Weekend events in farthest northern Illinois: Friday, Jul 12 - Sunday, Jul 14

This weekend in Roscoe, South Beloit, and Rockton: a century of forest preserve, sidewalk sales and Summerpalooza in Rockton, live music, storytime under the cottonwood tree, butterfly hike, ice cream social at Macktown.

10 things to do this weekend: Friday, Jul 12 - Sunday, Jul 14

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FEATURED EVENTS

Happy Birthday, Hononegah! 100 Year Celebration - Sat Jul 13 5:00 pm

Hononegah Forest Preserve

5 - 9 p.m. Join our centennial celebration of Hononegah Forest Preserve!  Enjoy a beautiful summer evening filled with friends, family, music, and nature-inspired activities. Movie starting at 9:30 p.m. The evening features live music by Viceroy band, a talented five-piece band of young Rockford natives covering rock classics from every decade.  [more details]

Other Events

Downtown Rockton's Summer Sidewalk Sale - Fri Jul 12 10:00 am

Downtown Rockton

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Join us for two days of sales galore on the streets of Downtown Rockton! Participating businesses are located along Main St., Hawick St., and Blackhawk Blvd. Then on Saturday, July 13, we'll close out the sales with the second Summerpalooza with live music starting at 5 p.m. and going until 10 p.m. We'll have retro and vintage games for people to play too, and we'd love to see you dressed up in your best vintage summer clothing!  [more details]

Little Science Storytime - Fri Jul 12 10:00 am

Nature at the Confluence

Our summer story time with the South Beloit Public Library returns! Join us on Friday mornings or Sunday afternoons for reading and activity time under our cottonwood tree. Recommended for children ages 3-5, this series will introduce our local plant and animal friends to help build nature vocabulary, as well as Spanish and American Sign Language vocabulary. Each Friday is a new nature theme, and the theme is repeated on Sundays. Please register once for the series, and join us for as many times as you like. [more details]

Free Tennis Lessons - Fri Jul 12 4:30 pm

Hononegah High School

All ages and skill levels are welcome. Ages: 5-12 4:30-5:30, Ages: 12+/Adults 5:30-dark. [more details]

Live Music: An Evening with Chris Lewis - Fri Jul 12 7:00 pm

Louie's Tap House

Chris Lewis brings soothing acoustic serenades aged in oak barrels with notes of smokey ambiance and velvety vocals. [more details]

Summerpalooza in Downtown Rockton - Sat Jul 13 5:00 pm

Downtown Rockton

Join the Downtown Rockton businesses for Summerpalooza - A Downtown Rockton Street Dance Series, as we close off the 100 west block of Main St. (Deedee's to Rockton Food & Spirits) for bands, food, beverages and all kinds of fun games and activities in the spirit of the date's theme. All ages are welcome! As we LOVE a good kitschy theme, we highly encourage attendees to dress to impress and enjoy theme-centered activities. The July 13 theme is Nostalgia! Dress in your favorite 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, or 00s clothes. [more details]

Live Music: Steve Weber - Sat Jul 13 6:00 pm

After the Vine

Singer guitarist Steve Weber will be at After The Vine, along with wine specials. [more details]

Guided Butterfly Hike at Kieselburg - Sun Jul 14 1:00 pm

Kieselberg Forest Preserve

Join Alan Branhagen, Natural Land Institute Executive Director, for a butterfly focused guided hike at Kieselburg Forest Preserve. Kieselburg showcases several types of habitat including gravel prairie, wet prairie and a restored wetland which is classified as a calcareous seep, an uncommon wetland type in Winnebago County.  Both the seep and prairie support a diversity of birds, butterflies and other pollinators. This is a free guided hike. Leashed dogs allowed. Meet at front parking lot. [more details]

Live Music: Jimmy Z Solo - Sun Jul 14 1:00 pm

Louie's Taphouse

Come on out and have a great time with Jimmy Z and everyone else at Louie's. [more details]

Ice Cream Social at Macktown Living History - Sun Jul 14 1:00 pm

Macktown Living History

1 - 4 p.m. Members free. $5 for non-members. Join us for a day of chores and FUN! Games and an ice cream social after doing some daily chores from the 1840's. Play games, crank the custard, visit with friends. Games, such as horseshoes, tug of war, boules, gunny sack race, shut the box.  Antique sale in the visitors center as well as handmade items made by the Macktown blacksmiths and items for sale in the visitor center store. See what Macktown Living History is all about. Share your summer Sunday afternoon with us. Visit our historic buildings at Winnebago County's first pioneer settlement and learn about the indigenous people who lived there for thousands of years. [more details]

Yes, you're in the loop! For more things to do, or to post your own event, visit our Community Calendar.