By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — This week there are a multitude of ways to wrap yourself up in the holiday spirit.
Or you could just shop for gifts to wrap up and place under your Christmas tree.
815 Holiday Gift Guide | Shop local for toys, clothes, jewelry and more in the Rockford region
The Rockford region is home to holiday festivals, markets and light displays throughout the week. There are some non-holiday events, too, including live music, sports and performing arts.
Here are 22 things to do this week in the Rockford area. You can always scroll through more on our events page.
Shop an indoor winter market
About: Shop a variety of local vendors selling everything from produce to jewelry, sustainable supplies, crafts and more.
When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6
Where: 4949 Harrison Ave., Rockford
Cost: Free entry
Shop an indoor farmers market
About: Edgebrook Indoor Farmers Market features vegetables, fruits, flowers, plants, baked goods and other goods from farmers in our region.
When: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6
Where: Edgebrook, 1639 N. Alpine Road, Rockford
Stroll through All Aglow
About: The outdoor gardens around the Eclipse Lagoon and Nicholas Conservatory in Sinnissippi Park are All Aglow from dusk to dawn daily until Jan. 7. There are roughly 300,000 lights on display.
Where: Nicholas Conservatory and Gardens, 1354 N. Second St., Rockford
When: Park closes at 10 p.m.
How much: Free
Art gets improvised
About: The latest installment of Ars Pvblica tasks artists, poets and performers to draw a theme from a hat improvise their response with music, poetry, spoken word, dance, comedy and other visual arts.
When: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9
Where: The Underground, 418 E. State St., Rockford
Info: Facebook event page HERE
Holiday concert at Rockford University
About: Rockford University choirs and soloists will perform “Starry Night Morning Light,” a once-a-semester concert under the direction of Professor Timm Adams. The contemplative yet joyous collection of holiday classic and other songs are accompanied by piano, fiddle and oboe. Some of the songs include “I Wonder as I Wander,” “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear,” “Starry, Starry Night,” and “Light of a Clear Blue Morning.”
Where: Maddox Theatre, Clark Arts Center at Rockford University, 5050 E. State St., Rockford
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8
Cost: $12 general admission; $9 students and seniors; $5 per for groups of eight or more
Tickets and info: Go HERE
Illuminated at Anderson Japanese Gardens
About: Illuminated is Anderson Gardens’ wintertime lights experience, featuring thousands of white string lights woven throughout the 12-acre campus and canopy of the garden.
Where: 318 Spring Creek Road, Rockford
When: 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday through Sunday
Admission: $13 adults; $12 seniors; $11 student and military members; free for ages 5 and younger; $8 for basic members; free for premium members
Festival of Lights
About: Festival of Lights is an annual holiday drive-thru display featuring a 33,000-light tunnel and hundreds of thousands of lights throughout Sinnissippi Park. The display is put up by a small volunteer team with the Rockford Fourth of July Civic Committee.
Where: Sinnissippi Park, 1401 N. Second St.
When: 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday through Sunday
Cost: Free. The display is funded by donations. You can donate HERE.
There’s Something About Merry
About: There’s Something About Merry Holiday Artisan Market features handcrafted items from local artists. You’ll find jewelry, woodcraft, pottery, fiber, fine art, coffee and more.
Where: Womanspace, 3333 Maria Linden Drive, Rockford
When: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7; 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9; 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10
Admission: Free
Info: womanspace-rockford.org
Hometown holiday tradition returns
About: J.R. Sullivan’s Hometown Holiday Redux, a variety show that returns for one night this year after a four-year hiatus, has sold out its evening performance. However, you can buy discounted tickets to a matinee/dress rehearsal.
When: 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8
Cost: $25
Info/tickets: jrsullivanhometownholiday.com
Cheer on the Hogs
About: The Rockford IceHogs take on the San Diego Gulls twice this weekend on their home ice.
Where: BMO Center, 300 Elm St., Rockford
When: 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8; 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9
Tickets/info: icehogs.com/schedule
Whiskey and wine experience
About: Whiskey & Wine Experience allows you to explore more than 20 whiskeys and 50 wines in this tasting event hosted by Artale & Co. Di Tullio’s Italian Market will provide authentic Italian expertise with hors’ d’oeuvres.
Where: Union Event Space, 112 N. Second St., Rockford
When: 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8
Cost: $50
Tickets: Go HERE
Related: New cocktail lounge with speakeasy vibes opens in downtown Rockford
A Night at the North Pole
About: “A Night at the North Pole” is a special musical holiday show performed by students in Rockford University’s performing arts program.
When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9; 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15; 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16; 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17
Where: West Side Show Room, 1414 N. Main St., Rockford
Admission: Free
Tickets/info: wssr.org/northpole
Have breakfast with Santa
About: Breakfast with Santa is a breakfast fundraiser for families to benefit of Mercyhealth’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Where: Outside of Cafe Merci at MercyHealth Javon Bea Hospital – Riverside, 8201 E. Riverside Blvd., Rockford
When: 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 9
Cost: $15; free for children younger than 1
Contact: 815-971-4144
Holly Jolly Youth Christmas Party
About: Two nonprofits, Positive Reflections and Iconic Nurse Network Outreach, are hosting a Christmas party dedicated to spreading joy and festive cheer to area children. There will be food, dancing, gift drawings, holiday treats, family photos and other activities.
When: noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9
Where: 730 N. Church St., Rockford
Cost: Free, registration required
To register: 779-210-1714 or 312-668-8604
Christmas in the Trenches
About: Christmas in the Trenches is a military re-enactment of the 1914 Christmas truce taking place 107 years ago during World War I.
Where: Midway Village Museum, 6799 Guilford Road, Rockford
When: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 9
Cost: $12 general admission; $10 children ages 5-12; $11 seniors 62 and older; free for children 2 and younger
Info: midwayvillage.com
Indoor Holiday Merry Market
About: Indoor Rockford City Market will have two floors of local vendors, live music, seasonal drinks and holiday festivities.
Where: Rockford City Market, 116 N. Madison St., Rockford
When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9
Admission: Free
Info: rockfordcitymarket.com/eventscalendar
Last-minute market
About: Last-Minute Market is Edgebrook’s free admission, indoor arts and crafts exhibit. Grab your last-minute holiday items.
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9
Where: Edgebrook, 1639 N. Alpine Road, Rockford
Whiskey Myers at Coronado
About: Genre-bending band Whiskey Myers, which has sold more than 1.65 million albums and amassed over 2.25 billion streams, brings its live tour to the Coronado Performing Arts Center.
When: 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9 (doors open 7 p.m.)
Where: Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford
Tickets: Starting at $49
Tickets/info: coronadopac.org/events/whiskey-myers
Roscoe Hometown Holiday
About: Downtown Roscoe will be filled with music, games and prizes and crafts for kids at the Fire Station. There will be food trucks at Main Street Square, choirs from all the local schools, soup and gospel music at Roscoe United Methodist Church, letters to Santa at Village Hall, cookies, hot chocolate, and an appearance by Santa at Jim Blevin’s State Farm.
Where: Main Street Square, 5344 Williams Drive, Roscoe
When: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9
Handmade market
About: This holiday shopping event features local and regional vendors selling locally crafted and handmade goods. There are dozens of vendors and Santa will be on site from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Prairie Street Brewing Co., 200 Prairie St., Rockford
When: noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10
Info: Facebook event page HERE
Learn the backstory of a Christmas classic
About: Macktown Living History presents Christmas Sunday – “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Listen to readings of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” and learn about the background of the tale.
Where: Macktown Living History, 2221 Freeport Road, Rockton
When: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10
Cost: $5 donation suggested
Info: macktownlivinghistory.com
Brunch with Santa
About: This special Brunch, Booze & Boards includes a visit from Santa.
Where: The Top Lounge & Rooftop Deck at Embassy Suites, 416 S. Main St., Rockford
When: 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, Dec. 10
Reserve your space: 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