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On Sunday, the First United Methodist Church of LaGrange will host its third annual Night of Lights. This event is a free drive-through Christmas light and Living Nativity event for all ages.

Jeannie Jones, UMC children’s minister, said the event will start at 6 p.m. at the church’s Wesley Hall entrance on Broad Street, where there will be three stations giving hot cocoa, prepackaged cookies and a map highlighting decorated houses through LaGrange.

“After seeing the areas on the map, you’ll eventually come out on the opposite side of the church in our parking lot off of Vernon Street,” Jones said. “There will be one more station that will give a bag filled with some things for families to do during the Christmas holiday.”

Jones said the last thing participants of the event will see is the living nativity scene complete with actors and live animals.

“That’s the true light of Christmas,” Jones said. “You get to see all the beautiful lights, and then you get to experience the true light of Christmas.”

Jones said she was inspired by prior nativity events in Baton Rouge and Gwinnett County and wanted to bring that same cheer to LaGrange.

“I thought since LaGrange has so many beautiful homes that are all lit up for Christmas, it would be fun to have a guide to see them,” Jones said. “I also thought it would be something fun for families to do.”

Jones said the drive-through event will be a great way to begin the holiday season and is UMC’s gift to the community.

“Sometimes we get so busy during the holiday season that we don’t take the time to just be together with our families and enjoy it,” Jones said. “This event is meant for us to just take time with our families, for about 45 minutes, to look at the lights, have hot cocoa, to laugh, get immersed in the season and create memories together.”