By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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LOVES PARK — Looking for something to do in the area this weekend?
You can rock out with Bret Michaels, celebrate art at the 74th Greenwich Village Art Fair, catch a movie on Rockford’s Miracle Mile or illuminate in the glow of Nicholas Conservatory and Gardens.
Here are 10 options for weekend fun, or you can visit our events page for more.
Rock out at Rivets Stadium
Bret Michaels, the former front man to the rock band Poison, will perform Saturday at Rivets Stadium, 4503 Interstate Blvd., Loves Park.
The opening acts for the show are Tommy DeCarlo, of the band Boston, and 7th Heaven. The gates open at 5 p.m. and music is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.
Tickets start at $35.
For more information and tickets, visit HERE.
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Celebrate art at a two-day fair
The 74th Greenwich Village Art Fair takes places Saturday and Sunday at Rockford Art Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford.
The two-day outdoor event features juried artists, live music, children’s art activities, a local vendor marketplace, food trucks, cocktails and more.
The fair is the longest-running event of its kind in the Midwest, according to organizers. All artwork on display is original and produced by the exhibiting artists.
The event runs 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5.
Go clubbing to support youth music education
The Rockford Area Music Industry golf outing takes place starting at 2 p.m. Thursday at Sinnissippi Golf Course, 2003 Arlington Ave., Rockford.
The cost is $45 with proceeds going to fund youth music education programs and events. The fee includes golf, prizes, food and a cart.
You can get tickets through Eventbrite, or learn more info at ramiawards.com.
Watch a movie on Rockford’s Miracle Mile
After rain forced the cancellation of the event earlier this year, Miracle Mile Rockford has rescheduled its outdoor movie night and celebration of the city’s aerospace industry.
“First Man,” a picture about the Apollo 11 mission, will show Saturday at 3915 E. State St., which is a parking lot next to Don Carter Lanes. The gates open at 5:30 p.m. and the movie will begin at approximately 7 p.m.
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Rockford astrobiologist Sarah Treadwell will also be at the event with demonstrations, activities and telescopes. Treadwell is also a solar system ambassador for NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory and crew journalist for the Mars Desert Research Station.
Collins Aerospace, Forest City Gear, Rockford Area Aerospace Network, EAA/Young Eagles and Rock Valley College Tech Bus will have informational tables as well.
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Watch a play that pokes fun at politics
Artists’ Ensemble Theater presents “The Outsider,” a political satire about a socially anxious man who is forced into the role of governor when scandal ousts the man who previously held the job.
The play runs at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; and 2 p.m. Sunday at Rockford University’s Cheek Theater, 5050 E. State St. The show runs through Sept. 25.
For tickets or more information, visit artistsensemble.org.
Take a haunted tour of downtown Rockford
Haunted Rockford will partner with the Rockford Historical Society for a tour of haunted spots around downtown Rockford.
Author Kathi Kresol will lead the group around downtown and several costumed interpreters will bring the ghostly historic tales to life.
The event cost $20 and must be paid in advance at hauntedrockford.com or by calling Kresol at 815-871-4239.
Check out ‘indoor chaos’ at Twisted Crypt
Twisted Crypt Haunted House brings its scares back to Rockford for a ninth season starting Friday.
The 10,000-square-foot space at 5420 E. State St. is transformed each year into one of the state’s best haunted attractions.
“Twisted Crypt Haunted House is 10,000 square feet of indoor chaos, gore, mystery, mazes, and interactive showrooms,” the locally operated company says. “You experience sights, sounds, smells, and creatures lurking around every corner.”
Related: ‘Indoor chaos’: Twisted Crypt Haunted House delivers scares in Rockford
Opening night is Friday, and it will then be open on weekends through Halloween.
Learn more about the Superhero Center
The Superhero Center for Autism will hold an open house from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at its facility, 4205 Galleria Drive in Loves Park.
The center offers support, education and other resources for individuals with autism and other special needs and their families. It recently started hosting regular gym hours for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and use of the facility is free for families who have a child with a documented special need.
“We’re excited to again be able to offer a safe place for kids with autism and special needs to play and be themselves now that some pandemic restrictions have eased,” said Billy Kulpa, vice president of the Superhero Center, in a news release. “It’s great to see so many familiar faces returning, but we know that there are many other families that can benefit from our facility. We want them to know we’re a resource and welcoming community for them.”
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Bask in the glow of the gardens
Celebrate the end of summer with an illuminating event at Nicholas Conservatory and Gardens, 1354 N. Second St., Rockford.
Glow in the Garden goes from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday. For $5, you can purchase a floating lantern and personalize it with your own message before releasing it into the Eclipse Lagoon.
A 200-meter kids fun run will take place at 7 p.m., and a 5K run happens at 7:30 p.m.
You can purchase your lantern while supplies last here. It cost $30 for the 5K run in advance or $35 on race day, and the fee includes a T-shirt and admission to the conservatory. Tickets are $15 for ages 12 and younger.
You can purchase tickets here.
Watch live painting and poetry underground
Artist Roni Golan and poet and spoken-word artist Christopher D. Sims will collaborate for a live poetry and painting event from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at The Underground Art Gallery, 418 E. State St., Rockford.
The event is free to attend.
Catch a comedy show at the Coronado
Leanne Morgan brings her Big Panty Tour to Rockford on Saturday.
The show starts at 7 p.m. at the Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford.
You can get tickets for the event here.
Shop a flea market at the fairgrounds
The biannual Pec Thing returns this weekend with more than 500 vendors spread across the Winnebago County Fairgrounds, 500 W. First St., Pecatonica.
You can shop for antique tools as well as furniture, glassware, yard art, candles, crafts, sports memorabilia and more. The event runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $5.
Find out more details here.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas