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The evenings are getting longer as night falls just before 7 p.m. and of course our beautiful trees in the Midwest are starting to turn all sorts of rusted rainbow colors during one of my all time favorite seasons. Fall. Orchards, brisk early evening walks, carving pumpkins and getting ready for Halloween are at the very top of my to-do’s.My husband and I have two little ‘pumpkins’ of our own who are just as excited for all of the Halloween festivities. As we prep our themed costumes we are also planning which events we are going to wear them to. Because why put the effort into creating fun costumes to only wear them once for Trick-or-Treating? Luckily I did some research on the GoRockford.com Calendar of Events tab (you can too) and I discovered a really fun lineup of events to choose from.
Several locations have children-focused events offering trick or treating, games, contests, arts & crafts and more! It’s also a great way to get the family outdoors during some of the last remaining mild weather days to enjoy the fall colors, the fun of dressing up, and the joy of celebrating recreational activities within our own community.
No matter what your heart desires this Halloween, the Rockford region and Winnebago County offers just the right amount of fun and spooky to make 2021 a Halloween you will never forget.
Here is a fun listing of events for the Halloween festivities!
Fall on the Farm – Lockwood Park
Saturdays, October 9 – 30 from 10 – 4 p.m.
Visitors can hand-pick pumpkins, visit the petting zoo, ride a pony or take a horseback trail ride, paint a pumpkin, enjoy games, a corn maze, concessions, and many other activities.
All Hallow’s Eve – Midway Village Museum
Saturday, October 23 from 12 – 6 p.m.
Enjoy trick-or-treating in the historic village along with other family-friendly activities as this in-person event returns. A New Pumpkin carving contest with entry categories for all ages is part of the fun.
Spooky Science - Discovery Center Museum
Friday, October 29 from 9:30 a.m. – noon or 1-4 p.m. or 6-9 p.m.
Come in costume for this not-so-scary day of Halloween high-jinks at Discovery Center! Launch monsters through the air, concoct gooey glowing slime, create creepy crafts and engage in astonishing science activities that look like mystifying magic! It will be skele-tons of fun! (Advance reservations required. Reserve tickets online at www.discoverycentermuseum.org or call 815-963-6769. Face coverings are required for everyone ages 2 and older.)
Oaktober Hike – Natural Land Institute
Saturday, October 30 1:30 – 3 p.m.
October is "OAKtober" in Illinois to bring awareness to the importance of oak trees and habitat. Join Natural Land Institute staff as they take you on a guided tour starting at 1:30 p.m. through the rolling hills of Burr Oak Valley Nature Preserve. Learn about restoration efforts in the prairie and woodlands, see a remnant prairie surrounded by bur and other types of oak trees, and find out about the many benefits of oak habitat. The tour lasts about an hour and a half. Registration required.
Haunted Burpee – Burpee Museum of Natural History
Saturday, October 30 from 5 - 8 p.m.
Admission to the event includes Taxidermy demonstrations, Creatures of the Night, Exploration of Bones, Mad Scientist Lab, Cash Bar, and museum wide ambiance with fun music and lights. Additional activities include a Barnes Mansion tour for $5 -- a rare opportunity to see a building usually closed to the general public! Explore Rockford's beautiful Barnes Mansion built in 1893 and enjoy the glamor of this Victorian home restored to its 1890's-1920's glory. There will also be a Safari Game where you get clues to find your lost crew-mate in the Serengeti! You'll search in the darkness of the East African wildlife exhibit, armed with only a flashlight! Big cats come out to hunt...and you'll realize how much scarier a lion's roar can be at night. You will never expect what is lurking around the corner!
Trunk or Treat – New Milford Commons
Saturday, October 30 from 2 – 4 p.m.
Come to New Milford Commons, and join Firstborn Ministries at our Mobile Trunk Or Treat. We will have trunks full of candy, inflatables, food and much more!
Trunk or Treat – North End Businesses
Saturday, October 30 from 4 – 7 p.m.
Join us for our second annual TRUNK OR TREAT event! Local businesses will have candy and treats for kids of all ages. Check out the spooky decorated cars, grab some sweet and meet North End neighbors in the North Towne Mall Parking lot!
Spook the Dells – Severson Dells Nature Center
Saturday, October 23 from 6 – 8 p.m.
Bats, spiders, and coyotes, oh my! Don’t get spooked by creatures-of-the-night this Halloween; come out to Severson Dells to learn more about nocturnal animals at this family-friendly event. Join us along our paved path for a guided, interactive theater experience that highlights the amazing nocturnal animals that call Severson Dells home.
Scary Science Treat! – Burpee Museum of Natural History (Oct. 31)
Sunday, October 31 from 12 – 5 p.m.
Trick or Treat around the Burpee Museum! This includes family-friendly scary science fun that will make you scream!
For a full Haunt-tastic lineup of events, activities, local happenings be sure to frequent GoRockford.com and follow along with GoRockford on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
