What is there to do in the Rockford area this weekend? Here are 9 ideas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Looking for something to do in the Rockford area this weekend?
Here are nine ideas ranging from art shows to football and more.
See confessions turned into art
Eamonn James Talkington will debut his solo show, In Confidence, from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday at 317 Art Collective, 317 Market St., Rockford.
The show is centered around confessions and incorporates a call-in line where people can anonymously submit their own confessions.
More: Anonymous confessions become art in Rockfordian’s latest show
Watch as women’s football teams take over the BMO
The Chicago Blitz take on the Seattle Thunder in the seven-on-seven X League at 7 p.m. Saturday at the BMO Harris Bank Center, 300 Elm St., in downtown.
This is the only home game for the Blitz this season. The team is quarterbacked by former Rockford Lutheran basketball star Stephanie Raymond-Young.
BMO has laid down the official 70-yard artificial turf field for Saturday’s matchup. You can get tickets through Ticketmaster.
More: Stephanie Raymond-Young to return to Rockford to showcase a new sport
Run your fastest mile yet
The “Fastest Mile in the Midwest” returns to Rockford on Saturday after a two-year hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The State Street Mile, a 1-mile race from UW Health SwedishAmerican Hospital to roughly the State Street bridge, has three heats starting at 5 p.m. Saturday.
More: The Fastest Mile in the Midwest returns to Rockford
Head north for the Wisconsin State Fair
The Wisconsin State Fair kicked off its 11-day run on Thursday. It continues through Sunday, Aug. 14, at Wisconsin State Fair Park, 640 S. 84th St., West Allis, Wisconsin.
General admission tickets are $17. For additional information, visit wistatefair.com.
More: Wisconsin State Fair debuts new hours at the 171st annual event
Have a day in the park with your pup
You can bring your dogs to Bark in the Park from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday at the recreation path near Midway Village, 6799 Guilford Road.
The event features goods and services from local businesses and nonprofits that serve pets, pet-safety demonstrations and more.
M0re: Bring your pups to Bark in the Park on Saturday in Rockford
Celebrate Italian culture at Festa Italiana
The Greater Rockford Italian American Association will host the 43rd Festa Italiana on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Boylan Catholic High School, 4000 St. Francis Drive, Rockford.
The event features traditional Italian dance and food, there are carnival games and rides, bocce and more activities.
It runs 5-11 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday.
More: festaitalianarockford.com
Watch ‘Encanto’ in Davis Park
Friday Night Flix in Davis Park will show its third movie of the summer series this week. Davis Park, 320 S. Wyman St., opens at 7 p.m. for the free showing of “Encanto,” a computer-animated Disney musical comedy. The movie begins at dusk.
Get muddy to help clean up this town
Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful, an environmental resource center that works to reduce waste and increase recycling, will host a mud volleyball tournament starting at 8 a.m. Saturday at Riverside Park, 100 River St., Roscoe.
More info: knib.org
Honor veterans with a new memorial
The LZ Smoke Brothers will unveil a new memorial at 2 p.m. Sunday at the LZ Peace Plaza on the Perryville Path loop near Central Christian Church, 6595 Guilford Road, Rockford.
The LZ Operation Purple event is being held in conjunction with National Purple Heart Day, which is recognized on Aug. 7. A Purple Heart is awarded to military members who are wounded or killed while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
More info: lzpeace.org
