Photos by Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The annual Stroll on State holiday festival took over downtown Rockford on Saturday for its 11th year.
The day kicked off with the Dasher Dash run at noon, followed by the parade at 2 p.m. Other highlights were the ceremonial tree lighting and fireworks to close the event.
More holidays: 815 Holiday Gift Guide: Your resource for toys, clothes and other gifts from Rockford-area businesses
Here’s a look at some of our favorite images from this year’s stroll:
Ella Cooling of Rockford fires a bubble gun on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, on the GreatWater360 Augo Care float during the Stroll on State parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Frances Webster, 2, shows off fake snow to her father, Henry, on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, during Stroll on State in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
A sock monkey float sponsored by Hard Rock Casino Rockford moves down East State Street on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, during the Stroll on State parade. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
People walk through downtown Rockford on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, during Stroll on State. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Deb Marks dances with Marika Mertz on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, during the tree-lighting ceremony for Stroll on State in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Oriyanna Farris, left, and Cristal Rodriguez skate inside the BMO Center on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, during Stroll on State. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Jessy and Brent Andersen pose for a photo in the city’s official Christmas tree during Stroll on State on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Ripe Life Juice Co. owner Jamar Luster, left, poses for a photo with his family on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in front of the city’s official Christmas tree at Stroll on State. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
People gather around the city’s official Christmas tree on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, at Main and Elm streets in downtown Rockford for Stroll on State. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Fireworks go off after the lighting of the Christmas tree on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, for Stroll on State in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
City First Church worship band performs on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, during the tree-lighting ceremony for Stroll on State in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Ryan Mattingly, holding Arlo, poses for a photo while Emma Daily, 4, plays in fake snow on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, during Stroll on State in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
People take photos with Santa during Stroll on State on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Snow made by Comfort 1st Insulation of Rockford blasts from a snowman on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, during Stroll on State in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Frances Webster, 2, plays in fake snow on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in downtown Rockford during Stroll on State. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Anthony and Andrew Kuligowski and Project First Rate march down State Street on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, during Stroll on State in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Zoey, 2, looks up at her parents while Ava, her twin, mimes a bite out of a fake lollipop on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, during Stroll on State in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
A horse and carriage arrives in front of the Iconic Energy building on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, after a trip through downtown Rockford during Stroll on State. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Marika Mertz dances with Deb Marks on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, during the tree-lighting ceremony for Stroll on State in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Project First Rate marches down State Street on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, during Stroll on State in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Kids wave at Santa Claus on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, during the Stroll on State parade in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
A Rockford Peaches float moves down State Street on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
The Stroll on State parade moves through downtown Rockford on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Kids wave at Santa Claus on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, during the Stroll on State parade in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Brooke LeMaster of Ms. LeMaster’s School of Dance waves on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, during the Stroll on State parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
A Fire Department Coffee truck carrying Santa rolls down State Street on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, during Stroll on State in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Prestige Dance Co. of Beloit performs during the Stroll on State parade on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
The Stroll on State parade moves through downtown Rockford on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
The Stroll on State parade moves through downtown Rockford on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Mrs. Claus, aka Jennifer Furst, tosses candy to the crowd on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, during the Stroll on State parade in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Jason Reed, with daughters Charlotte, 10, and Lucy, 7, wave as the parade passes by on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, during Stroll on State in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
The Stroll on State parade moves through downtown Rockford on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
People wave as the parade passes through on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, during Stroll on State in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Awards are passes out on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, following the Dasher Dash 5K in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Mayor Tom McNamara holds the mic for Santa Claus, played by state Rep. Maurice West, on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, during Stroll on State in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
The Grinch, played by Chris Busker of Characters 2 Life, rolls down State Street on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, during Stroll on State’s parade in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Prestige Dance Co. of Beloit performs during the Stroll on State parade on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Mrs. Claus, aka Jennifer Furst, tosses candy to the crowd on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, during the Stroll on State parade in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Everett Kloster, 5, plays in fake snow on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, during Stroll on State in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)Photo gallery by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas