One of the main roads in Xagħra is being transformed into a live drive-through crib this weekend. Presepju Suq u Mexxi, as it is called, is a first-of-its-kind event locally.

As its title implies, one may sit comfortably in his car and enjoy the ride  through Għajn Ħosna Road on Saturday and Sunday between 5pm and 9pm, where over 140 actors will be re-enacting the Nativity scene.

“Presepju Suq u Mexxi is the first of its nature locally,” said Sephora Galea, the public relations officer of the socio-religious group theguidinglight of Xagħra.

“Visitors will take the journey along a scenic road which will feature Jewish cultural and traditional characteristics at the time of Jesus’s birth. The event will involve all the senses. I personally had a taste during a couple of initial rehearsals and I cannot wait to see it unfold fully when everything and everyone is in place.”

Drawing plans for the event.

Theguidinglight group, established in 2000, organises meetings to help youths and adolescents lead a spiritually-guided life. Members have attended the World Youth Day throughout the years and organise fund-raising events for the Jesus of Nazareth church.

The idea of Presepju Suq u Mexxi was imported from the US by Fr Joseph Bajada. He had seen a similar event there and contacted the socio-religious group, that have been organising live cribs for the past 14 years, about the possibility of recreating such a drive-through experience. They eagerly took on the project.

“We have been brainstorming since Christmas of last year,” says Sephora. “However, hands-on work started last summer. These last couple of months, starting from October, have been the most hectic.”

Visitors will become part of the Nativity story and they too will travel to find baby Jesus

The group received a “great” response from the community of Xagħra and, in fact, most of the participants are volunteers from the locality.

“Most of the participants are amateur actors who come from different groups in Xagħra. We wanted to connect the whole village together. Thus, we contacted many local organisations and tried to incorporate their talents and resources,” points out Sephora. “We tried to include everyone, whether it was by providing us with their acting skills, props, equipment, wardrobe management skills, or by simply giving a helping hand in the construction of the set or the organisation of the event.”

Before entering Għajn Ħosna Road, which will be divided into different sections, drivers will be asked to drive at a 15km/h pace. Actors will then stop the cars along the way to interact with the passengers and deliver their Christmas message. Fr Bajada wrote the script of the sketches.

“Every section will be delivering the story of the Nativity and at each section the biblical characters will direct and urge on the visitors to their final destination – the manger. Therefore, visitors will become part of the Nativity story and they too will travel to find baby Jesus.”

Most of the participants in Presepju Suq u Mexxi are volunteers from Xagħra.

Each drive is expected to take about 10 minutes and the number of cars that are expected to enter and drive through the live crib by closing time is around 120.

“This is why we are insisting that all who come to visit us carpool since only cars full to the amount authorised by law will be let through. The aim is to give as many people as possible the opportunity to experience this event,” says Sephora.

Those who cannot make it from 5pm to 9pm on both dates can still visit the site in from 8am to noon on Sunday, when the road will adopt the concept of an open theatre, and thus without the presence of actors.

Entrance is free of charge and there is no need for booking. The event will be accessible from Għajn Qasab Road, Nadur. Large vehicles, such as buses and minibuses, and walking or cycling through the event will not be permitted.

Presepju Suq u Mexxi is being held in collaboration with the Ministry of Gozo and Culture, Christmas in Gozo and Għaqda Milied fix-Xagħra. For more information, visit the Facebook page Presepju Suq u Mexxi.