Photos: Stroll on State 2025 rolls on through the snow in downtown Rockford

November 29, 2025|By Kevin Haas|In Trending, Positive & Uplifting, Featured, Photo Gallery, Rock River Current, News, 815 News, Local
Summer Ogren, 3, looks up at her father after throwing a snowball on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, during the Stroll on State parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Photos by Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The annual Stroll on State rolled through the snow on Saturday despite winter weather that forced the event to be scaled back.

There were fewer balloon floats in the parade, fireworks were canceled because road conditions caused delays for the pyrotechnics crew, and the event concluded earlier than scheduled.

However, people still lined up to see the parade and walk the festival grounds. It’s the 13th year of Stroll on State and the first with a major snow event.

Here are some images of the event:

Chad, Oakley, Elowyn and Kuenzie Dearth-Horwich wave to the Stroll on State parade on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
John Sideras cheers as the Stroll on State parade passes on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Hammy the Hog throws a fake snowball amidst the real snow on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, during the Stroll on State parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Plows push away snow to start the Stroll on State parade on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Nadine Slocum walks Elsa with 815 Paws on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, during the Stroll on State parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
The Stroll on State parade marches down Main Street on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Fabbie Williams and Fab Dance Academy dance on State Street on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, during the Stroll on State parade in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Cecelia Staab poses for a photos Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, during Stroll on State in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Stroll on State organizers Julie Huber and Kristen Paul take a selfie with Santa on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, during Stroll on State in Rockford. (Photo by Julie Huber/Provided to Rock River Current)
Jennifer Roser of Festival of Frights passes out candy on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, during the Stroll on State parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
John Ekberg sings during the Stroll on State parade on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Chelsie Cartwright tosses candy from a Hard Rock Casino Rockford Jeep on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, during Stroll on State’s parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Juneteenth Queen Alyssa Tate poses for a photo on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, during Stroll on State in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Eli Parker and Jack Dausman perform during Stroll on State on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Fab Dance Academy dances on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, during Stroll on State in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Phoenix Cheerleading performs on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, during the snowy Stroll on State parade in downtown Rockford. (photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Edyn Sartain prepares to throw a snowball on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, during Stroll on State in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
A Stroll on State parade-goers boots are covered with snow on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Erin Guenzler, with Elliot Dando and their two sons, waves to the Stroll on State parade on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
815 Paws walks in the Stroll on State parade on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
The Winnebago County Fair court, from left Jr. Miss Deegan Edwards, LIttle Miss Kensington Frieberg and Queen Khloe Wiegers wave to the crowd during Stroll on State on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Alec Grabowski, president of OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, marches in the Stroll on State parade on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Summer Ogren, 3, looks up at her father after throwing a snowball on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, during the Stroll on State parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Edyn Sartain makes a snow angel on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, during Stroll on State in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
815 Paws walks in the Stroll on State parade on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Tiffany Zumwalt takes a photo of her children Tyler, 7, and Teagan, 4, on State Street after the conclusion of the Stroll on State parade on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
People walk on State Street near the end of Stroll on State on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
People wait for the tree lighting at Main and Elm streets on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Reece Schiffman talks with customers on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, at Rockford Art Deli during Stroll on State in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Julie Huber and Kristen Paul pause for a photo on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, before the Stroll on State tree-lighting ceremony in downtown Rockford. The pair spearheads the organization of the annual festival. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
City First Band performs on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, before the Stroll on State tree-lighting ceremony in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Mari Ortega of Rockford makes a s’more on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, during Stroll on State in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Carolaine Dotson-Rentsch and Hannah Murillo-Livingston pose for a photo with their reflection off an ornament on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, at Stroll on State in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Stroll on State’s tree is lit Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Solomon Leon and Leilu Conaway battle with light sabers on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, during Stroll on State in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Solomon Leon prepares to duel Leilu Conaway with light sabers on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, during Stroll on State in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
People gather around the tree after the lighting ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, during Stroll on State in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Rollin’ Whiskey performs Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, during Stroll on State in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
People surround the Stroll on State Christmas tree after the lighting ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
People walk through the snow on the State Street bridge on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Chase from Paw Patrol, played by Jennifer Furst, throws candy to the crowd on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, during Stroll on State in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Pearson Plumbing’s float rolls down State Street in downtown Rockford on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, during a snowy Stroll on State. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
The Stroll on State parade moves down State Street on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Josephine Anderson and Mari Ortega make s’mores on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, during Stroll on State in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
The Erickson family – from right Lee, Joy, Hannah and Ewan – pause after taking a selfie on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in front of the Christmas tree during Stroll on State in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Ryan Weyerts pulls his brother, Isaac, 7, through the snow on Saturday, Nov.29, 2025, during Stroll on State in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
A Rockford Peaches float moves down State Street on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, during Stroll on State in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Snow falls on the Stroll on State Christmas tree on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, at Main and Elm streets in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

This photo gallery is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas