THROUGH SEPT. 29

Rockford City Market

Water Street at East State Street, Rockford

weekly on Fridays, 3:30-8:30 p.m.

free admission

The market is an open air public market featuring locally grown and made items including vegetables, fruit, meat, cheese, flowers, herbs, baked goods, artisans, prepared food, local beer and wine. There is weekly live entertainment in two areas, kids’ activities, and cooking demos. Information: (815) 988-2825.

 

THROUGH SEPT. 30

 

Saturday Family Fun

Lockwood Park Trailside Equestrian Centre and Children’s Farm

5201 Safford Rd. Rockford

noon-5 p.m.

Bring the family out to the country to enjoy Saturday afternoons finding fun at Rockford Park District’s Lockwood Park. There’s a covered pony ring for children ages 1-7, the Children’s Farm Animal Barn with friendly farm animals, and horseback trail rides for riders age 8 and older. To complete their visit, families can relax together on a scenic hay ride through the meadows and woods. Information: (815) 987-8809.

 

THROUGH OCT. 1

 

Bittersweet Observations

Rockford Art Museum

711 N. Main St., Rockford

10 a.m.-5 p.m.

$7 adult admission, free for members

The show explores the grown-up wonder of childlike nostalgia in a dramatic, fairytale setting through paintings, drawings, prints, animation, and installations by Casey Riordan Millard, Jenny Mathews, Sarah Reed-McNamara and Jeremy Klonicki. Information: (815) 968-2787 .

 

THROUGH OCT. 14

 

Six Degrees of Separation

presented By Usual Suspects, Nordlof Center – Black Box Theater

118 N. Main St., Rockford

weekends, Fridays and Saturdays 8 p.m.

Winner of the 1993 Olivier Award for Best Play and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award. The title refers to a statistical theory which states that any two people in the world can be connected through only six other people. The play is an examination of the threads of chance that link one person to another. Information: (815) 513-8685.

 

THROUGH OCT. 28

 

North End City Market

Intersection of North Main and Auburn Streets, Rockford

weekly on Saturdays 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

free admission

The market is full of fresh, local products and food and will be a nice place for the community to gather to shop, eat, and socialize. Information: (815) 977-5124.

 

THROUGH NOV. 5

 

Bruce Munro: LIGHT

Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens

1354 N. 2nd St., Rockford

varying admission prices and entry times

Call (815) 987-8858 for specifics

The exhibition, Munro’s eighth large-scale garden exhibition in the U.S., allows visitors to literally see the gardens in a new light. The gardens and Conservatory will provide a stunning backdrop for eight sculptures, including Munro’s iconic “Field of Light” and “Water-Towers.”

 

SEPT. 27

 

Guest Bartender Night and Art Exhibit, presented By Rockford Art Museum

Josef Steakhouse & Oyster Bar

6860 Spring Creek Rd., Rockford

5-7 p.m.

free admission

Event serves as informal closing celebration for “Bittersweet Observations” on view through Oct. 1 at the Rockford Art Museum. All tips will support production costs for this wildly popular exhibition. Information: (815) 968-2787.

 

SEPT. 29

 

Click! Photography Show – Opening Reception

Womanspace

3333 Maria Linden Dr., Rockford

5:30-7 p.m.

This exhibit features the work of several talented regional photographers. Come explore the magic they have captured with their lenses! Light refreshments will be served. The exhibit runs through November 12. Information: (815) 877-0118.

 

Rockford Art Deli’s 5th Birthday

 402 E. State St., Rockford

noon-10 p.m.

Information: (312) 725-4723.

 

SEPT. 29-30

 

Celebrate Coronado Theatre’s 90th Birthday – Free Two-Day Event

Coronado Performing Arts Center

314 N. Main St., Rockford

Friday 7-11 p.m., Saturday noon-4 p.m.

The Roaring 20s Party will begin at 7 p.m. Friday with a party in every square inch of the Coronado Theatre. At the end of the night, guests will have a look at the theater through the ages as the Friends of the Coronado Foundation and the Land of Lincoln Theater Organ Society debut the short film, “History of the Coronado.” Saturday’s free-of-charge party continues indoors and outdoors on Main Street from noon-4 p.m. p.m. with fun family refreshments, a face painter, a magician, and the award-winning Discovery Center Museum. Tours will continue throughout the theater. Information: (815) 968-0595.

 

SEPT. 29-OCT. 1

 

National Short Track Championships (NSTC)

Rockford Speedway

9572 Forest Hills Rd., Loves Park

6 p.m. Friday, 5 p.m. Saturday, 12:30 p.m. Sunday.

$6-$24

Event features 11 different classes of race cars taking to the track over a three-day time frame, including Late Model Features headlining all three days. For more information call the Rockford Speedway office at 815-633-1500 or visit rockfordspeedway.com.

 

SEPT. 30

 

Noah’s Ark Dog Days of Summer Adopt a Pet Event

Hidden Treasures Mall & Antiques

6329 N. 2nd St. Loves Park

11 a.m-2 p.m.

Learn about:the adoption process and volunteering. The group will also be accepting Noah’s Ark Wish List Items. The sanctuary stays afloat thanks to the generosity of our community. Information: (779) 210-7602.

 

Great Balls of Fire Grand Opening

Discovery Center Museum

711 N. Main St., Rockford

$2 per person, members free

10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Hold a comet in your hand, put the solar system in your pocket, and get ready for galactic fun. Create a crater, assess an asteroid, and more. Get a free ticket to a planetarium show today with admission to this special exhibition. Information: (815) 963-6769.

 

Haunted Rockford book release party

Veterans Memorial Hall and Museum

211 N. Main St., Rockford

7-9 p.m., free

Kathi Kresol, organizer of Haunted Rockford Events and local historian will be hosting an event for the release of her book “Haunted Rockford.” She will share excerpts from the stories chosen for the book which be offered for sale and will be available for signing. Information: (815) 871-4239.

 

Illinois Paranormal Conference

Veterans Memorial Hall and Museum

211 N. Main St., Rockford

10:30 a.m.-6 p.m.

$20 in advance, $25 at door.

The Paranormal Conference will feature speakers and vendors from all aspects of the paranormal. Headline speaker is paranormal researcher Scotty Roberts, world traveler, historian, theologian, researcher, illustrator, publisher and student of Egyptology. Local and regional speakers also featured. Information: (815) 871-4239.

 

The Great Rockton Race, presented By Sugar Britches and Rockton Businesses

Settler’s Park

East Harwich St., Rockton

10 a.m.-1 p.m.

free.

The race combines the exhilaration of The Amazing Race with the mental challenges of your far-from-average scavenger hunt for a love of all things Rockton. Contestants will decode clues, perform challenging tasks and have the opportunity to meet people in the Rockton community. Information: (815) 713-5588

 

Thin Mint Sprint, presented By Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois

The Boy Scout and Girl Scout Program Center

7194 Vandiver Rd., Cherry Valley

8 a.m.

$15-$35.

The event will feature an 8K Road Race, 2 Mile Run and 2 Mile Walk through Swanson Hill, Baumann Park, and the Village of Cherry Valley. Both the 8K and 2 Mile Run will be chip-timed. Participants in the 8K and 2 Mile Run will receive a tech shirt with their registration. Sign up at: https://runsignup.com/Race/IL/CherryValley/GSNIThinMintSprint

–Winnebago County Calendar of Events–