Easter Bunny, Danny Trejo and more: 15 things to do in the Rockford area
The first weekend of April is quickly approaching, meaning children are on or just ended their spring break from school and Easter is around the corner.
This weekend features a variety of events and activities for the whole family to enjoy, including the Home & Garden Showcase, IceHogs hockey and several opportunities to meet up with the Easter Bunny.
Discovery Town
What: Temporary exhibit in which children play as they learn about the people and places that make up a community. While in Discovery Town, children can explore a variety of settings including a veterinary clinic, post office, theater, pizza shop, fire station, airport, classroom, town zoo and town park.
When: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays through May 29
Where: Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford
Cost: $11; free for members or children younger than one year old
For more: (815) 963-6769
Bleeding Hearts closing reception with the Evon Sams Trio
What: Check out the closing reception of the Art Collective's current gallery show, Bleeding Hearts & Scavenged Parts, along with a live jazz performance by the Evon Sams Trio.
When: Doors open at 6 p.m. Friday, with music beginning at 7:30.
Where: 317 Art Collaborative, 317 Market St, Rockford
Cost: Free
For more: artsforeveryone.com
Easter Bunny visit and photo
What: See the Easter Bunny and get your photo taken with him.
When: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day starting Friday through next Saturday, April 8
Where: CherryVale Mall
Cost: $36
For more: www.shopcherryvalemall.com
Friday Night with Minimal
What: The band Minimal will perform.
When: 7 to 10 p.m. Friday
Where: Louie’s Tap House, 5689 Elevator Road, Roscoe
Cost: No cover charge; donations accepted and matched by Louie’s
For more: (815) 270-1020
Rockford IceHogs
What: Rockford IceHogs take on the Laval Rockets on Friday and the Grand Rapids Griffins on Sunday.
When: 7 p.m. Friday and 4 p.m. Sunday
Where: BMO Center, 300 Elm St., Rockford
Cost: $12-$32
For more: www.icehogs.com
Morbid Angel, Revocation, Skeletal Remains
What: Heavy metal group Morbid Angel, thrash and speed group Revocation and death metal group Sekeletal Remains make a stop in Belvidere as part of the United States Tour of Terror 2023.
When: Doors open at 6 p.m. while music begins at 7 p.m. Friday
Where: The Apollo Theater AC, 104 N. State St., Belvidere
Cost: $15-$60
For more: www.ticketweb.com
18th Annual Home & Garden Showcase
What: This year’s event showcases more than 100 companies offering homeowners and apartment dwellers the convenience of comparative shopping for an array of products and services. Master Gardeners, Extension of U of I, will be on hand to answer all gardening questions. Planters Row, a live plant sale, will offer hundreds of plants at low show prices. There will be multiple lawn and gardening clinics.
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Where: Forest Hills Lodge, 1601 West Lane Road, Loves Park
Cost: Free
For more: 815-871-7469
Fourth Annual Trivia Night
What: A night of trivia, raffles, a silent auction, games, and giveaways. Cash prize for first place in trivia. Dress for the theme, The Movies and you could win the prize for Best Dressed Team. Proceeds go to the Junior League of Rockford to support its mission and current project, Literacy Leaders.
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Tebala Event Center, 7910 Newburg Road, Rockford
Cost: $55; $400 for a table. Cost includes trivia play, heavy appetizers and soft drinks/coffee. Cash bar.
For more: https://www.jlrockford.org/trivia/
Sixth Steels & Deals Spring Swap Meet & Car Show
What: Enjoy a DJ, food, door prizes and a 50/50 raffle benefitting Nik's Wish. Event goers can swap and meet others on both days with awards being given out on Sunday.
When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Where: Rockford Speedway, 9572 Forest Hills Road, Loves Park
Cost: $5; free parking
For more: (815) 494-6002
Art of the Earth: Prehysterics – PaleoArt Gone Wrong (kids)
What: Learn how artists and scientists can work together to create a visual representation of a time on Earth we have never seen before. Take a journey on the winding road of the history of paleontology and paleoart, inhabited by one-eyed giants, battling sea serpents, reptilian rhinos, compies with flippers and many more.
When: 11 a.m. to noon and 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday
Where: Burpee Museum of Natural History, 737 N. Main St., Rockford
Cost: Nonmember adults (13+): $15 ($12 admission + $3 class fee); nonmember youth (4-12): $13 ($10 admission + $3 class fee); members: $2 ($0 admission + $2 class fee)
For more: https://burpee.org/art-earth
Annual Easter Festival
What: Family friendly event with Easter egg hunts at 10:30 and 11 a.m. (by age). Festival also includes kids activities and crafts, cookie decorating, refreshments, photos with the Easter Bunny and more.
When: 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday
Where: First Northern Credit Union, 104 North Show Place Drive, Rockford
Cost: Free
For more: bsmall@fncu.org
Trippin’ Billies
What: Dave Matthews Tribute Band performs.
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: District Bar & Grill, 205 W. State St., Rockford
Cost: $12
For more: www.districtdowntown.com
Adult Easter Egg Hunt
What: Find one of the eggs hidden within the tasting room or the grounds around the winery and turn it in to tasting room staff to receive coupon or prize. Must be 21 or older to redeem. One per person. Each egg contains chocolate or a special discount that can be applied with your wine purchase.
When: 10 a.m. Saturday until the eggs are gone
Where: DC Estate Winery, 8877 State Line Road, South Beloit
For more: (608) 481-1565
38th Annual Arny Johnson 5k-10 mile Run
What: The 10-mile race will start at 8 a.m.; the 5k will start at 8:10 a.m. The event is hosted by the Rockford Road Runners, Inc. with proceeds going to Annie's Locker. Runners must register in advance.
When: 8 a.m. to noon Sunday
Where: Woodward's Rock Cut Campus, 1 Woodward Way
Cost: $30-$35
For more: https://runsignup.com/Race/IL/LovesPark/ArnyJohnson10Mile5K
Danny Trejo talks tacos, redemption
What: Rockford Public Library joins libraries across Illinois to host actor, author, and restaurateur Danny Trejo, who will discuss how he developed a prolific career in the entertainment industry with a hard-earned and atypical road to success.
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 4
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
For more information or to register: https://services.rockfordpubliclibrary.org/event/8172614
Kathi Edwards is a freelance correspondent.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Easter egg hunts among 15 things to do in the Rockford area
