The 12th annual Stroll on State, presented by Illinois Bank & Trust, was in full swing on Saturday, November 30, 2024. Midwest’s Best Holiday Fest supports the revitalization efforts in downtown Rockford and is also a strong economic driver for local businesses during Small Business Saturday. Rockford area residents and visitors came together to enjoy and support a day highlighted by the City’s tree lighting ceremony, parade, fireworks, Santa visits, live music on two stages, and opportunities to shop and support local businesses. The GoRockford team (formerly Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau) produces the event with support, services and donations nearly 100 community partners, volunteers and sponsors.
Stroll on State continues to boost the local economy with strong attendance and participation numbers each year. Despite frigid temperatures at the 2024 event, this year an estimated 60,000 guests bundled up and celebrated in downtown Rockford for the coldest Stroll on State to date.
“For our GoRockford team, it’s deeply rewarding to see how an idea aimed at uniting the community has grown into something so widely recognized and that brings joy and positivity to those who get to experience it” said John Groh, GoRockford president/CEO. “It’s through the power of connection and collaboration that we bring the magic of Stroll to downtown Rockford in such a big way. We are thankful that this event continues to drive downtown’s growth and offers a significant boost to local businesses during the holiday season.”
“Stroll on State thrives because of the incredible support from our community – partners, sponsors, volunteers, business owners and attendees – who each play a vital role in making it all happen. said Kristen Paul, GoRockford executive vice president. “For twelve years, Stroll on State has been a gift that gives back to our community during the holiday season, and we are pleased that 60,000 people joined us this year despite the record cold weather conditions. We are also especially proud that Stroll was able to directly give back to 10 local nonprofits through bar, S’more and hot chocolate revenues and the toy drive.”
“This event is also a driving force behind much of the vitality of our downtown and supporting local business owners during the holidays. The continued success of Stroll on State reminds us that the future is bright for tourism in our community, there’s so much potential for continued economic growth and creating so many more unforgettable experiences in downtown Rockford.”
New and Returning Highlights for 2024: This year, new additions to the event included an Illinois Lottery Toy Drive, the first community-designed holiday t-shirt contest, a new 20-foot inflatable helium balloon, the return of Santa visits at two North Pole locations, incredible ice carvings by Randy Finch ‘The Ice Guru’ and his team, an expanded performance lineup on two stages and a spectacular holiday drone show, were added to the schedule for the day.
Other numbers that tell the story of Stroll 2024 include:
- 78 sponsors and friends supported the event financially
- 3,892 volunteer hours logged
- 2,662 people voted in the Stroll on State t-shirt contest
- Parade
- 76 parade units with 12 high flying helium balloons, 1 brand new Rockford screw-themed balloon
- 6,838 cubic feet of helium used
- 108 balloon handlers volunteered to guide helium balloons through the parade route
- Dasher Dash
- 1,450 runners and walkers (largest attendance ever)
- Toy Drive benefitting Boys and Girls Club of Rockford
- Decorations
- 125 string lit trees
- 62 large gift boxes
- 50 lollipops
- 75 wreaths on State St. bridge
- 613 ornaments on trees throughout downtown
- 43 snowflakes on light poles
- 127 decorated light poles
- 18 fire pits
- Attractions
- 204 drones featured in the first ever Stroll on State drone show
- 7 photo opportunities, including new Sock Monkey-themed photos and a mistletoe arch
- 8 snowmen carved out of ice
- 25,000 pounds of ice for Fire and Ice
- 6 horses pulling 3 wagons
- 100+ vendors
- 653 letters written to Santa
- 2 North Pole locations for Santa Visits
- 3 S’mores station benefiting Comprehensive Community Solutions, Girls Scouts of Northern Illinois, Scouts of America Troops 32 and 432
- 4 bars benefiting LaOnda, Noah’s Ark Animal Shelter, Rockford Cosmo Club and Junior League
- 2 hot chocolate locations benefiting 815 After Hours Rotary and Rockford Marlins Swim Club
- City of Rockford Tree
- 45-foot Blue Spruce
- Over 35K sparkling lights adorned the main tree
- 275 ornaments hung from the tree with care
- Social Media and Promotional Stats
- 96,648 views on the Stroll on State website pages in November
- 619,500 views on the Stroll on State Facebook page in November
- 282,358 impressions to the Stroll on State Facebook event page
- The Stroll on State commercial was the top post on GoRockford’s Instagram account in November with over 75,000 views
- 1,714,151 views on billboards in Rockford, Illinois, Chicago, Illinois and Milwaukee Wisconsin
- Digital advertising campaign generated 3,325,720 impressions
To get involved or learn more information about Stroll on State visit www.strollonstate.com.
By the numbers document