815 Ale Fest, concerts, cats and more: 14 things to do this weekend in the Rockford area
February has arrived and that means activities and events across the Rock River Valley are in abundance.
The first weekend of February features IceHogs hockey, a new arts exhibition, a beer festival and a show for cat lovers.
IceHogs hockey
What: The Rockford IceHogs are home for two games this weekend versus the Iowa Wild.
When: 7 p.m. Friday and 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: BMO Center, 300 Elm St., Rockford
For ticket prices and more: https://icehogs.com/
Outer Harmonies: Thirteen Themes from the Permanent Collection
What: Outer Harmonies presents 13 groups of work from Rockford Art Museum’s acclaimed Permanent Collection. These themed groupings show similar explorations of subject matter representing the museum’s five focus areas. The themes and subject matter include Americana, home, eroticism, apocalypse, the psychological nature of cartoons, horses, oddities, pairs, portraits, politics, scale, meta and the evolution of the human figure in art.
When: Public opening is scheduled for 7 to 8 p.m. Friday. The exhibition remains on view through May 28.
Where: Rockford Art Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford
Cost: Free admission
For more: https://rockfordartmuseum.org/
Inscape Collective concerts
What: Enjoy back-to-back solo performances by two talented local musicians. Tim Shaffer brings his jazz/classical/blues repertoire to the stage. Paul Bronson shares his neo-classical artistic guitar stylings.
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Inscape Collective, 201 7th St., Rockford
Cost: No admission charge. A freewill offering rewards the musicians and would be appreciated.
For more: https://www.inscapecollective.org/
Emily Dirks
What: Enjoy an evening of soprano Emily Dirks performing arias and art songs, including pieces by American composers Barber and Walker.
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center, 415 N. Church St., Rockford
Cost: $21 in advance, $25 at the door, $6 for students.
For more: https://www.mendelssohnpac.org/
Winter Dance Party Tour
What: Concerts on the Creek presents a special concert commemorating Feb. 2, 1959, the night that Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens were killed in a plane crash. Ron Holm and John Bishoff will create a fantasy concert featuring some of the songs that Buddy, Bopper, and Ritchie would have performed at the Moorhead, Minnesota Armory if their plane had not crashed. Also included are songs by surviving tour mates Dion DiMucci and Waylon Jennings.
When: 3 to 5 p.m. Friday
Where: Spring Creek Church, 4500 Spring Creek Road, Rockford
Cost: Free admission, donations are appreciated.
For more: https://www.springcreekucc.org/
Valentine's Pop-Up Market and Floral Class
What: Rockford City Market hosts its annual Valentine's Pop-Up Market featuring vendors, live music from Kayla Seeber and valentines-themed drinks. A custom floral arrangement class will be conducted on the lower level of the Indoor City Market building.
When: 4 to 8 p.m. Friday
Where: Rockford City Market building, 116 N. Madison St., Rockford
For ticket prices and more: http://www.rockfordcitymarket.com/
American Cat Fanciers Cat Show
What: A variety of felines will be judged in four separate rings each day. There will be many vendors offering cat related items such as cat trees, cat toys, jewelry, beds and cat collectibles.
When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday & Sunday
Where: Forest Hills Lodge, 1601 West Lane Road, Loves Park
Cost: $5 for adults and children 14 and older. Free admission for children 13 and under.
For more: https://www.foresthillslodge.net/
815 Ale Fest
What: Experience beer from breweries in the Rockford area and much more. Some of the featured breweries include Pig Minds Brewing, Urban Forest, More Brewing, Hairy Cow Brewing. Prairie Street Brewing, Lena Brewing and more.
When: 12 to 4 p.m. Saturday with a VIP ticket, 1 to 4 p.m. for general admission
Where: Tebala Event Center, 7910 Newburg Road, Rockford
Cost: VIP ticket is $55, general admission ticket is $35 and a designated driver ticket is $10. The designated driver ticket includes a lunch ticket, but no alcohol is served to that person.
For more: https://815alefest.com
Natural History Trivia
What: Here’s an opportunity for natural history buffs to test their knowledge of animals, plants, dinosaurs, and more. Prizes will be awarded to the top performing teams.
When: 4 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Burpee Museum of Natural History, 737 N. Main St., Rockford
Cost: $2 for members, $5 for nonmembers
For more: https://burpee.org/
The Bricks Wedding Expo
What: The Bricks Venue Center is hosting its first wedding expo. Music, food, drinks, prizes and more will be on hand.
When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Bricks Venue Center, 125 E. State St., Cherry Valley
Cost: Free admission
For more: https://www.thebrickscv.com/
Trinadora’s First Saturday Musical Potpourri
What: Janel Nelson and Ron Holm perform a mixture of vintage and contemporary pop, folk, country, jazz, blues, Latin, Celtic, and variety music. Janel and Ron accompany their vocals with keyboard, ocarina, guitar, ukulele, fiddle, harmonica, saxophone, bass, steel guitar, concertina, and more instruments.
When: 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Stockholm Inn, 2420 Charles St., Rockford
Cost: Free admission
For more: https://www.stockholminn.com/
Cheat You Fair: The Story of Chicago’s Maxwell Street
What: A showing of “Cheat You Fair,” the Story of Chicago’s Maxwell Street will be followed by live music from John Primer & The Real Deal Band.
When: 7 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Nordlof Center, 118 N. Main St., Rockford
Cost: Free admission
For more: https://do312.com/venues/nordlof-center
Arts at Emmanuel
What: Arts at Emmanuel is hosting an all photography show titled “Windows to the Soul.”
When: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Exhibit runs through May 1.
Where: Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 920 3rd Ave., Rockford
Cost: Free admission
For more: https://www.elcrockford.org/
Wander at the Wetland: Full Moon Snowshoe & Hike
What: Families and individuals of all ages are invited to experience the winter landscape of prairies and wetlands from dusk through the rise of the full moon. The prairie trail will be lit by hundreds of luminaries. Attendees are invited to bring their own snowshoes or skis. Snowshoes will be available to rent for a $10 donation per pair to the Natural Land Institute.
When: 4:30 to 8 p.m. Monday
Where: Nygren Wetland Preserve, 3190 W. Rockton Road, Rockton
Cost: Free admission
Ken DeCoster covers business news and features. Contact him at 815-987-1391, kdecoster@rrstar.com or @DeCosterKen.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: 815 Ale Fest among 14 things to do in the Rockford area this weekend
