Current Itinerary

Arts & Culture

And The Curtain Goes Up…
The theatre, arts and cultural districts in Rockford are second to none.

Whether it’s the soothing sounds of the symphony…the hot sounds of a blues nightclub…or the excitement of a live concert, you won’t want to miss our downtown River District and historic neighborhoods.

ARTS & CULTURE TOUR
Day One, morning

Put on your walking shoes! If you happen to be visiting our glorious downtown May through September, one Saturday each month you can join in the River District Historic Walk-Abouts. A popular and free two-hour walk explores the rich architectural history of a different downtown neighborhood each month. Haight Village, Rockford’s only residential National Register Historic District, provides a visual history of our city’s early architectural styles. This fourteen-block district is just a few blocks south of downtown and blends a unique mixture of Victorian elegance and urban living.

Day One, afternoon
A quick jaunt north will take you to the Rockford Art Museum, Illinois’ largest art museum outside of Chicago, with over 1,200 works of art; noted for its permanent collection of 19th and 20th Century American art. Tucked away immediately south of the art museum is the charming, historic Indian Terrace Neighborhood. It’s a unique lake-resort type atmosphere where most homes enjoy river frontage. As Rockford’s third protected historic district, Indian Terrace has proudly preserved the original condition of its Arts & Crafts, Prairie and Shingle Style homes.

The historic Coronado Performing Arts Center, an ornate movie palace and vaudeville hall built in 1927 for $1.5 million, has been restored and renovated to the tune of $18.5 million. It’s a delightful combination of what architects call “entertainment baroque,” with gilded Spanish castles, Italian villas and Chinese dragons in relief on the sides and a starry false sky. Spirited performances can be seen during the Rockford Symphony Orchestra season, or catch a night of piano, mezzo-soprano, opera, ballet or any number of Broadway plays and musicals presented by other community groups.

Nestled in southwest Rockford’s old Italian neighborhood, you’ll find two of the city’s favorite eating spots. Caffé Greco is a small café featuring Black Angus filet mignon, Friday night fish fry, and some of the area’s best Italian meals. Maria's Italian Café is one of Rockford’s longest standing, family owned restaurants in its original location serving up traditional pasta and pizza along with what some claim to be “Rockford’s Best Steak.”

Lodging
After exploring Rockford’s diverse neighborhoods, you’ll want to rest your head on a soft pillow and put your feet up. Rockford’s hotels include everything from full-service resorts to budget lodging. For a complete listing visit our accommodations page.

Looking for more Arts & Culture Fun?
Day 2