Lucky you: There’s lots to do on St. Patrick’s Day weekend in the Rockford area
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — It’s St. Patrick’s Day weekend and you’re in luck because there’s a lot to do in the Rockford area.
This weekend has everything from beer runs and short races to St. Paddy’s themed jerseys when the Rockford IceHogs play. Of course, there is also the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade and PaddyFest put on by the Irish Marching Society.
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Here are a dozen ideas for things to do this weekend:
St. Patrick’s .1K
About: The X Rockford (104.9 The X) will host a short run to raise money for the Friends of the Rockford K-9 Unit with its sixth annual St. Patrick’s Day .1K. The 328-foot run begins and ends at Jax Pub in Loves Park. You must be 21 or older to participate.
When: 10 a.m. check-in; 11 a.m. run begins; noon costume contest on Saturday, March 16
Where: Jax Pub, 4160 N. Perryville Road, Loves Park
Cost: $25
Info: Go HERE
Barrel of Laughs
About: Prairie Street Brewing Co.’s Barrel of Laughs comedy series returns with headliner Vince Carrone, who has been seen on TBS, heard on Chicago’s Mancow in the Morning and has recorded six specials including his most recent “The Bad Father.” The host is Matt Hall and featured comedian is Dan Cassilagio.
When: 6:30 p.m. doors open; 7:30 p.m. show begins on Friday, March 15
Where: Prairie Street Brewing Co., 200 Prairie St., Rockford
Tickets: Starting at $30; go HERE
Shamrock Beer Run
About: Nik’s Wish will host a 5K beer run featuring local craft brewery beer stops along the course, an online auction and a beer fest after the race.
When: Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 16
Where: Mercyhealth Sportscore One, 1288 Elmwood Road, Rockford
Cost: $60 for race and beer fest; $20 beer fest without race
Tickets: Go HERE
More St. Patrick’s Day: Beef-a-Roo featured limited time menu items for St. Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick’s Day parade
About: The Irish Marching Society will host its annual St. Patrick’s Day parade and PaddyFest.
PaddyFest includes music from The Tooles, Rockford Pipe Band and Emerald Wind. There is also a traditional Irish buffet served with corned beef and cabbage, potatoes, steamed carrots, a roll and cookie. It costs $10 to enter PaddyFest and $22 for the buffet. There is also a kids meal for $16.
When: Parade steps off at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 16; PaddyFest goes from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 16
PaddyFest location: Embassy Suites by Hilton Rockford Riverfront Hotel, 416 S. Main St.
Parade route: The parade goes from Fifth and Seventh Streets. It then runs up Seventh to Charles Street, heads west on State Street over the Rock River and then south on Main Street before disbanding near the Rockford Park District administration building.
Tickets to PaddyFest: Start at $10; get them HERE
Crafty Cafe pop-up market
About: The Crafty Cafe Pop-Up at The Market gives you a chance to get out of the house and get creative. Bring a project to work on at the indoor market space and sip on specialty coffee drinks and mimosas available for purchase. There will also be acoustic music and work from local artists.
When: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 16
Where: Rockford City Market, 116 N. Madison St., Rockford
Info: Go HERE
Admission: Free
‘The Big Lebowski’ at Nordlof
About: Ernie’s Midtown Pub is bringing movie night to the Nordlof Center once a month through July. The first movie is “The Big Lebowski,” followed by “A League of Their Own” on April 26. Ernie’s, which won the 2024 Rockford Region Restaurant Week award for best cocktails, will provide themed cocktails and food for each movie.
When: 6 p.m. doors open; 7:15 p.m. movie time on Friday, March 15
Where: Nordlof Center, 118 N. Main St., Rockford
Admission: $7
Zumba Dance Party
About: Peak Sports Club is hosting a Zumba Dance Party to benefit Special Olympics of Illinois.
When: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 15
Where: Peak Sports Club, 4401 Peak Drive, Loves Park
How much: $5 for members; $10 for non-Peak members
Rock River Valley Train Show
About: The Rock River Valley Train Show fills 42,000 square feet of space with operating model trains, displays and other activities for enthusiasts.
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 16; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, March 17
Where: Harlem High School, 1 Huskie Way, Machesney Park
Admission: $5; free for children 12 and younger
Info: Go HERE
Julie & Jane by Artists’ Ensemble
About: Artists’ Ensemble Theater presents “Julie & Jane,” a play by Margaret Raether about Julia Lathrop and Jane Addams, two Rockford women who met as schoolgirls and went on to make a major impact on education, politics and social issues.
Where: Rockford University Clark Arts Theater, 5050 E. State St., Rockford
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 14 and Friday, March 15; 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 16; 2 p.m. Sunday, March 17; 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 21 and Friday, March 22; 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 23 and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 24
Tickets: Go HERE
Dead Man’s Cell Phone
About: “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” is a comic-noir about Jean, a woman who follows a ringing cell phone down a rabbit hole of adventure into a mysterious man’s life.
When: 8 p.m. Friday, March 15 and Saturday, March 16; 4 p.m. Sunday, March 17; 8 p.m. Friday, March 22 and Saturday, March 23
Where: West Side Show Room, 1414 N. Main St., Rockford
Tickets: Available now HERE
IceHogs in action
About: The IceHogs are at home Saturday and Sunday against the San Jose Barracuda. Sunday’s game includes a special St. Patrick’s Day live specialty jersey auction presented by B103 Rockford and Insurance King.
When: 7 p.m. Saturday, March 16; 4 p.m. Sunday, March 17
Where: BMO Center, 300 Elm St., Rockford
Tickets: Go HERE
Great Ladies of Swing
About: Rockford Symphony Orchestra presents a show centered around the era of swing, when jazz ruled and the sultry voices of women such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Holiday and Sarah Vaughan were prevalent in dance halls across the country.
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 16
Where: Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford
Cost: Tickets start at $22 for adults
Tickets: Go HERE
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas
