Some of the things to do in the area this weekend include (clockwise from top left) drive through the Festival of Lights, attend the Rockford IceHogs game, stroll through All Aglow or see the Sinnissippi Station exhibit at Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens. (IceHogs photo by Brad Repplinger/Rockford IceHogs, other photos by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
By Mary Sisk
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The holidays are in full swing in the Rock River Valley, with events like Breakfast with Santa, multiple lighting displays and holiday markets happening this weekend.

But there’s other things to do even if you’re not ready for Christmas, such as the 815horts film festival, the Rockford IceHogs “Screw City” night and Severson Dells Nature Center’s luminaria.

Here are a dozen ideas for things to do this weekend, and you can always peruse more on our events page.

Candlelit walk and s’mores? Yes please

Luminaria is slated for 6-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Severson Dells Nature Center, 8786 Montague Road.

The free event will feature a candlelit walk, s’mores, live music and more activities. Donations are accepted.

Support local youth dancers

ORCHESIS Dance Concert: New Beginnings is happening at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Rockford University Clark Arts Center’s Maddox Theatre, 5050 E. State St.

The event features pieces from Rockford University Dance Students, Rockford Dance Company, Evolve Dance Company, Auburn High School and South Beloit High School.

Admission is $12 for adults and $9 for non-Rockford University students and seniors age 55 and older. Tickets can be purchased online here.

Film lover? Sundance is coming to downtown

The Rockford Public Library Nordlof Center, 118 N. Main St., will host the Sundance Short Film Tour and 815horts on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022, in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

815horts will present selected works by local filmmakers with the 2022 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Tour following it.

The event happens from 4:30-10 p.m. Saturday at the Rockford Public Library’s Nordlof Center, 118 N. Main St.

Tickets can be purchased online here.

Go see the Screw City IceHogs

The Rockford IceHogs compete against the Milwaukee Admirals on Friday, Nov. 25, 2022, at the BMO Center in Rockford. (Photo by Brad Repplinger/Rockford IceHogs)

The Rockford IceHogs will play the Iowa Wild at 7 p.m. both Friday and Saturday at the BMO Center, 300 Elm St.

The team will adopt the “Screw City” nickname for its game on Friday to pay homage to the region’s rich manufacturing history.

The Screw City IceHogs will play in special jerseys with a unique logo that honors Rockford’s history of manufacturing screws, while staying true to the Hogs primary colors of red and black.

“We look forward to honoring Rockford’s industrial history and current advanced manufacturing excellence with this alternate identity and unique tribute,” IceHogs President of Business Operations Ryan Snider said in a news release. “The Screw City brand is a perfect fit for our team as the hard-working, resilient, and technologically advanced attributes of our manufacturing community are also shared by our players and fans alike.”

Tickets and more information can be found online here.

Breakfast with the big guy in red

Mercyhealth Development Foundation will host Breakfast with Santa from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday at Mercyhealth Javon Bea Hospital-Riverside, 8201 E. Riverside Blvd.

The event benefits babies in the neonatal intensive care unit and their families.

Breakfast will include French toast sticks, eggs, bacon or sausage and beverages. There is also cookie decorating, games and a photo with Santa.

It costs $15 per person if you register by Friday or $20 for tickets at the door.

To purchase tickets or become a sponsor, visit giveagift.mercyhealthsystem.org.

Still need to buy Christmas gifts?

Go to Edgebrook Shopping Center’s Last-Minute Market from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at the shopping center, 1639 N. Alpine Road.

The market will feature jewelry, candles, pastries and more.

Go see some Christmas lights

The annual Illuminated: A Lighted Garden Experience event reoccurs 5-8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday at Anderson Japanese Gardens, 318 Spring Creek Road.

The event includes numerous light displays, pizza from Woodfire, various food trucks, live carolers on Fridays and Saturdays and more fun.

Admission is free for Premium Gardens members, free for children 5 and under, $11 for adults, $10 for seniors, $9 for students and military.

More information and dates can be found here.

All aboard! See miniature trains at Nicholas Conservatory

Sinnissippi Station
A miniature train runs down tracks resembling the Jefferson Street bridge on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022, inside Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

The Sinnissippi Station Model Train Exhibit is a reoccurring event, open from noon-8 p.m. this Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. 3 p.m. Sunday at Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens, 1354 N. Second St.

The exhibit will feature nine landmark structures that are part of Sinnissippi Station and more historical structures. Tickets can be purchased online here.

Related: Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens listed among America’s 51 most romantic places

Ride on a one-horse open sleigh (kind of)

Winter on the Farm Holiday Wagon Rides happens at 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 7 p.m. this Friday at Lockwood Park, 5201 Safford Road.

Tickets are $7 and refreshments are available for purchase following the ride inside the Trailside Centre.

Related: Rockford Park District kicks off Winter Flurry. Here are key dates to know

There’s something about merry

The buildings on the Womanspace campus will be transformed into a holiday-themed shopping experience this weekend for the There’s Something About Merry Holiday Artisan Market.

The main building and art studio at 3333 Maria Linden Drive will be filled with handmade art, jewelry, gifts and holiday decor starting Thursday.

The event runs 5-8 p.m. Thursday, 1-7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

More information can be found at womanspace-rockford.org.

Get lit in Sinnissippi Park

Vehicles move through the Festival of Lights in Sinnissippi Park on Nov. 26, 2021, in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

The annual Festival of Lights opens again for drive-thru visitors from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday through Sunday at Sinnissippi Park, 1401 N. Second St.

This year’s driving tour features more than 100 displays and roughly 400,000 lights.

Want more lights? Stroll through All Aglow

The All Aglow lights display is in Sinnissippi Park outside Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens through Jan. 9, 2021. The display has returned this year with more decorations. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

The outdoor gardens at Nicholas Conservatory and Gardens are illuminated with 300,000 for the holiday season. That includes 50 jumbo-lighted candy canes made by conservatory staff.

The All Aglow event is free to walk through, but donations are accepted in any of the purple donation poles.


This article is by Mary Sisk with contributions by Kevin Haas. Email her at msisk@rockrivercurrent.com or follow her on Instagram at @maryrrcurrent

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