The countdown to Christmas is in the home stretch and that means there are plenty of activities and events in the Rock River Valley for the entire family.
The third weekend in December brings us holiday light displays, theater, concerts and ice hockey.
Artists Ensemble Theater presents ‘Hallmarked’
What: Mary O’Reilly is stressed about the holidays. Then she awakens to find herself trapped in a made-for-tv Christmas romance but she needs to find her way home and the clock is ticking.
When: 7:30pm Friday and Saturday
Where: Rockford University Cheek Theater, 5050 E. State St., Rockford
For ticket prices and more: artistsensemble.org
winter wonderland
What: Enjoy winter adventures while escaping the cold. Test your skating skills at Discovery Center’s new indoor sock skating rink. No ice, no shoes, just slip-sliding fun on a high-tech synthetic polymer surface. Also, enjoy creating holiday crafts based on cultures from around the world.
When: 10 am to 3 pm Saturday through Dec. 23 and Dec. 26 through Dec. 31
Where: Discovery Center Museum. 711 N. Main St., Rockford
Cost: $10, free to members and children ages 1 and younger.
For more: discoverycentermuseum.org
SnoMarket
What: SnoMarket is an annual outdoor winter celebration in Rockford’s North End. Each day, we will be offering drinks (hot cocoa, akvavit in ice cube shot glasses, hot cider, & glögg in glass mugs), hot food, sweets like krumkake & kannelsnurrer, gifts and handmade items to purchase, yeti picture-taking, and more. The event is put on by The Norwegian, which will joined in the festivities by neighbors Rooted, Wonderland Sweets & The Norwegian Artist Lofts along with several other vendors.
When: from 3 to 9 pm Friday and Saturday and 11 am to 5 pm Sunday
Where: The Norwegian, 1402 N. Main St., Rockford
For more: thenorwegian.com
Illuminated: A Lighted Garden Experience
What: The Illuminated wintertime lights experience features dramatic up-lighting and thousands of white string lights woven throughout the landscape and canopy of the Garden.
When: 5 to 8 pm through Dec, 30, closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Where: Anderson Japanese Gardens, 318 Spring Creek Road, Rockford
Cost: Free for Premium Gardens members, free for children five and under, $11 for adults, $10 for seniors, $9 for students and military.
For more: andersongardens.org
Festival of Lights
What: Drive through Sinnissippi Park and enjoy dozens of holiday light displays. Festival of Lights has been a Stateline family tradition since 1989.
When: 5 to 11 pm through Dec. 23, open 24 hours Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Where: Sinnissippi Park, 1401 N. 2nd St., Rockford
Cost: Free admission, donations will be accepted.
For more: 4thandlights.com
All Aglow Holiday Light Display
What: Celebrate the holidays at Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens! Come see sparkling holiday lights in the outdoor gardens.
When: Dusk until dawn through Jan 8
Where: Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens, 1354 N. 2nd St., Rockford
Cost: FRee admission, donations will be accepted.
For more: nicholasconservatory.com/all-aglow
‘Red Noses’
What: While the plague fills medieval Europe with fear, Father Flote leads a traveling band of comics who offer redemption through laughter. Using Monty Python-style humor, Red Noses follows this troupe of God’s Zanies as they seek laughter and love during the darkest of times.
When: 7pm Thursday, 8pm Friday & Saturday, 4pm Sunday
Where: The West Side Show Room, 1414 N. Main St., Rockford
For tickets and more: wssr.org
Winter on the farm
What: Enjoy a wagon ride through a winter wonderland.
When: 5 to 7 pm Friday
Where: Lockwood Park Trailside Equestrian Center & Children’s Farm, 5201 Safford Road, Rockford
Cost: $7 per ticket, free for children 2 and under.
For more: lockwoodpark.com
IceHogs hockey
What: The IceHogs are in action this weekend
When: 7pm Friday versus Toronto Marlies, 7pm Saturday versus Hartford Wolf Pack
Where: BMO Center, 300 Elm St., Rockford
For ticket prices and more: icehogs.com
Cartoon Club: TV and video game characters
What: Learn to draw animals, people and more. Each session will feature step-by-step drawing instructions based on a fun theme that you can choose to follow along with or use as inspiration for your own unique vision.
When: 11 am Saturday
Where: Rockford Art Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford
Cost: $10 for the public, $7 for museum members.
For more: rockfordartmuseum.org
Holiday pops
What: Featuring favorite holiday classics including The Christmas Song and the Hanukkah Festival Overture along with some fun contemporary pieces such as Elf: the Musical Medley and The Toy Trumpet featuring Mark Baldin, RSO’s principal trumpet. And no Holiday Pops is complete without the Christmas Pops Sing-A-Long.
When: 7:30pm Saturday
Where: Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford
For ticket prices and more:coronadopac.org
Owl Prowl
What: Enjoy an evening of owl education. The session starts off indoors learning about the common owl species of our area, then the group will hit the trail in hopes of hearing, or even seeing, one of our resident owls in person.
When: 7 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Severson Dells Nature Center, 8786 Montague Road, Rockford
Cost: $3 for members, $5 for general admission.
For more: seversondells.com
Holiday Tour of Laurent House
What: Enjoy the beauty of the Laurent House and the Visitor Center center, each decorated for the holidays with the Laurents’ personal collection of ornaments as well as many mid-century Christmas decorations. Each guided tour will end with holiday refreshments of Swedish Christmas cookies and hot chocolate at the Visitor Center.
When: 1pm and 2:30pm Saturday and Sunday
Where: 4646 Spring Brook Road, Rockford
Cost: $25 for adults, $5 for students ages 7-18.
For more: laurenthouse.com
Inspiration on the Creek
What: Enjoy a performance of traditional Irish/Celtic Christmas music with some special guest performances of dance and piping. The event will feature the Celtic harp and flute of Emerald Wind, multi-genre duo Trinadora and authentic Irish musician Danny McDade.
When: 3 to 5 pm Sunday
Where: Spring Creek United Church of Christ, 4500 Spring Creek Road, Rockford
Cost: A free will donation of $10 is suggested.
For more: irishmarchingsociety.com
Clint Black featuring Lisa Hartman Black
What: Enjoy the “Mostly Hits and The Mrs. Tour” with special guest Lily Pearl Black
When: 7pm Sunday
Where: Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford
For tickets and more: coronadopac.org
Ken DeCoster covers business news and features. Contact him at 815-987-1391, [email protected] or @DeCosterKen.
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