On the night of December 24, 1996, a donkey, a baby and a handful of volunteers lined the edge of the Wairoa River and tested the waters.

There was a nativity scene, carol-singing plus the ‘reason for the season' – and 800 people attended.

Now, in its 20th year, ‘A Night Before Christmas', thanks to 300 volunteers plus local performers, professional sound, stage and lighting teams, draws more than 8000 people.

So how did Bethlehem Baptist Church turn their annual production into one of the Bay's most iconic festive events?

In 1996 Craig Vernall was a new minister and resident to the area.

'Jesus was born in Bethlehem, which is how we get our [place] name. So we thought it [an event] was good idea and people responded really well.

'When we started we hadn't a clue it was going to get this big,” says Craig, who with wife Michaela have been there from the start.

'For our first event we used the back of a trailer as a stage. We had two generators going – one for lights and one for sound,” says Craig.

'It was a fun night but definitely one of those pioneering efforts.”

The event stayed at Wairoa River for a few years, hopping to a few other locations before arriving at Bethlehem Town Centre in 2009. And that was the turning point for ‘A Night Before Christmas'.

'That's when it really started to grow,” says Craig. 'And this is also when it started to pull quality musicians, always with the idea of using local people.”

This is also when Luisa Schroder became a stage mum and marketing volunteer. 'I got involved because my two children were actors. I was already in the event arena in the Bay – so I suddenly saw this event through my lens. I thought it was very impressive for a church to be putting this on, pretty much based on volunteers. I thought: ‘This has got huge potential'.”

Back then it had a minimal budget and used sound, lighting and staging from the church.

But Luisa says Tauranga City Council and a few other sponsors got behind it – 'and this saw it turn from being a small, homegrown event to something bigger and better”.

'Their encouragement, and therefore other community providers, was definitely the turning point.”

Luisa says the event is not only a night of performances. It also brings experience and skills to volunteers, stage-time to young performers – and ultimately builds a stronger community by engaging so many local groups in its making.

'We've noticed over the years it's an opportunity for younger people to work alongside older people and learn skills in all sorts of fields.

'And for an event of this size it's also been a launching pad for young people to take on their chosen career. This could be staging, production, or professional performers.”

For example, Joshua Beaven has helped out as a volunteer since he was young. Now the 20-year-old is employed full-time by The Production Company, travelling the country working events.

And Luisa's son Luke started off, age 16, as playing a hideous blue bauble on-stage. 'He's risen through the ranks and is this year's MC.”

'So it has been a training ground for a lot of young ones in the Bay.”

So what makes this production stand out? 'It ticks a lot of boxes,” says Craig.

'It's a signal that Christmas is here. You're in Bethlehem. And there's a lot of nostalgia about Christmas and the event is family-orientated.” The quality is high 'and we do make sure we use local talent. And the fireworks at the end are always good”.

Has the event changed? Craig says for a long time it was on Christmas Eve. 'Four years ago we shifted it to a week before Christmas because as it got bigger it became more demanding on our volunteers. Christmas Eve for us was getting to bed at 3am then getting up at 6am for church. It was a huge 24 hours.”

Since 2013 it's been held at Mills Reef and this year will be on Bethlehem College's front field.

But Craig says the event's purpose hasn't changed. 'We see it as a celebration and a gift for the community at the same time. So nothing's changed there.”

'And we have a sense that we've got the only little Bethlehem in NZ – and we want this event to capture that spirit.”

To Luisa, the buy-in from the Bay of Plenty community has grown. 'The community who has come to us and said: ‘How can we help?'.

'And without a doubt we have become more professional – that's indicative by the professional services we employ; a production company which runs staging, lighting and sound, and a team on traffic management, security, temporary fencing, cranes and generators.”

Craig says with a professionally-run event comes more cost, but he's grateful for the local business and community sponsorship the church receives. And he pays tribute to wife Michaela. 'It was her idea that we just keep those local artists involved, and build the event on that basis.”

'And Luisa – who is now employed part-time year-round to organise the event – has done a great job.”

So what makes it all worth it for her? 'For me, it's the realisation that while many in the community have the privilege of going to large-scale events – there are many who can only dream of taking their family to something of this calibre.”

And they can because ‘A Night Before Christmas' is free. 'That's what drives me.”

But also keeping the nostalgia and spirit of Christmas alive. 'The event has been modernised but still keeps true to its original purpose and meaning.”

Classical singer Anna Hawkins performing at last year's event at Mills Reef.