Live music festivals, nationally touring comedians and more things to do this week in the Rockford area
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — There are a multitude of ways to catch live music in the area this week, from the annual Rhythm of the Heart music festival to Dinner on the Dock, Music in the Park, Music on the Rock, Music on the Mall, Domingos en el Parque and Live at Levings.
And those are just a few of the things to do this week and weekend. There’s also Love Your Mental’s annual event blending fun and self-care, Starlight’s production of “The Color Purple” and a performances at the Coronado from comedians Mark Normand and Pete Davidson.
More things to do: The Nielsen Trust and R&B artist Akon added to Hard Rock’s grand-opening weekend
To help you plan your week, here are 26 things to do in the Rockford area.
Rhythm of the Heart
What: The city of Loves Park will host its second annual Rhythm of the Heart music festival featuring Nauti Nauti, Made In America (a Toby Keith tribute), LynSkynyrd and Gabriel Sanchez The Prince Experience. There is also a car show, live art exhibition, food trucks, vendors and other activities. The night ends with fireworks.
Admission: Free
When: 1 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, July 27
Where: Loves Park City Hall festival grounds, 100 Heart Blvd., Loves Park
Info/schedule of events: Go HERE
Love Your Mental
What: Love Your Mental is an annual event that blends art, music, shopping and food with a variety of ways to focus on self-care and mental health. This year’s event includes dog therapy, massage therapy, live music, live art, food trucks and more activities. The event also doubles as a fundraiser for The Tommy Corral Memorial Foundation, a nonprofit that works to increase education about factors that lead to suicide and provide support to those struggling with depression.
Admission: $3
When: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 28
Where: IBEW 364 Henry Miller Hall, 6820 Mill Road, Rockford
Info: Go HERE
Christmas in July fundraiser
About: Blue 815 and Top Dollar Slots will put on a Christmas in July fundraiser to benefit Gigi’s Playhouse. Play slots and eat Napoli’s pizza surrounded by Christmas decorations in this festive fundraiser.
Where: Top Dollar Slots, 2189 Windsor Road, Loves Park
Info: Go HERE
Music on the Rock
What: Music on the Rock is a free riverfront concert on select Wednesday nights behind the Burpee Museum of Natural History. This week features Cash Box Kings.
When: 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 24
Where: Burpee Museum of Natural History, 737 N. Main St., Rockford
Info: Go HERE
Open Alley on the North End
What: This summer celebration ranges from The Norwegian to Rockford Billiards and across the street to Plume with participating businesses offering specials, meet-and-greets and other activities. See all participating businesses and activities HERE.
When: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 25
Where: North End near Auburn and Main streets
Info: Go HERE
Picked launch party
About: Picked by Rooted will host a celebration of the new curated flower bouquet business in conjunction with the Open Alley party. There is complimentary bubbly for guests, fresh bouquets for sale, new art from Lisa Jimenez, vintage clothing curated by Karla Reed, new merchandise and giveaways.
When: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 25
Where: Picked inside Rooted, 1408 N. Main St., Rockford
Info: Go HERE
Dinner on the Dock
About: The Dinner on the Dock music series features Indika Reggae Band this week. The band, with its front man Uroy Mushla, plays reggae and other genres incuding soca, calypso, punta, dancehall, R&B, jazz and kompa.
When: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, July 25
Where: Prairie Street Brewing Co., 200 Prairie St., Rockford
Info and reservations: Go HERE
Music in the Park
What: The Sounds of Summer concert series this week features Jump, a tribute to the David Lee Roth era of Van Halen.
When: 7 p.m. Thursday, July 25
Where: Sinnissippi Park Music Shell, 1401 N. Second St., Rockford
Admission: $5
Info/tickets: Go HERE
Beats & Bites
About: Beats & Bites is a pop-up lunchtime series put on by the River District Association in partnership with the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. This week’s theme is Christmas in July.
When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, July 26
Where: 330 W. State St. (the parking lot and vendor space at the corner of South Church and West State streets)
Puppy Pals dog stunt show
About: Puppy Pals Live, a comedic dog stunt show featured on “America’s Got Talent,” is coming to the Discovery Center Museum.
When: 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday, July 26
Where: Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford
Admission: $10
Info/tickets: Go HERE
Mark Normand live
About: Comedian Mark Normand, whose special “Soup to Nuts” debuted on Netflix a year ago, is coming to Rockford as part of his national tour.
When: 7 p.m. Friday, July 26
Where: Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford
Tickets/info: Go HERE
Pete Davidson live
About: Comedian Pete Davidson, a stand-up comedian, actor, writer and former “Saturday Night Live” cast member, brings his tour to Rockford.
When: 7 p.m. Saturday, July 27
Where: Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford
Tickets/info: Go HERE
Music on the Mall
About: Abbie Thomas & The Crazy Hearts Band take the stage for this week’s outdoor Music on the Mall concert.
When: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday, July 26
Where: Edgebrook Shopping Center, 1605 N. Alpine Road, Rockford
Info: Go HERE
Rockford City Market
What: Rockford City Market features 70 vendors selling everything from food and drink to clothing and jewelry. This week’s main stage musical entertainment is Timberpoint Bluegrass. The acoustic stage features Kristin Toon.
Where: 100 N. Water St., Rockford
When: 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday, July 12
Info: Go HERE
The Color Purple
About: Starlight Theatre presents “The Color Purple,” the Tony Award-winning musical based on Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.
Where: The Bengt Sjostrom Theatre at Rock Valley College, 3301 N. Mulford Road, Rockford
When: 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 24, Thursday, July 25, Friday, July 26, Saturday, July 27 and Sunday, July 28
Cost: $28 adults; $26 for employees, seniors, military and teachers; $17 for students; $12 for children younger than 12
Info/tickets: Go HERE
The Girls of Summer
About: The Studio Rockford puts on this musical “The Girls of Summer,” which tells a fictionalized version of the Rockford Peaches first season in 1943.
When: 7 p.m. Friday, July 26, 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday, July 27 and 2 p.m. Sunday, July 28
Where: Rockford University Maddox Theatre, 5050 E. State St., Rockford
Cost: $14, $16 at the door; $12 ($14 at the door) for seniors or children 12 and younger
Tickets/info: Go HERE
Friday Night Flix
About: The summer outdoor movie series features “Toy Story” this week.
When: 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 26
Where: Davis Park, 320 S. Wyman St., Rockford
Info: Go HERE
Japanese Summer Festival
About: Anderson Japanese Gardens’ annual Japanese Summer Festival features exhibits, demonstrations and performances intended to foster a better understanding of the Japanese culture.
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 27 and Sunday, July 28
Where: 318 Spring Creek Road, Rockford
Cost: $14 adults; $13 seniors; $12 students and military; free for ages 5 and younger
Info/tickets: Go HERE
Speak It, Sing It
About: Sounds of Good News Productions, the Rockford Area Arts Council and Rockford Public Library present “Speak It! Sing It!” a talent show featuring city of Rockford youth poet Trinity Rucker.
When: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 27
Where: RPL Nordlof Center, 118 N. Main St., Rockford
Admission: Free
Info: Go HERE
Poetry at Maze Books
About: Maze Books will host a live poetry session with Rockford’s Poet Laureate Jenna Goldsmith, Don Heneghan, Lydia Kozlowski, Rachel León, Dave Pedersen and Xen Kingsley.
When: 7 p.m. Saturday, July 27
Where: Maze Books, 406 E. State St., Rockford
Admission: Free
The Theory of Relativity
About: Rockford University students will perform “The Theory of Relativity” as the prepare to head to Scotland for the Fringe Festival next month.
When: 4 p.m. Saturday, July 27 and Sunday, July 28
Where: Rockford University Cheek Theatre, 5050 E. State St., Rockford
Info/tickets: Go HERE
Dog Days of Summer
What: Rockford University will host its Dog Days of Summer event, which invites alumni and the public to bring their dogs for a stroll around the campus. Pick up goodies and a campus map at the alumni center before you stroll. The Canine Crunchery will be on hand as a vendor.
When: 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 27
Where: Rockford University Nelson Alumni Center parking lot, 5050 E. State St, Rockford
Brunch on the dock
About: Brunch on the Dock is a fundraiser for Family Counseling Services featuring live music from Don’t Tell Mom and a brunch spread from Prairie Street Brewing Co.
When: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, July 28
Where: Prairie Street Brewing Co., 200 Prairie St., Rockford
Cost: $55
Info: Go HERE
Rail Garden Rampage
About: Red Bull Wake the City presents a rail only wakeboard contest with an open and amateur bracket. The contest puts riders technical skills and style on rails in focus for this competition where kickers and jumps aren’t used. Victory in the open division pays $1,000.
When: 9 a.m. Saturday, July 27
Where: West Rock Wake Park, 1420 S. Pierpont Ave., Rockford
Cost: $75 open registration; $50 amateur registration
Info/tickets: Go HERE
Domingos en el Parque
About: Domingos en el Parque moves to a different location this week for a full lineup of music including a tribute to DJ Bizeone, who died last week. The event also features GM Rudiano, El RP, Grupo de Baile Musaico Cultural, Grupo Ritual and La Obra.
When: 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, July 28
Where: Sinnissippi Park Music Shell, 1401 N. Second St., Rockford
Info: Go HERE
Live at Levings
About: Soul in the Park VII features performances by The Synergy Band and Soul Review. Its hosted by Mercedes Cherelle with music from DJ Rated AG.
When: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, July 28
Where: Levings Unity Pavilion at Levings Park, 1420 S. Pierpont Ave., Rockford
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
