GREEN COVE SPRINGS – With heavy rain forecasted for Sunday, Rockin’ for Stockins organizers Paul and Lisa Wane made the difficult decision Thursday morning to push back the event until Sunday, Dec. 14. 

“It’s going to rain,” Paul said. “We decided it was best for the children and our vendors not to chance it. We’ll do it a week later on the 14th.” 

Rockin’ for Stockins is a fifth-annual holiday festival that provides free toys and instruments to as many as 250 children at the Boogerville Hideout, 6043 U.S. Highway 17. 

The Wanes do it as part of their Rising Stars: Guitars for Kids nonprofit program that gifts instruments to children to give them an option beyond trouble, drugs, video games and cellphones. Since founding their foundation, the Wanes, with the help of guitar builder Jay Murphy of Keystone Heights and donations from hundreds of residents, have given away more than 500 instruments in the last five years. 

Rockin’ for Stockins will run from noon to 6 p.m. on the 14th, and it will include live music, primarily from musicians from members of the Rising Star family, free photos with Santa, lunch, an event T-shirt, Christmas gifts, giveaways, raffles and games. 

“We wanted to get ahead of the weather,” Paul said. “We want everyone to have a good time, so it was best to wait a week. We’ll see everyone on Dec. 14.”