The National Park Service invites the public to celebrate an Iron Plantation Christmas and stroll through the historic community of Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site. The free event will take place on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature Christmas as celebrated during the 19th century at Hopewell Furnace. The program will be presented rain or shine.

Visitors will have the opportunity to experience and engage with various Christmas traditions from the early to mid-19th century. Activities will include making gingerbread ornaments; creating holiday decorations out of greens and other natural sprigs; writing holiday letters and cards; and discovering the customs, foods and traditions of the holiday season from an early American perspective.

Visitors will also get to meet Der Belsnickel, a mischievous character similar to Santa Claus, who rewards good children with treats. Support for these programs comes from park volunteers, the Berks and Chester County Master Gardener chapters and the Friends of Hopewell Furnace.

Hopewell Furnace is located at 2 Mark Bird Lane, Elverson, about 5 miles south of Birdsboro off Route 345. For more information, call 610-582-8773 or visit http://www.nps.gov/hofu.