Now that the holidays are over, you’re probably looking at that long stretch of time between now and Spring wondering how to stay active. Whether you’re looking for a cute date idea or a night out with friends, we’ve curated a list of fun activities to do while staying in this winter. Hard Rock…
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School’s out, and you find yourself with more free time than you know what to do with. The time has finally come for you to relax, unwind, and take your mind off school. After months of textbooks, tests, and papers, winter break is your chance to do something for yourself. Here are some ideas on how…
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Rockford, Illinois, has had an incredible year filled with growth, innovation, and community celebrations. From significant milestones to exciting new ventures, GoRockford has played a pivotal role in showcasing all that makes Rockford shine. Here are 40 wins from 2024 that highlight why Rockford continues to be a top destination for residents and visitors alike: A panel of local leaders discuss the launch of Thrive 2035 at the 40 Forward Luncheon on September 27, 2024. Milestone Achievements 40th Anniversary for GoRockford/RACVB: The 40 th Forward Luncheon was one of the first events at the newly opened Hard Rock Casino Rockford. The celebration launched an official name change to GoRockford and new branding, and launched the Thrive 2035 Destination Master Plan. Over 600 attendees celebrated this milestone event. Destination Master Plan Launch: For the over a year, a team of community leaders have been collaborating on the design of a new destination vision for our region. This builds on the transformational work of the past decade to further develop our waterways, greenspaces, sports facilities, main streets, and downtowns. From this process, five strategic goals and initiatives were created. More information can be found on the Thrive 2035 webpage. Invest in Tourism Product Create Compelling Experiences Create Cool, Vibrant Spaces & Neighborhoods Enhance Connectivity & Mobility Develop Our Workforce & Attract New Talent New GoRockford Brand: The new brand GoRockford will catapult the region into a memorable brand, promoting Rockford, Illinois with bold colors, a brand new “R” logo in the logo suite. The main brand color of burnt orange and the shape of the “R” pays homage to the iconic sculpture “The Symbol”. New GoRockford Experience Guide: A refreshed new guide showcases Rockford’s attractions, dining, shopping, events, and provides itineraries. Over 30,000 copies were printed and distributed to 63 major attractions and hotels. The new guide will be promoted to visitors and meetings. Get a copy at our visitor's center downtown Rockford or order one here. New GoRockford Website Launch: A fresh, modern website was launched in August 2024 and allows for new functionality to help visitors and residents find the best things to do, places to eat and more. Hard Rock Casino Rockford Opening: The new Hard Rock Casino Rockford opening was one of the biggest events of the year. The attraction boasts 175,000 square feet of gaming, entertainment, and restaurants. The Hard Rock Casino Live space hosts events including live entertainment, and has already brought big names to Rockford. Midway Village 50th Anniversary: Midway Village Museum celebrated their 50 th anniversary this year. The museum preserves Rockford’s rich history and is looking to launch a new exhibit next year for Camp Grant. Made for Rockford: In 2024, Whitney Martin joined the GoRockford team as the Made for Rockford Program Director. Under her leadership, the program launched a "Go Team" to welcome new residents and held its first new resident mixer. The program aims to attract and recruit new talent to live and work in Rockford. Rockford Region Restaurant Week: In its fourth year, Rockford Region Restaurant Week, a GoRockford initiative, celebrates local dining during a slow late January and drives diners to try new exciting dishes. This year’s celebration included 62 restaurants and had record engagement. Rockford Region Restaurant Week is back January 23-February 2, 2025. The specials for 2025 will be available on our website. IRONMAN 70.3 Rockford, Illinois Announcement: One of the biggest announcements of the year was the GoRockford sales team securing IRONMAN 70.3 Rockford, Illinois, for the next three years. The triathlon is set for June 22, 2025. 12th Annual Stroll on State: Stroll on State drew visitors and residents alike to downtown Rockford for its 12 th year. Santa visits were brought back for the first time since 2019, and there were a record number of Dasher Dash 5K runners at 1,450. CRE8IV Music & Arts Festival: CRE8IV (pronounced "Creative") transformational art was a community-building, arts-infused initiative launched in 2019 as part of RACVB's placemaking and public art efforts. Designed to enhance the region for residents and visitors, CRE8IV grew to include more than 57 mural projects and 16 sculptures. The CRE8IV initiative ended in 2024 with a 3-day celebration of art and music at a festival in downtown Rockford and an additional 14 murals were added during the festival. "One More Time", a Daft Punk Tribute band performs at CRE8IV Music & Arts Fest on June 1, 2024. Beats & Bites: Held Thursdays from May until August, the 13-week Beats & Bites series invited residents and visitors to come to downtown Rockford for lunch at various food trucks and enjoy some tunes. Each week had a different theme with prizes and games were also available. South Main Mercado: Larger than in 2023, the second year of the South Main Mercado was a success. The outdoor market showcased the Hispanic/Latino community with food trucks, retail vendors ad community partners. Juneteenth Celebrations: Rockford’s Juneteenth is the longest running Juneteenth celebration in Illinois. The celebration is in its 34 th year and Juneteenth community awards recognize local black-owned and organizations. Eerie Autumn Lights: The first Eerie Autumn Lights at Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden attracted visitors and residents to enjoy magical Halloween lights, a corn maze and a spooky market. A corn maze at Eerie Autumn Lights. NXT Pro Sports: A new basketball tournament brought in an estimated economic impact of 1.1 million to the region. The tournament will be back in 2025. Phantom Regiment: The Drum and Bugle Corps, placed fourth at the 2024 Drum Corps International (DCI) World Championships. New Live at Levings Pavilion: The Rockford Park District unveiled a new Live at Levings pavilion this year and provided a beautiful backdrop for the summer concert series. On Sundays, listeners could enjoy free music from either Live at Levings or Domingos en el Parque (the series alternated weekly). First Drone Shows: GoRockford brought the first drone show to the region during the CRE8IV Music & Arts Festival. In November, Stroll on at State brought the first holiday-themed drone show. A sock monkey lights up the sky during the first drone show in the region on June 1, 2024. Rockford 815 Day: In 2024, Rockford 815 Day was expanded to multiple events throughout the community. This celebration of civic pride kicked off at Midway Village Museum for the museum's 50 th anniversary. Rockford Adventure Trail: Launched this summer, the Rockford Adventure Trail includes over 30 attractions, both indoor and outdoor for visitors and residents to check in and earn prizes. The trail will be available until September 2025. Rockford Area Coffee Trail: November launched the Rockford Area Coffee Trail and encourages trying local shops for favorite brews. WWA Regional Wakeboarding Championships: A new event brought to Rockford was the WWA Regional Wakeboarding Championships. The competition took place over two days at West Rock Wake Park the Rock River, bringing in an estimated economic impact of $455K. A competitor performs a jump at the WWA Regional Wakeboarding Championships at West Rock Wake Park. Tough Mudder Chicago: Rockford has hosted Tough Mudder Chicago since 2016, and the event brings in 10K attendees. The estimated economic impact of this event is $861K. Restaurant Grant: State Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford, and GoRockford launched a $1.5 million state-funded grant program. The funding provided vital relief to restaurants in Rockford and Winnebago County that suffered skyrocketing unemployment insurance rates resulting from state-mandated closures during 2021. Grant awards totaling $469,000 have been given to 33 area restaurants. More Destinations at the Chicago Rockford International Airport: New destinations were added in 2024 including Los Angeles, Cancun, and Punta Cana. The expanded service of the airport allows more visitors to come directly into Rockford, or travel from Rockford with ease. Business Openings: Many new restaurants and retail locations opened in the Rockford region in 2024. Some of these include: Disco Chicken, Sheila's Daquiri Lounge, Plume, Crave, The Music Box, Culture Crunch, The GOAT, Sticky Rice Bites, The Parks Cimino's Kitchen, Sushi KO, Marrufo's Tacos, Top Dog Pizza & Pub, La Croute Bakery Cafe, The Novel Spot and Inkwell…
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‘Tis the season to be holly and jolly! There’s no better time to enjoy all of the exciting things Downtown Rockford has to offer. From delicious treats to beautiful decorations, there are so many ways to feel the holiday spirit downtown. Holiday Trees Trees are a classic staple of the holidays. Who…
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When you think of Illinois, Chicago’s skyline and Abraham Lincoln might come to mind—but did you know it’s also the birthplace of the iconic sock monkey? That’s right, these quirky, long-limbed dolls with their signature red mouths trace their roots back to Rockford, Illinois! History of the Sock…
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Wondering where to go for festive experiences and beautiful light displays? The Rockford Area Holiday Photo Challenge is here to help you make the most of this holiday season! Compete against your friends to see who can visit the most locations, unlock badges and prizes, and snap photos of your…
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For perfect gifts this holiday season, let’s rethink any impulse to go online or drive to a nearby city. Let’s shop local. As we buy presents, let’s make sure we also bring the gift of a healthy fourth quarter to the people in our communities who own and run independent brick-and-mortar stores…
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My favorite tradition growing up was going to see holiday lights with my family. We would pack into the car, turn on the Muppets Christmas album with John Denver in cassette form (I am definitely aging myself) and drive around Rockford looking at lights with a tin of freshly baked sugar cookies. The…
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Holiday season in Rockford can only mean one thing: It’s time for Stroll on State! It is a holiday festival that lasts all day. The day starts off with Dasher Dash, a festive 5k, followed by a parade, and an evening full of fun activities! Those who attend can expect delicious food and drinks, great…
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With so many great options to choose from, it is hard to pick where to get your coffee. The Rockford Area Coffee Trail is the perfect way to try some of the best coffee in the Rockford region. It is a digital passport that allows you to gain points when you visit any of the coffee shops along the…
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