Photos: 10th annual Stroll on State in downtown Rockford

November 27, 2022|By Kevin Haas|In Arts & Culture, Photo Gallery, 815 News, Rockford, Trending, Entertainment
Rock River Current
Get our mobile app

ROCKFORD — The 10th annual Stroll on State took over downtown Rockford on Saturday, and thousands of people filled the streets for the city’s kickoff to the holiday season.

Here’s a look at some of our favorite images from the event, starting with the parade and wrapping up with the fireworks display.

Related: ComEd says single mylar balloon caused Stroll on State power outage

Parade through downtown

Stroll on State parade
Mrs. Claus tosses out candy on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, during the Stroll on State parade in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Screw City Jeeps move through downtown on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, during the Stroll on State parade in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Santa Clause waves at the crowd on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, during the Stroll on State parade in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Dancers move through downtown Rockford on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, during the Stroll on State parade. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Jackie Hennelly
Jackie Hennelly, with Addie, 4, marches through artificial snow as part of a city of Rockford Public Works Department display on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, during the Stroll on State Parade. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Parade grand marshals Gerry and Carol Davies wave to the crowd on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, during the Stroll on State parade in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
The Stroll on State parade moves down State Street on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
The Grinch, as part of the Screw City Jeeps display, moves down State Street on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, as part of the Stroll on State parade in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Screw City Jeeps move down State Street on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, as part of the Stroll on State parade in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Prestige Dance Co. performs on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, during the Stroll on State parade in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
The Stroll on State parade moves through downtown on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
The Stroll on State parade moves through downtown on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
The Stroll on State parade moves through downtown on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
The Stroll on State parade moves through downtown on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
The Stroll on State parade moves through downtown on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
The Stroll on State parade moves through downtown on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
A Hard Rock Casino Rockford float and procession moves down State Street on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, during the Stroll on State parade. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Prestige Dance Co. performs on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, during the Stroll on State parade in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
The Stroll on State parade moves through downtown on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
The Stroll on State parade moves through downtown on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
The Stroll on State parade moves through downtown on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
The Stroll on State parade moves through downtown on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
The Stroll on State parade, including this mascot from Beefaroo, moves through downtown on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
People watch the Stroll on State parade on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, from atop The Standard as artificial snow flies around downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
The Stroll on State parade moves through downtown on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
The Grinch, as part of the Screw City Jeeps display, moves down State Street on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, as part of the Stroll on State parade in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

Strollin’ and tree lighting

Zach Hedrington and Taylor Gruenberg kiss under the Mistletoe Magic station on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, during Stroll on State in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Carmelina Flores, 10, gets a hug from Santa on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, during Stroll on State in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Santa kicks off the tree lighting ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, during Stroll on State. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Jake Peters takes a photo of Jackie Peters, left, and Brittney Paden on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, during Stroll on State in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Newly elected Congressman Eric Sorensen visits with people Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, during Stroll on State in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Courtney Fry holds London, 6, after the tree-lighting ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, during Stroll on State in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Fireworks go off on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, after the tree-lighting ceremony during Stroll on State in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Nick Damman and Autumn Wallace kiss on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, at the Mistletoe Magic selfie station during Stroll on State in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Grover Shelton III helps Grover Shelton IV, age 4, with a fishing game on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, during Stroll on State in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Volunteers Veronica Laubenstein, 16, and Emily Teeters, 16, laugh while making S’mores on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, during Stroll on State in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Nathan Fry plays guitar with the City First Church worship band on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, during Stroll on State in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
People watch the fire and ice display on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, during Stroll on State in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
John Groh, president and CEO of the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, addresses the crowd on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, during the tree-lighting ceremony at Stroll on State in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Emily Teeters, 16, accepts payment for an order of s’mores on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, during Stroll on State in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
People gather on the ground and in a parking garage for the tree-lighting ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, during Stroll on State in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
City First Church’s worship band performs on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, during Stroll on State in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
London Fry, 6, holds a glow stick on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, during the tree-lighting ceremony during Stroll on State in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Zoey Burnell, 13, of Roscoe makes a s’more on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, while volunteering at a Girl Scouts station during Stroll on State in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Santa Claus extends his arms for a child approaching for a hug on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, during Stroll on State in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
People gather at Main and Elm streets in downtown Rockford on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, for the Stroll on State tree-lighting ceremony. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
People gather at Main and Elm streets in downtown Rockford on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, for the Stroll on State tree-lighting ceremony. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Jeremy DeWeerdt, senior pastor of City First Church, and Cameron Henderson of City First Church speak to the crowd on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, before the tree-lighting ceremony at Stroll on State in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Courtney Fry holds London, 6, after the tree-lighting ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, during Stroll on State in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

Fireworks

Fireworks are launched from the Jefferson Street bridge on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, during Stroll on State in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Lai Jiang/Special to the Rock River Current)
Fireworks are launched from the Jefferson Street bridge on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, during Stroll on State in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Lai Jiang/Special to the Rock River Current)
People watch fireworks from the State Street bridge on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, during Stroll on State in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
People watch fireworks from the State Street bridge on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, during Stroll on State in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
People watch fireworks from the State Street bridge on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, during Stroll on State in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
People watch fireworks from the State Street bridge on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, during Stroll on State in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)