By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The weekend is nearly here and we don’t want you sitting at home with nothing to do.
Here are a dozen ideas for fun in the Rockford area. You can always find more on our events page.
Find crafty gifts for the holidays
Crafters and artists will fill the Mercyhealth Indoor Sports Center this weekend for the Rockford Arts & Crafts Holiday Spectacular.
More than 25,000 square feet of space will be filled with a variety of handmade items including holiday decor, floral arrangements, crochet items, bath and body products, jewelry, pet supplies, woodcrafts and more.
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The event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Indoor Sports Center, 8800 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park.
Admission is $5 for adults and free for children 12 and younger.
You can get tickets and more information HERE.
Attend a meet-and-greet for local authors, aspiring writers
Maze Books, an independent book shop at 117 S. Third Ave. in Rockford, will host a meet-and-greet from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday for local authors and aspiring writers.
Attendees can network with other local literary creatives, learn tips and tricks for self-publishing and exchange critiques and comments on original material. A short, open stage live-reading session will be available to local writers, as time permits.
There is no cost to attend.
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Roll and reminisce
The Kings of the Roundtable will host a 21 and older Rep & Roll Jam Skate from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at Skate Co., 3209 N. Main St., Rockford.
The event is intended to increase awareness of existing affinity groups active in the Rockford region and grow roller skating culture in the region.
Tickets are $25 or $20 per person for groups of five or more. You can purchase tickets through Eventbrite.
Honor veterans at this annual ceremony
The Rockford Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution and Veterans Memorial Hall and Museum will hold the annual Veterans Day celebration at 11 a.m. on Friday.
The keynote speaker is Rockford Alderman Jonathan Logemann, who is a member of the Army National Guard.
Logemann joined the Army National Guard in 2012 and led advising missions in Afghanistan. He is a high school teacher in Rockford and was elected Rockford’s 2nd Ward alderman in 2017.
For more information: veteransmemorialhall.com.
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See Chelsea Handler at the Coronado
Comedian Chelsea Handler brings her vaccinated and horny tour to town at 8 p.m. Friday at the Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford.
The former late-night talk show host turned Netflix documentarian has penned six best-selling books, five of which have reached No. 1 on the New York Times Bestseller list.
Tickets start at $53 and can be purchased here.
Speaking of comedy …
Comedian Dale McPeek will headline comedy night at 8 p.m. Saturday at The Detour Bar & Grill, 1920 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park. The free show is hosted by B103’s Matt Hall.
Get more info here.
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Purchase with a purpose at this holiday market
Redeemer Church, 5501 Windsor Road, in Loves Park will host a Christmas Market under a heated tent from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
There will be leather goods, soaps, candles, ornaments, pottery, jewelry and other goods from artisans both locally and from around the world.
“These artisans are paid a fair wage, are able to keep their families together and are given the hope of the gospel,” according to the church.
It also offers gourmet coffee, cocoa, cider, popcorn and more food. You can also stop by Kids Zone for cookies and a free hayride with Santa.
Listen to Rockford Symphony Orchestra’s last music director finalist
Vlad Vizireanu, the last of the finalists considered for Rockford Symphony Orchestra’s next music director, will present a program called From the Mothership to the Underground at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford.
The show features music by Hans Zimmer and Tchaikovsky. Tickets start at $10 and can be purchased here.
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See ‘Dirty Dancing’ live in concert
You can see a digitally remastered version of the 1987 film “Dirty Dancing” with a live band and singers performing the movie’s songs.
“Dirty Dancing In Concert” starts at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Coronado, 314 N. Main St., Rockford.
Tickets range from $45 to $85 and can be purchased here.
Hear an award-winning high school ensemble
The Beloit Memorial High School Jazz Orchestra will perform at 3 p.m. Sunday at Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center, 415 N. Church St., Rockford.
The award-winning high school ensemble will showcase America’s original art form.
Tickets cost $12 in advance or $15 at the door. It costs $6 for students. You can purchase tickets here.
Hunt for hidden holiday treasures
Hidden Treasures Mall & Antiques will host a winter open house on Saturday to give you an early start on Christmas shopping.
It runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the antique store, 6329 N. Second St., Loves Park.
Admission is free.
Ice skate with your family
Ice skate to music under disco lights from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Carlson Ice Arena, 4150 N. Perryville Road, Loves Park.
It costs $5 for skating and $2 to rent skates.
You can get more info here.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas.