Looking for something to do this weekend in Rockford? Here are 16 ideas to get you started
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — This weekend you can celebrate the end of a mural era, dig in to all things pickles at a new North End event or line the streets for the first official Rockford Pride Parade.
Those are just a few of the things to do in the area today through the weekend.
More news: Rockford aldermen push back on plans for self storage facility in former Kmart
You can also backpack through a preserve, watch a movie in Davis Park, shop at Rockford City Market or the North End Market and more.
There is no shortage of ways to have fun this weekend. Here are 16 ideas to get you started:
Get CRE8IV one last time
What: A three-day festival centered around arts and music will celebrate the final summer of the CRE8IV: transformational Art mural initiative. The festival will feature music headliners One More Time: A Tribute to Daft Punk, the Smoking Popes and Kelly Steward. There will also be Rockford’s first drone show on Saturday night, and throughout the festival there will be mural painting, local food trucks, creative interactive activities, mural tours and more.
Where: First and East State streets, downtown Rockford
When: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, May 31; noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 1; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 2
Admission: Free
Info: Go HERE
Related: ‘Telling a story in the sky’: Here’s what to expect from Rockford’s first ever drone show
Rockford Area Pride Parade
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=12toWcUms1SrE_MlcqfnZA8HmfgVAYxs&femb=1&ll=42.267991296493335%2C-89.09010416172302&z=15
Route: The main parade route begins on State Street at Charles Street, marching west through downtown. The route crosses the Rock River over the State Street bridge. The parade then turns north on Main Street and ends at Park Avenue
Schedule:
- 8:30 a.m. – flag raising ceremony at Veterans Memorial Hall, 211 N. Main St.
- 10 a.m. – street closures begin
- 10:45 a.m. – speeches at the main stage near Maze Books, 406 E. State St.
- 11 a.m. – parade step off
- 1 p.m. – street closures end
Info: rockfordareapride.org
Contact: Info@RockfordAreaPride.org
Help fund an artistic trip to Scotland
What: Rockford University’s Performing Arts Department and the Friends of the Performing Arts will host “Good Neighbors Tea: A Celebration of Scotland.” The event raising money for students upcoming trip overseas to perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland. Clan MacAlpine Bagpipe Band members will play outside the Clark Arts Center as the festivities begin and costumed students will greet guests. Indoors, students from The Music Academy in Rockford will serenade guests. The High Tea will feature tasty treats in the flavor of Scotland. There will also be songs and poetry, tartans and plaids.
When: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 2
Where: Clark Arts Center lobby of Rockford University, 5050 E. State St., Rockford
Tickets: Go HERE
Related: Rockford University students to perform in Scotland for world’s largest arts festival
Dinner on the Dock
What: Dinner on the Dock this week features South of Disorder, a suburban Chicago-based trop rock band inspired by Jimmy Buffet.
When: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, May 30
Where: Prairie Street Brewing Co., 200 Prairie St., Rockford
Info and reservations: Go HERE
Rockford City Market
What: The weekly outdoor Rockford City Market features about 70 vendors selling everything from food and clothing to drinks and jewelry. There’s also live music and other activities.
When: 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Market and Water streets in downtown Rockford
Online: rockfordcitymarket.com
Summer reading kickoff challenge
What: The Rockford Public Library will host a kickoff party for its Summer Reading Challenge with a performance by magician Zack Percell. The event is suitable for all ages and centers around the theme “Read, Renew, Repeat,” which highlights the importance of conservation.
When: 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 1
Where: Riverfront Museum Park, 711 N. Main St., Rockford
Info: Go HERE
Picklefest: It’s kind of a big dill
Update: Olympic Tavern announced Thursday afternoon that it would postpone Picklefest until August. More details will be released later.
What: Olympic Tavern will host its first ever Picklefest, a celebration of all things sour and pickled. There will be pickle-centric food and drink features such as pickle pizza, fried pickles, pickleback shots and many others. Also, FlexCourt will set up a few pickleball courts in the parking lot between noon and 5 p.m., and there will be prizes for the top pickleball teams.
When: Noon to 11:50 p.m. Saturday, June 1
Where: Olympic Tavern, 2327 N. Main St., Rockford
Info: Go HERE
Garden Fair Weekend
What: Join Klehm Arboretum and Botanic Garden and dozens of vendors for Garden Fair Weekend, a showcase of a wide variety of plants, flowers, garden décor, art and information to help your home garden. There will also be live music in the Fountain Garden and food trucks including Cantina Taco, Pizza Fresca, Prairie Street Brewing Co., Sizz N Fizz, Quixotic Bakery and Vintage Goose Cafe.
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 1; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 2
Where: Klehm Arboretum and Botanic Garden, 2715 S. Main St., Rockford
Tickets: $8 pre-sale; $10 general admission
Info: Go HERE
Pride Alley Party
What: The Office Nite Clubs hosts its annual Pride Alley Party, an outdoor celebration with live music, food, drinks and entertainment.
When: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 1
Where: The Office Nite Club, 513 E. State St., Rockford
Info: Go HERE
North End City Market
What: Find an assortment of fresh produce, flowers, honey, baked goods and more at this weekly Saturday farmers market.
When: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, June 1 (Saturdays through Oct. 26)
Where: 1431 N. Main St., Rockford
Info: Go HERE
Levings Unity Pavilion grand opening
About: The new Levings Unity Pavilion will open with a musical celebration featuring performances that showcase two entertainment series that run all summer long on Sundays in Levings Park – Live at Levings and Domingos En El Parque. The new concert venue was made possible by Hard Rock Casino Rockford and Ringland-Johnson Construction.
When: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, May 31
Where: Levings Park, 1420 S. Pierpont Ave., Rockford
Info: Go HERE
Wine tasting fundraiser
What: Artale Wine Co. will host a wine, spirits and beer-tasting fundraiser for Sister Cities of Belvidere.
When: 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, May 31
Where: Artale Wine Co., 6876 Spring Creek Road, suite 128, Rockford
Admission: $20
Info: Go HERE
Friday Night Flix
What: Friday Night Flix kicks off its outdoor movie season with “Aladdin.”
When: 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 31 (pre-movie activities begin at 6:30 p.m., movie plays at dusk)
Where: Davis Park, 320 S. Wyman St., Rockford
Admission: Free
Info: Go HERE
Maze Books Poetry Workshop
What: Rockford Poet Laureate Jenna Goldsmith will lead this workshop to guide you through creating your own poetry.
When: 7 p.m. Friday, May 31
Where: Maze Books, 406 E. State St., Rockford
Info: Go HERE
Josh Gates live
What: Josh Gates, host of the Discovery Channel series “Expedition Unknown and “Josh Gates Tonight,” brings his live show to Rockford with an evening of legends, mysteries and tales of adventure.
When: 7 p.m. Saturday, June 1
Where: Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford
Info: Go HERE
Backpacking with Burpee
What: The Forest Preserves of Winnebago County and Burpee Museum of Natural History host this event focused on birding and bird calls at a local preserve known for its views of the Sugar River and its plethora of birds.
When: 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 1
Where: Colored Sands Forest Preserve, 10602 Haas Road, Rockton
Cost: $7
Info: 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
