Snømarket, 815 short film festival and more ideas for fun in the Rockford area this weekend
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Holiday festivities are in full swing this weekend with the annual Snømarket, Hometown Holiday variety show, Santa Hop and a variety of other winter and Christmas activities.
But there are events for any season, too, including comedy shows, Rockford IceHogs games and the third annual 815horts Film Festival.
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Here are more than 20 ideas for weekend fun in the Rockford area:
Snømarket
What: The annual winter Snømarket, a three-day Nordic-themed festival, runs Friday through Sunday. You can sip homemade glögg and hot chocolate, snack on æbleskiver and lefse, sing Christmas carols, sit by fire pits or take a horse-drawn carriage ride, among other activities.
Where: The Norwegian, 1402 N. Main St., Rockford
When: 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13; 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15
815horts film festival
What: The third-annual 815horts film festival will screen more than a dozen movies and include panel discussions with Oscar-nominated filmmakers.
When: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13; 10:30 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14
Where: City Stage Studios, 821 First Ave., Rockford
Tickets: $15 for Friday; $20 for Saturday; $25 two-day pass
Info/complete lineup: 815horts.com
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Holiday Merry Market
What: Shop from local vendors, sip seasonal drinks and enjoy live music during this indoor market.
Where: Rockford City Market, 116 N. Madison St., Rockford
When: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13
Hometown Holiday
What: J.R. Sullivan’s Hometown Holiday, a variety show that blends music, comedy and storytelling, is back this year.
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13 and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15
Where: RPL Nordlof Center in the Sullivan Theater, 118 N. Main St., Rockford
Tickets and info: HERE
Festival of Lights
What: Festival of Lights is in its 35th season in Rockford. The drive-thru holiday lights showcase has more than 120 displays this year.
Where: Sinnissippi Park, 1401 N. Second St., Rockford
When: 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12 through Sunday, Dec. 15 (See full hours after this weekend HERE)
Santa Clause schedule: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday Dec. 13, through Sunday, Dec. 15
Snow Queen schedule: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12
Luminaria
What: Luminaria lights will twinkle along the Severson Dells pathways, and you can treat yourself at stations for hot chocolate and s’mores. There will also be live musical performances by Vince Chiarelli Band on Friday and Canto Zenzero on Saturday.
When: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13 and Saturday, Dec. 14
Where: Severson Dells Nature Center, 8786 Montague Road, Rockford
Info: Go HERE
Illuminated
What: Illuminated is Anderson Japanese Gardens annual holiday lights experience, featuring dramatic up-lighting and thousands of white string lights woven throughout garden. Fireside dining and beverage service is also available inside the visitor’s center.
When: 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12 through Sunday, Dec. 15 (open nightly starting Dec. 18)
Where: Anderson Japanese Gardens, 318 Spring Creek Road, Rockford
Cost: $14; $13 for seniors; $12 for students and military members; free for children 5 and younger; $8 for members and free for premium members
Info: Go HERE
Santa Hop
What: The River District Association hosts Santa Hop, a festive take on a pub crawl that blends in downtown shopping. Dress up as Santa, an elf, or a reindeer and hop from pub to pub, enjoying special drink deals and holiday-themed activities.
When: 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14
Where: Various locations downtown, see details HERE
Winter Holi-Neigh
What: Lockwood Park’s Winter Holi-Neigh allows families can enjoy lighted tractor-drawn wagon rides through a decorated winter wonderland. There will be a holiday story reading and s’mores at a brief stop in the woods.
When: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14
Tickets: $15
Where: Lockwood Park, 5201 Safford Road, Rockford
Info: Go HERE
Belated Taylor Swift birthday party
What: Windsor Pizza Parlor’s Belated Taylor Swift Birth-Tay Par-Tay will feature Skyler Davis of Culture Shock spinning all the Taylor Swift tunes with a special pop-up shop for special merchandise centered around the pop star. There will also be Taylor Swift trivia.
When: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15
Where: Windsor Pizza Parlor, 1034 Windsor Road, Loves Park
Info: Go HERE
Pop-Up in the Parks | Candyland Christmas
What: The sixth event in the Pop-Up in the Parks series is a new holiday market called Candyland Christmas. The market will feature pizza, music by DJ Petey P, drinks, permanent jewelry, hair tins and other holiday shopping. There will also be visits from Santa Claus.
When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14
Where: The Mercato by Lino’s, 8400 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park
Candlelight Concerts: ‘The Nutcracker’
What: Candlelight concerts is a live, multisensory music experience set under the glow of candlelight. This week’s show features the music of “The Nutcracker.”
Where: Union Event Space, 112 N. Second St., Rockford
Info/Tickets: Go HERE
Merry Market
What: The village of Roscoe presents its Hometown Holiday and Merry Market. The downtown district will be filled with holiday festivities and shopping experiences.
When: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14
Where: Downtown Roscoe
Info: Go HERE
Hootin’ Holidays
What: Learn about Atwood’s birds of prey and some adaptations that make them capable of surviving the elements throughout the year.
When: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14
Where: Atwood Center, 2685 New Milford School, Rockford
Cost: The event is free but registration is recommended. Register HERE
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas
What: Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis features 15 musicians playing more than 20 instruments against a backdrop of multimedia effects that capture the spirit of the season in an immersive show.
When: 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14
Where: Coronado Theatre, 314 N. Main St., Rockford
Info/tickets: Go HERE
IceHogs United for Literacy
What: This weeks’ IceHogs game against the Iowa Wild will feature an array of literacy-themed activities and educational booths, including a literacy fair, local authors on hand, library card signups, a book donation drive and various ways for kids who come to the game to leave with a book in hand.
When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14
Where: BMO Center, 300 Elm St.
Tickets: Go HERE
Paraiso Stand Up Comedy Night
What: Philip Earl “MooNiE” Johnson headlines this stand-up comedy show, which also features Chucky Razo, Angie McMahon and host Marcos Lara.
When: 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13
Where: El Paraiso Lumbre Y Mar, 5518 N. Second St., Loves Park
Little Me and Santa
What: Take a photo with Santa, drop off your Christmas letter at the North Pole Express mailbox and visit Santa’s shop to make crafts, personalized ornaments and decorate your own Christmas cookie to take home. The event is geared toward children ages 3-10. Children must be accompanied by a parent.
When: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14
Cost: $8 per child
Info: Go HERE
Free print day
What: Bring a blank shirt to Rockford Art Deli and they’ll print a brand new Rockford-themed holiday design for free. There will also be blank tees available for purchase. A maximum of four shirts will be printed per person.
When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14
Where: Rockford Art Deli, 402 E. State St., Rockford
Comedian John McCombs
What: Stand-up comedian John McCombs is a 13-year veteran of comedy and a four-year veteran of the Marine Corps. He headlines this show, which also features Zach Liss, Juan Arellano and Allie Sroka.
When: 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14
Where: Hope & Anchor English Pub, 5040 N. Second St., Loves Park
Cost: $10; call 815-633-2552 to reserve a seat
Winter Mindfulness Walk
Update: This event has sold out
What: Jessie Crow Mermel will lead a mindfulness walk designed to help you lower your stress levels, slow down and rewild your senses to the natural world.
When: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14
Where: Nature at the Confluence, 306 Dickop St., South Beloit
Cost: $5, tickets HERE
Laurent House holiday tours
What: Experience the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Laurent House decorated for the holidays with the Laurents’ personal collection of ornaments as well as other mid-century Christmas decorations. Christmas carols will be performed by local pianist Laurie Hamdani on the Laurents’ piano.
When: 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14 and Sunday, Dec. 15 (continues Saturday, Dec. 21 and Sunday, Dec. 22)
Where: Laurent House, 4646 Spring Brook Road, Rockford
Into/tickets: Go HERE
Xmas Evening with Nonpoint
What: Nu metal band Nonpoint returns to The Apollo Theatre to headline Xmas Evening 2024. The show also features From Ashes to Embers, Finding Ghosts and So Called Saints.
When: 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14
Where: The Apollo Theatre, 104 N. State St., Belvidere
Tickets: Go HERE
IceHogs vs. Admirals
What: The Rockford IceHogs take on the Milwaukee Admirals on Pizza Hut Family Pack night.
When: 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15
Where: BMO Center, 300 Elm St., Rockford
Info/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
