Images of 2024 | A look back at 24 of our favorite photos taken in 2024

December 30, 2024|By Kevin Haas|In Rock River Current, 815 News, Local, Rockford, Trending, Featured, Photo Gallery
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — In the past year, the Rock River Current has captured moments big and small around the region.

Today we’re looking back on images that tell the story of some of the fun that happened around the Rockford area in 2024.

Photos here come from our staff, as well as a few from freelancers, contributors and readers.

In no particular order, here are 24 images from 2024 in the Rockford area:

Pyrotechnics blast off during grand opening festivities on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, inside Hard Rock Live before the opening of Hard Rock Casino Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Rockford firefighter Rory Blanchard carries an American flag inscribed with the names of fallen New York firefighters on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, during the annual Hero Climb to honor the men and women who responded to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
A rainbow spans across the Rock River on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, near the YMCA of Rock River Valley in downtown Rockford. (Photo provided by David Margolis)
Grimace the corpse flower
Joey Stoyas and Sarah Greer react to the blooming corpse flower on Sunday, July 28, 2024, at Nicholas Conservatory in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Andres Enriquez faces off against Julian Lugo on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, during the Rockford Boxing Classic at Rockford City Market pavilion. (Photo by Susan Moran/Special to the Rock River Current)
DeAndre Hemby reacts after hearing City Attorney Nick Meyer, left, declare Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, to be Dre Day in the city of Rockford in honor of Hemby. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
A drone show lights up the sky on Saturday, June 1 2024, during GoRockford’s CRE8IV Music and Arts Festival. It was the city’s first ever drone show. (Photo by Mindy Joy Nutter Young/Mindy Joy Photography)
Christi Letsinger of Dead Man’s Hand performs Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, during 815 Ale Fest at Tebala Event Center in Cherry Valley. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Fourth of July in Rockford
Fireworks explode over downtown Rockford on Thursday, July 4, 2024, near the Rock River. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
A Fourth of July motorcycle parade moves down East State Street in downtown Rockford on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Chloe Swick, 14, of Loves Park paints Gianna Madison, 13, of Loves Park before the 2024 Fourth of July parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Brett Powell
Four-time World Cable Wakeboard Brett Powell spins a 1080 off a kicker on Saturday, June 22, 2024, at West Rock Wake Park in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Peregrine falcon Louise, seen through a window from the eighth floor of the Iconic Energy building, reacts Tuesday, May 21, 2024, to seeing people inside near her nest. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
The sun sets over southwest Rockford on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, as seen from The Top Rooftop Bar & Lounge in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
A mural by Andrea Jablonski at East State and First streets in downtown Rockford in June 2024. (Photo by Mindy Joy Nutter Young/Mindy Joy Photography)
Leap Day
Piper Farina, 9, leaps on the balance beam on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, at Gymnastics Academy of Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Molly Kettelhut is hugged by her students on Thursday, March 7, 2024, after receiving the Golden Apple award at Galapagos Rockford Charter School. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Michelle Williams cheers on the band on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, during the Diamonds gala at Embassy Suites by Hilton Rockford Riverfront. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Julian Lugo connects with a left hook on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, against Andres Enriquez during the Rockford Boxing Classic in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Rockford Pride
A group with U.S. Bank carries the Pride Flag down East State Street on Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Sabrena Ferguson of the Rockford Rage skates down East State Street on Saturday, June 1, 2024, for the city’s first official Pride Parade in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Rockford’s 11th Ward participates in National Hispanic Heritage month with a parade on Broadway on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, ending in a festival at Keye-Mallquist Park in Rockford. Rockford’s 11th Ward participates in National Hispanic Heritage month with a parade on Broadway on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, ending in a festival at Keye-Mallquist Park in Rockford. (Photo by Susan Moran/Special to the Rock River Current)
Pablo Korona and Brad Towell discuss a shot on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, for an Our City, Our Story video. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Robin Nelson does lampwork on a glass art project on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, at CherryVale Mall in Cherry Valley. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

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