nativity animals for 2023 include camels, a donkey, sheep, goats, and a kangaroo. A petting zoo with selected animals will be available from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Thursday through Saturday. Horse-drawn carriage rides are available after 5 p.m. daily; adult tickets are $12 and kids under 12 are $6 and can be reserved in advance.

A special exhibit—“Christmas with the Grahams”—located in the Library lobby includes gifts given to the Grahams over the years including several never-before-seen items. The display includes Christmas ornaments from Billy and Ruth Graham’s home; books gifted to the Grahams from First Lady Lady Bird Johnson (1980) and from artist John Howard Sanden and his wife (1963); a miniature model of the U.S. Vice President’s residence from Second Lady Barbara Bush (1981); and more.

Guests can also enjoy a beautiful light display across the Billy Graham Library property; a large, ornamented Christmas tree; Christmas story time for children; live music from carolers and local church groups; holiday shopping and more.

The Library’s operating hours during Christmas at the Library are Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Christmas activities begin at 5 p.m. each evening. The Library is closed on Sundays. Admission and parking at the Library is free. Reservations are required for Christmas at the Library activities, including The Journey of Faith tour. Visit billygrahamlibrary.org for more information and to make reservations.

About The Billy Graham Library

The Billy Graham Library opened in 2007 and has since welcomed more than 1.8 million visitors from around the world. Admission to the Library and The Journey of Faith is free. For more information on the Library and upcoming events, or to schedule a group tour, please visit billygrahamlibrary.org. You can also stay connected with the Billy Graham Library on these social media sites: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and on the Library blog.

MEDIA INFORMATION:

Media are invited to cover Christmas at the Library. To schedule a date and time, please contact Lisa Moseley at lmoseley@bgea.org or call (704) 401-2116.

Read more news on Non Profit / Faith Based Organizations and Evangelism on Missions Box.