Urban Equity Properties to tackle $45.6M revamp of historic News Tower in downtown Rockford
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Urban Equity Properties is preparing to close on the purchase of the historic former News Tower in downtown and take on a $45.6 million redevelopment of the iconic part of the city's skyline.
The Rockford-based real estate company plans to revamp the campus at 99 E. State St. with 80 luxury loft apartments, many with views overlooking the Rock River. There will also be 12 retail spaces in what's envisioned as an emporium for small business and a riverfront restaurant space. A small publishing museum will also be built to honor the site's history. Its future name will be the News Tower Lofts.
"It's monumental," said Justin Fern, founding principal of UEP. "It truly is one of the greatest buildings in the city. ... If you look at all the Rockford publications and if they have a skyline, it's likely going to be that tower in the photos."
Iconic Energy had purchased the former Rockford Register Star building from a subsidiary of the newspaper's parent company, Gannett, for $1.7 million in December 2021. Iconic had its own multi-million redevelopment plan. However, owner Teague Dickey decided to step back from that plan and put the building up for sale after he expected a downturn in solar business with a tax credit incentive for homeowners to install systems ending this year.
Fern is stepping in with what will be UEP's biggest downtown redevelopment to date. The developer recently opened the Nu-State Apartments at 119 N. Church St., the Water Power Lofts at 700 S. Main St., and work is underway on the Chick House Flats at the corner of Elm and Main streets, to name a few of its biggest downtown redevelopments.
"Somebody has to do it now that Iconic is not able to take on the project," Fern said. "It's truly the next chapter of downtown."
UEP expects to close on the purchase from Iconic in early to mid January, and then seek City Council approval on a redevelopment deal that will include cash incentives and tax reimbursements from a tax-increment finance district.
If approved, predevelopment work will take place throughout 2026 with construction starting in 2027. The goal would be to complete the redevelopment by mid to late 2028. It would be a full union project, Fern said.
"It's a big construction job creator. We're talking about a couple years of construction," he said. "But also it's going to be a big permanent job creator with all these different retail spaces and the restaurant."
The small business emporium is located across the street from Rockford City Market. It's a fitting spot considering that the market helps give many businesses their start before they can open their first brick-and-mortar store, Fern said. Rental rates in the emporium would be approximately $800, significantly less than the going rate for downtown leases.
"It gives a whole bunch of new businesses an opportunity to have a brick-and-mortar space on State Street," Fern said. "It's really going to act as an in-between the catalyst and the permanent brick-and-mortar space that may be unaffordable for a lot."
The city's proposed redevelopment agreement would allow UEP to be reimbursed the increment generated by the TIF district on a pay-as-you-go basis. TIF districts work by capturing increases in property taxes that come when a site's value increases into a special fund for redevelopment purposes. For example, if a building was worth $1 million and paid $10,000 in taxes, but improvements made the building worth $2 million now paying $20,000 in taxes, the extra $10,000 in taxes could be reimbursed for redevelopment costs.
The city also plans to provide UEP with $3 million from its redevelopment fund as a forgivable loan, meaning it wouldn't need to be repaid if the company upholds the redevelopment deal. An additional $1 million would be provided as a cash advance from the TIF district. It would be repaid to the city at $50,000 annually for 20 years.
The project will also benefit from state and federal historic tax credits offered for redeveloping buildings while keeping their historic integrity intact.
"The future of this building has been hanging out there for quite some time," said Rockford City Administrator Todd Cagnoni. "For Urban Equity Properties to get the property under contract ... and ultimately determine what the best path forward to get the building redeveloped and hopefully stabilized for another 100 years is critically important to our community."
The eight-story Art Deco building is one of the city’s most recognizable architectural features. It was designed by famed local architect Jesse Barloga and built in 1930.
"You could imagine if this property went into a blighted condition how negative it would be for our community," Cagnoni said.
He said the city is showing its commitment to historic preservation by investing in redevelopments to the News Tower, the former Watch Factory and the former Chick House Hotel, among other projects.
"I can't think of a community that is investing more in historic preservation than Rockford," Cagnoni said.
The proposed redevelopment deal will go to the City Council's Planning and Development Committee on Jan. 5 for its initial discussion.
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
Rockford native Cameron Smith makes history with Olympic-qualifying win
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A Rockford native is set to make Olympic history in February as he represents the country in a demanding endurance sport making its debut at the Winter Games.
Cameron Smith, a 2014 Guilford High School graduate, and his mixed relay ski mountaineering teammate Anna Gibson won the ISMF Ski Mountaineering World Cup event in Solitude, Utah, this week to secure an Olympic berth in Milan Cortina 2026.
They made history as the first mixed relay SkiMo team in American history to win World Cup gold. Now they'll prepare to compete in the sport's Olympic debut in February in Italy.
Smith said qualifying for the Olympics feels like the culmination of years of support he got growing up in Rockford, from running with the Rockford Wildcats to training under the late Lee Marks, a local legend who coached football and track for 47 years at Guilford High School.
"This all really did come from Rockford," Smith said in a phone interview from his home in Crested Butte, Colorado. "Starting there and going all the way to today, there's thousands of people with touchpoints on supporting this all. Qualifying for the Olympics and being part of this historic moment is the ultimate thank you.
"It's something that not only I can celebrate, but literally everyone that's had a hand in this can celebrate together."
Smith moved to Colorado to attend college after graduating from Guilford. It was then that he first tried ski mountaineering, often called SkiMo, after a few injuries had hampered his pursuit of track. In high school he had run cross country and track, including winning the mile in the NIC-10 his senior year.
In a little over a decade in the sport, he's become the country's most decorated SkiMo athlete, according to NBC Olympics. Smith has won 11 U.S. SkiMo National Championships and became the first American to finish in the Top 10 at a World Cup event and earn a Cup medal.
The sport combines exhausting uphill climbs with fast downhill sprints. Athletes transition quickly from uphill climbs to steep downhill descents.
In the mixed relay, the woman athlete starts the race and tags in her partner after she concludes the cross-country skiing, boot-packing and downhill lap. The male does the same, and then the cycle is repeated for two laps each.
SkiMo is still a budding sport in the U.S., with its governing body forming roughly a decade ago. It's more competitive in European countries where the sport has existed at a high level longer. For example, France and Italy have claimed 42 of the 57 Cup medals since the circuit was formed in 2006, according to NBC Olympics.
Smith and Gibson were fighting for a final spot in the Olympics. This week's race in Utah was one last shot to qualify. They trailed Canada by one point and needed a better performance in Utah to earn the Olympic trip.
"That was really the big goal, was to get into the start line," Smith said. "The narrative in that way was, let's get to the games, make sure the U.S. flag is on the start line and a part of all this. Then we'll just continue from there."
The common narrative, Smith said, was that maybe the U.S. can medal in 2034 once the games come back to Salt Lake City, Utah, and America has had more time to catch up to powerhouse European teams.
Smith crossed the finish line at 32 minutes and 17 seconds in Solitude, and Gibson was waiting for him at the finish line with an American flag draped across her shoulders. They finished 51.02 seconds ahead of second-place Italy and 1:31.7 ahead of Canada, which wound up seventh.
"Anna and I went from being the 13th ranked team going in to we won the first World Cup," Smith said. "Other countries took notice of that, and we took notice of that — this year's different."
Smith next heads to Europe in January to compete in three World Cup events in France, Andorra and Spain in the lead up to the opening ceremonies.
Competition will be much tougher in the Olympics than what the relay duo faced in its recent victory. Still, the Cup victory was a history-making moment and a momentum builder for the Olympics.
"We showed that our potential is a lot higher than where the U.S. has been," Smith said. "We're absolutely going there to fight for a medal."
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
After an expansive development was rejected, a new pitch looks to rezone 4 Rockford plots for duplexes
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A local developer is making a new pitch to bring duplex homes to vacant land south of Fincham Drive near Perryville Road on the city's east side.
LAS Management is asking the city to rezone four parcels of land from limited commercial to two-family residential zoning. The zoning switch would allow for four duplexes to be built at 6783 and 6819 Fincham Drive and 886 and 891 White Chapel Lane, which are plots directly north of the existing neighborhood.
The request is being put forth after a more expansive development plan was nixed by the City Council three months ago.
The proposal coming forward now asks the City Council only for a zoning change. It does not lay out any specific details of the development that would follow if the change is granted. City staff has recommended approving the zoning change.
"We're mainly focused on verifying whether this is an appropriate change to the zoning map," said Attorney Victor Zamora, who is representing the developer. "At this point we're hoping that the elected public officials of City Council will agree with the city and staff recommendation. If it does get approved, we would love to share more details. ... We don't want to go too far if (the zoning) isn't going to change."
LAS Management is a limited liability company under Realtor and real estate investor Luke Salamone, who is partnered with NBA star Fred VanVleet in the real estate company. The duo had a previous more expansive pitch for development in the area. City Council members ultimately rejected that planned unit development in a 9-5 vote on Sept. 2. That proposal was for 180 units through a combination of duplexes and four-unit buildings.
The previous proposal had faced resistance from neighbors, who raised concerns about increased traffic and congestion. City Council then delayed its vote when some aldermen wanted the developer to negotiate an agreement with union labor. However, when it reached the council floor no one specified any reason for their no vote.
City staff recommends the new proposed zoning switch, saying it fits into the area where there is already housing.
"We think it's a very reasonable request and falls in line with our future land use plans," said Scott Capovilla, the city's planning and zoning manager.
Housing demand
Homebuilding has been lackluster in the area since the onset of the Great Recession in 2007. That has contributed to a shortage of homes on the market, driving up the price of homes for sale and rental rates. The home inventory shortage was exacerbated by the pandemic, which drove down mortgage rates that many homeowners feel locked into today. There have been record lows in housing inventory this year.
A housing study commissioned by the city said that Rockford will need 3,200 to 9,100 new housing units by 2033.
"There's been a lot of criticism in the community about housing and a shortage of housing," Zamora said. "They're trying to fill in a gap that's missing in the city of Rockford."
The proposal will make its first stop in the process for potential approval on Tuesday, Dec. 16 before the Zoning Board of Appeals at City Hall.
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
Owner of Maze Books in Rockford gets holiday bonus from author James Patterson
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The owner of an independent bookstore in downtown was among 600 booksellers gifted a $500 holiday bonus from best-selling author James Patterson.
Dave Pedersen of Maze Books, 406 E. State St., is one of 34 independent booksellers from Illinois on this year's list of recipients. Patterson, a prolific author who has sold hundreds of millions of novels, has made a tradition of sending checks to booksellers who have been nominated by customers or their peers.
"Being on a list with these other bookstores, it certainly made me feel like I was in good company," Pedersen told the Rock River Current. "Rockford, everyone once in a while, out of nowhere will get something. It's nice for me, but I always think about Rockford and what it means to get some sort of attention, anything, on the city."
The gift comes as local retailers have been stressing how critical this shopping season is for their bottom line, especially after snow wiped out a typically busy shopping day on Small Business Saturday. Mayor Tom McNamara on Monday issued a Shop Local in December proclamation as a means to highlight the importance of supporting Rockford businesses.
"We're overjoyed," Pedersen said. "It couldn't have come at a better time with the weather and the shop local campaign that the mayor is doing."
The American Booksellers Association called for nominations for the holiday bonus this fall after Patterson pledged $300,000 for 600 recipients. The association released the list of recipients today.
“I’ve said this before, but I can’t say it enough — booksellers save lives,” Patterson said in a statement to national news outlets. “What they do is crucial, especially right now. I’m happy to be able to acknowledge them and their hard work this holiday season.”
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
Bill to rename Rockford post office for Jay Larson clears U.S. House
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A bipartisan bill to rename the city's main post office building after Jay Larson, who was killed in March 2024 while delivering his route, has passed the U.S. House.
Congressman Eric Sorensen, a Democrat, and Congressman Darin LaHood, a Republican, introduced the bill to rename the building at 5225 Harrison Ave. as the Jay P. Larson Post Office Building. It passed the U.S. House in a voice vote on Tuesday.
"Jay is a definition of an exemplary public servant and a good neighbor," Congressman Eric Sorensen said on the House floor. "As we approach the two year anniversary of this tragedy, it is my hope that renaming the main Rockford post office in Jay's honor will offer a testament to his service while giving our city something else to be proud of."
"Jay Larson: Worthy of this honor and worth of our memory."
The bill now moves on to the U.S. Senate.
The U.S. Postal Service has an independent authority to name its post offices. Congress can also pass legislation to name or rename facilities.
Larson was killed in a mass stabbing and attack on March 27, 2024, that spanned across several homes in southeast Rockford. The attack also claimed the lives of Jacob Schupbach, 23, and his mother Romona Schupbach, 63, and Jenna Newcomb, 15. Seven others were injured.
Christian Soto, 24, was charged with their killings and is being held in the Winnebago County Jail. He's due back in court in February.
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
Harlem School District pauses consolidation plans to review feedback
Rock River Current
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MACHESNEY PARK — The Harlem School District has decided to pause its public hearing process as it weighs feedback on consolidation plans that residents gave the school board this week.
Superintendent Terrell Yarbrough made the recommendation during Tuesday's public hearing, the second of three scheduled for this week.
"The pause will allow the Board of Education and the district’s administrative team additional time to thoroughly review the feedback received from staff, families, and community members," the district said in a news release Wednesday evening.
Related: Parents, teachers sound off on Harlem School District's proposed cuts
That means that the public hearing scheduled for Thursday has been canceled. The school board will discuss its next steps at its regularly scheduled meeting at 6 p.m. Monday at Harlem High School.
The district said that community input will continue to be gathered as the board evaluates its options going forward.
UW Health celebrates opening of second Rockford retail pharmacy
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — UW Health on Wednesday celebrated the opening of its second retail pharmacy in the city.
The new pharmacy is located at the UW Health N Bell School Road Clinic at 3505 N. Bell School Road. The health care provider's first pharmacy is at UW Health SwedishAmerican Hospital, 1401 E. State St.
The new location will provide prescription dispensing and vaccinations, among other services, but it will not offer over-the-counter medications. The pharmacy is directly connected to the UW Health system of care, according to Wendy Copeland, outpatient pharmacy manager, UW Health in northern Illinois.
“This location was strategically selected due to the N Bell School Road Clinic housing a wide range of specialty providers like dermatology, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and neurosurgery, in addition to family practice and internal medicine,” she said in a news release. “The new pharmacy is also in close proximity to the Carbone Cancer Center and endocrinology clinic, ensuring better access and support for those patients and their unique needs.”
The new location is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. However, it is closed between noon and 12:30 p.m. daily.
“Our dedicated team brings more than 86 years of combined experience, ensuring expert guidance and compassionate care for every individual we serve,” Copeland said. “This addition enhances continuity of care and reinforces our commitment to improving health outcomes.”
Rockford's record-breaking $385M capital plan has projects big and small
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The city's most-expensive capital plan to date includes finishing off the extensive rebuild of 11th Street, building a new water treatment plant considered key for development and pumping more money into repairing residential streets.
City Council members are set to discuss on Monday a potential $385.3 million five-year capital plan, which covers road and infrastructure work through 2030. The plan had been laid over at a previous City Council meeting.
“There’s lots of big projects as well as much-needed smaller projects,” Mayor Tom McNamara said on This Week in the Stateline.
This marks the fourth consecutive year of record spending in the capital plan, and it's the seventh consecutive year that the overall cost of the plan has grown.
The plan includes more than $86 million set aside for 2026, topping the roughly $75 million bid out for this past summer's construction season.
“I think this 2026 summer will probably be the height of that construction and then it will dip down each of the next couple of years as we get re-prepared for another set of funding for our arterials and collectors," McNamara said. “We are really on a good track to make sure that we’re not having to invest so much to totally reconstruct roads, but we’ll be able to help maintain them and resurface them, which allows us to do far more roads each year.”
The plan has grown each year since a $168.8 million capital plan was approved in 2019. In 2023, the five-year plan hit a new record of $311.1 million, topping the previous high of $279.2 in 2010. The record was topped again in 2024, 2025 and now 2026.
Here's a look at some of the major projects on the horizon:
11th Street work continues
The first phase of rebuilding 11th Street began this year, and it involves rebuilindg the road from Harrison Avenue to 18th Avenue. That $12.2 million project is expected to restart as soon as weather allows.
The next phase takes the rebuild from 18th Avenue to Charles Street, and is estimated to cost about $12 million including water infrastructure. That phase is planned to go forward next year and wrap up before the end of the year.
The final phase, moving forward in 2027, includes new sidewalks and lighting improvements from the U.S. 20 Bypass to Harrison Avenue, according to Tim Hinkens, city engineer. The final phase is anticipated to cost about $1.5 million.
How much: $26 million
When: 2026-2027
15th Avenue bridge over the Rock River
The 15th Avenue bridge over the Rock River dates back to 1933 and is nearing the end of its useful life. It would need to be closed to traffic within the next five to 10 years if not replaced, according to the city. Preliminary engineering began in 2020 with the expectation that construction would move forward in 2028.
How much: $20 million
When: 2028
Two-way conversions
The city plans to continue progress on engineering and planning for the tear down of the so-called Whitman Street interchange, a series of ramps and bridges near Illinois 251 on the east side of the Rock River. The interchange will be replaced with two-way streets that connect the east and west sides of the city.
The ramps and bridge will be removed and Sixth, Ninth and Longwood streets will all be converted to two-way traffic.
How much: $20 million
When: 2028
Well replacement
The city is preparing to replace the roughly century-old Well No. 45 reservoir near its Water Department headquarters at Cedar and South Avon streets.
The five-million gallon reservoir is the largest in the central water pressure zone and is considered vital to daily water and firefighting demands.
How much: $18 million
When: Fall 2026
Neighborhood roads
The capital plan lays out $45 million for neighborhood roads over five years. The money goes toward repairs for city's roughly 550 miles of residential streets and its 1,121 alleys.
Which residential streets will be fixed hasn't been decided yet. The neighborhood road repairs are determined in conjunction with the aldermen of each ward to determine the biggest needs.
The city will have $8 million dedicated toward the program in 2026. That increased by a half-million dollars each year through the end of the capital plan in 2030.
Water treatment plant
The city plans to build a new water treatment plant east of the Chicago Rockford International Airport to replace the previously decommissioned Well No. 24.
The new well will increase the water supply in what's called the city's Central Hydraulic Zone, and it's considered key to allowing future development to move forward around the airport.
Estimated cost: $24 million
When: 2026
Read the plan
Go HERE to see the draft version of the city's 2026-2030 capital plan.
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
Riverside Family Restaurant celebrates grand opening in Rockford's Miracle Mile
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A family-owned restaurant offering homestyle meals ranging from breakfast skillets to beer-battered cod, fried chicken and homemade soups has opened in the city's Miracle Mile.
Riverside Family Restaurant, 3415 E. State St., celebrated its ribbon-cutting on Tuesday with Miracle Mile Rockford. The restaurant gave a refreshed look to the space near Fairview Avenue and East State Street that was previously Imperial Palace and later Golden Bowl Asian Rockford.
“We are thrilled to open our doors on the Miracle Mile,” said Sandra Lopez, the restaurant's manager and part of the family that owns the business. “Rockford has welcomed us with open arms, and we look forward to serving this community for many years to come.”
This is the eighth Riverside Family Restaurant location in Illinois and Iowa. The first opened about 24 years ago along the Des Moines River in Ottumwa, Iowa, Lopez said. Their most recent restaurant prior to the debut in Rockford opened at 1669 Willard Drive in Freeport.
"We're really excited to be here and just to keep it going," Lopez said. "We wanted a chance to grow out here. The town is beautiful. I love the culture. There's so many beautiful areas. You come into Rockford, you see the beautiful art. The diversity of so many things. We just want to feel home here, too."
The casual family dining restaurant is open seven days a week and has breakfast, lunch and dinner options. Its large selection includes a 10-ounce ribeye steak sandwich, Monte Cristo melt, Hawaiian salad, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and multiple other sandwich, seafood, stir-fry, pasta and breakfast options.
"What I really like most about Riverside Family Restaurant is that they are committed to the community," said Amy Hoening, executive director of Miracle Mile Rockford. "They have discounts for veterans, they do different drives to collect (for charity). She's all about working together and supporting our larger community."
Miracle Mile Rockford is a nonprofit that works to support local businesses in the district along East State Street stretching roughly from UW Health SwedishAmerican Hospital to Rockford University.
Imperial Palace operated at 3415 E. State St. for 27 years before closing in 2019. The space was vacant until Golden Bowl opened in May 2023. Riverside Family Restaurant started with a soft opening a little more than a month ago.
Info | Riverside Family Restaurant
Where: 3415 E. State St., Rockford
Hours: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday
Phone: 779-210-2910
Facebook: 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
Rockford's Festival of Lights is a key fundraiser for America's 250th birthday fireworks
https://omny.fm/shows/rock-river-current-podcasts/festival-of-lights-is-an-important-fundraiser-for-4th-of-july-fireworks
By Steve Summers and Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — This year's Festival of Lights is not only spreading holiday cheer for the Christmas season. It's also setting the stage for America's 250th birthday party.
Organizers of the annual lights display have stressed all season that donations you make toward Festival of Lights will go toward putting on a grand fireworks display this coming July 4, which is the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The all volunteer Rockford 4th of July Civic Committee puts on both events without the use of any tax dollars.
“We really count on the Festival of Lights to carry this, our fireworks show," Ted O'Donnell, co-chairman of the civic committee, said on This Week in the Stateline. “We want to give Rockford a huge show to commemorate our country’s birth.”
Related: 'Labor of love' from small volunteer crew keeps Rockford's Festival of Lights running
O'Donnell has been beating the drum for donations this year because he said they've tapered off since 2020, and he wants to raise enough cash to put on a major display for America's 250th.
It costs the committee about $60,000 to pay for the pyrotechnics display, and the overall cost of the event is more than $80,000 when you factor in insurance, permits, food and beverage supply, and other costs.
“We literally, on Jan. 2, cut a check to Pyrotecnico for whatever the donation amounts are that we have to put our deposit in for the fireworks,” O'Donnell said. “We empty out our account immediately to make sure, one, that Rockford has a guaranteed fireworks show. Then we spend the rest of our six months leading up to the fireworks raising the rest of the funds that we possibly have to.”
Raising money for the fireworks display has never been easy. The late Joe Marino, O'Donnell's uncle who was known as Mr. Fourth of July for his years putting on the fireworks, took out a second mortgage on his house one year when donations were low. He borrowed nearly $3,000 and paid it back over 20 years, according to Rockford Register Star archives.
“We’re not going to mortgage our houses like Uncle Joe did,” O'Donnell said. “If we get to that point, we’ll have to throw in the hat, but we don’t want to. We want to keep working our butts off for everybody.”
This year's Festival of Lights has more than 110 displays. In addition to that there are more than 80 uplights and floodlights and about 120 twinkling trees. Several new spotlights, flood lights and twinkling trees were added this year to showcase the park during Festival of Lights.
“We added a lot more depth to the park this year,” O'Donnell said. “That park is a diamond in this city. … It’s absolutely gorgeous out there, so we wanted to accent that to show how big, No. 1, this park is and show the depth of it.”
How to donate | Festival of Lights
The Festival of Lights and Fourth of July fireworks display are both 100% funded through donations and sponsorships.
To donate, go HERE.
Find the organizations online at 4thandlights.com.
If you prefer to donate by check, you can mail to:
Rockford 4th of July Civic Committee
728 N. Prospect St., Suite 107
Rockford IL, 61107
Festival of Lights | schedule
Where: 1401 N. Second St., Rockford
Hours:
- This week: 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11 through Sunday, Dec. 14
- Lead-up to Christmas: 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15 and Tuesday, Dec. 16
- Christmas Eve: 24 hours
- Christmas Day: 24 hours
- Post Christmas: 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 26 through Sunday, Dec. 28
- New Year's Eve: 5 p.m. to midnight
This article is written by Kevin Haas with interviews conducted by Steve Summers for the This Week in the Stateline podcast. Email Haas at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas