Christmastime comes gift-wrapped in wonderful traditions. But especially this year, with so little time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, everything feels … compressed. Amid the hustle of shopping, decorating, and attending Christmas parties with family, friends and co-workers (all in addition to the hustle of regular daily life), we want to make it easy for families in the Rockford area to make memories and learn about Christmas in new ways.

So, First Free Rockford is gift-wrapping something special for our entire community. We invite everyone to join us between 4 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, for this year’s free and family-friendly Christmas Traditions.

There’s a Nativity story in which kids can participate, plus an array of fun for all ages, including:

• Cookie decorating
• An indoor snowball fight with 2,000 snowballs
• Photos with Santa
• A bonfire with s’mores
• A live petting zoo, featuring sheep, donkeys and a camel
• An original, live stage show — featuring a mad scientist, a time machine and a look at Christmas past, present and future.

Rockford Art Deli will be printing T-shirts for sale. Throughout the event, you can purchase dinner or snacks from Chick-fil-A, Papa John’s and The Olive Branch Greek food truck.

This will be an evening to remember as we come together with family and friends to press “pause” and take time to enjoy the traditions of Christmas. You and your family might even discover a few new ones!

What better time to reflect upon our own transformation, as we celebrate the birth of Christ, who came to make everything new. Wherever you are on your journey, whatever traditions you hold dear, our goal is to help you find the love and peace of knowing Jesus, at Christmastime and throughout the year.

Earlier post: Lead Pastor Luke Uran discusses the ministry thinking behind Christmas Traditions.