Holidays in Rockford, IL
Welcome to Rockford, IL—where the holiday spirit comes to life! Nestled in the heart of the Midwest, our city comes alive with holiday cheer and festive activities, making it the perfect destination to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year. From the iconic Stroll on State to a unique collection of other magical experiences, we have everything you need to create cherished memories this holiday season.
Enter to Win Our Exclusive Ultimate Winter Getaway Package!
Win the ultimate winter getaway with our Ultimate Winter Getaway Package! This exclusive bundle includes a one-night stay at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Rockford Riverfront, tickets to a Rockford IceHogs game, a gift card to Prairie Street Brewing Co. with a holiday ornament, a Lucha Cantina gift card courtesy of Healthcare Plus, and additional gift cards from Edgebrook Shops, Roxy Carmichael and Synergy Collective. Complete the form below to enter for your chance to win and make this holiday season unforgettable! Final entry date is January 2nd, and the drawing will be held on January 3rd. For additional entries for the Winter Getaway Package please sign up here to our Holiday Photo Challenge.
Holiday Photo Challenge
Join us in Rockford for festive fun and an exciting Holiday Photo Challenge! It’s easy—just sign up below, check in at participating locations, and start earning badges for awesome prizes. Each badge gets you closer to winning the Grand Prize: The Rockford Winter Getaway Package, featuring a luxurious Embassy Suites stay, IceHogs tickets, dining gift cards, and more! Plus, unlock the Holiday Hero badge by visiting 10 challenge spots and grab your exclusive Stroll on State hat. Don’t wait—this challenge runs until January 5, 2025. Tap the button below to join the fun!
Holiday Lights Displays
As the winter nights grow longer, Rockford transforms into a shimmering tapestry of holiday magic. From elegantly adorned parks to intricately decorated neighborhoods, Rockford's festive spirit shines through every twinkling light. Embark on a journey through this winter wonderland and let the brilliance of the season captivate your heart.
Christmas Tree Farms
Celebrate the holidays with a visit to Williams Tree Farm and Valley View Farm, two festive destinations perfect for creating family traditions. At Williams, cut your own tree, sip hot cocoa by the fire, and explore a gift shop filled with ornaments and treasures. Enjoy pony rides, hayrides, a children’s play area, and the cozy lodge cafe. Just as charming, Valley View Farm offers a historic barn brimming with Old World glass ornaments, handmade gifts, and a wreath room featuring garlands and cemetery decorations. Both farms provide beautifully decorated wreaths and trees, ensuring a magical holiday experience
Snømarket at The Norwegian
Bundle up and join us outside The Norwegian's annual winter Snømarket. This event is free and open to the public. Enjoy a mug of homemade glögg, hot chocolate, æbleskiver, lefse, fish on a stick, and more. Take a free horse-drawn carriage ride through historic Churchills grove, play events like our herring toss and molkky, sing Christmas carole-oke, or just sit by the fire pit and listen to Viking stories.
Nearby Holiday Cheer
Roscoe
Hometown Holiday & Merry Market
Enjoy festive music, meet adorable baby reindeer, engage in games and win prizes, and let the kids unleash their creativity with crafts at the Fire Station. Food trucks will line Main Street Square, ensuring delectable treats for all. At Village Hall, children can pen heartfelt letters to Santa. To culminate the evening, join the joyful caroling as the Community Holiday Tree is illuminated in all its splendor.
Rockton
Rockton Christmas Walk
The Rockton Christmas Walk is a holiday tradition for thousands of area residents. The first weekend of December is set aside for the holiday fun. Area businesses offer unique and exclusive events, shopping experiences, and holiday festivities. Three main events you won't want to miss are the Christmas Tree Lighting at Settlers Park (Friday), the Lighting of Village Green Park (Saturday), and the Lighted Parade on Main Street Village Hall (Sunday).
Loves Park
Light up the Parks Holiday Parade
This event encourages the entire community to come together and join in the celebration! Guests can enjoy a fireworks display, 2 Christmas tree lightings, Mr. & Mrs. Clause (children are encouraged to bring letters), and most importantly, there will be an awesome parade with lots of cool floats and candy.
Where to See Santa
Looking for Santa? Rockford has plenty of chances to see the jolly man himself! If you don’t catch him at Stroll on State, you can visit him at Santa’s Workshop at Cherryvale Mall. Make a full day out of your visit to Santa at Williams Tree Farm. In addition to telling St. Nick what’s on your list, you can shop for a Christmas tree and ornaments while sipping hot cocoa, making for a wonderful new tradition. Experience the magic of the holidays in Rockford, IL. Join us for Stroll on State and create memories that will last a lifetime. Start planning your trip today!
Igloo Dining
Step into a beautifully decorated and heated igloo at Hidden Creek Estates for a unique dining experience. Perfect for celebrations or an unforgettable evening out, each igloo seats up to 8 guests and offers a cozy, private atmosphere.
Holiday Shopping
Shopping for the perfect gift can be hard when you don’t know where to start. Luckily, Rockford has plenty to choose from.
CherryVale Mall
- 7200 Harrison Ave.
The area's premier indoor shopping mall has more than 130 stores including JCPenney and Macy's, and specialty stores including favorites…
Williams Tree Farm
- 4661 Yale Bridge Rd.
Take a trip to Williams and start your own family tradition. Cut your own tree, lodge with cafe, gift shop with thousands of ornaments, hot…
Edgebrook
- 1639 N. Alpine Rd.
Your Place to Meet. Shop. Dine. Edgebrook offers a unique blend of eclectic boutique shops, excellent restaurants, convenient…
Ambrose Christmas Store
- 6715 N 2nd St
Ambrose Christmas is the destination for Northern Illinois, Southern Wisconsin, & the Rock River Valley's best and most unique selection in…
Porch
- 3065 N. Perryville Rd.
Porch offers a unique selection of jewelry, home decor, garden art, bath and body products, baby gifts, candles and more.
Culture Shock Clothing and Records
- 2239 Charles St.
Culture Shock was born in 2006 as a midwest shop to find all-things-unique inspired by music, arts, and culture. Throughout the years, it…
Toad Hall Books and Records
- 2106 Broadway
Toad Hall has been Rockford's premier record and book store for over 30 years. We carry tons of records, cd's, cassettes, 8-tracks, books…
Urban Farmgirl
- 716 N. Madison St.
Urban Farmgirl sells vintage goods and pretty things. Open two weekends a month - call or check website for dates.
Salvaged by Sonya
- 510 E State St
Salvaged by Sonya is an up-scale resale shop in downtown Rockford, where you'll find unique home decor and garden items to treasure or to…
East State Antique Mall
- 5411 E. State St
Antique mall and consignment store with over 90 dealers specializing in vintage English antiques, Hattie Carnegie jewelry, flow blue china…
Village Green - Riverside
- 6101 E. Riverside Blvd.
A fascinatingly large garden center with outdoor landscaped displays, plants, garden supplies, outdoor furniture supplying customers from…
B Jones
- 1655 N. Alpine Rd.
Located at Edgebrook Shops, b jones is a trendy, classic, upscale women's boutique with contemporary apparel, handbags and jewelry from…
Benson Stone Company
- 1100 11th St.
Benson Stone Company has everything for a beautiful home all in one place. Located in a renovated, 130-year-old furniture factory, this…
Best of Beloit Vintage Mall
- 1019 Gardner Street
Welcome to Best of Beloit Vintage Mall! We are a 144-vendor, 20,000 square foot vintage paradise!
Bygone Brand Apparel Company
- 3600 E. State St. Suite 1C
Bygone Brand was founded in Rockford and brings back places you grew up with and love as high-quality retro t-shirts and other apparel.
Rockford Art Deli
- 402 E. State St.
Located in Rockford, Illinois, Rockford Art Deli is a print shop with a purpose to see our community thrive, and a passion for high-quality…
Elora Home Interiors
- 214 E. State St.
A retail shop intentionally curated with products from makers + artists for your home.
Gensler Gardens
- 102 Orth Rd.
Gensler Gardens is a family-owned operation specializing in greenhouse production and locally grown vegetables, offering a huge selection of…
Great Hang-Ups
- 613 S. Rockford Ave.
Great Hang-Ups is a resale shop plus a bridal shop with brand new wedding gowns, veils, and accessories, specializing in brand name clothing…
Inkwell Books & Threads
- 106A W Main St
Born from a local residents love of books and community comes Rockton's only independent bookstore! Come visit our vibrant downtown and…
Maze Books
- 406 E. State St.
Maze Books is a community-driven bookstore with a focus on affordable, hard-to-find titles. ABA and MIBA member.
J.R. Kortman Center for Design / Kortman Gallery
- 107 N. Main St.
Upscale shop and art gallery with changing exhibitions in downtown Rockford. One-of-a-kind gifts from jewelry to glass works to Rockford…
The Landscape Connection
- 4472 S. Mulford Rd.
The Landscape Connection's garden center is your perfect destination for quality flowers, vegetable plants, and garden and landscape…
Nostalgic Dwellings
- 4230 Charles St.
Brick + mortar vintage furniture store filled with Danish, American, Italian, and German furniture, lamps, textiles, art and more from…
One Love Candle & Bath
- 3863 N. Perryville Rd.
The handcrafted line of soaps, lotions, body butters and soy candles are indulgent yet practical enough for every day use. One Love Candle &…
Pick-A-Dilly Antiques
- 120 W. Main St.
Pick-A-Dilly is a cozy antique store inside the historic Hopkins building in quaint downtown Rockton. featuring over a dozen vendors with an…
Proper on State
- 109 N Show Place Drive
At Primitive 'n Proper antiques and vintage shop, "everything old is new again!"
Rooted
- 1408 N. Main St.
Rooted is a boutique with a focus on artisan-made goods, food and beverage, curated vintage, and more! Wonderland Sweets is also located…
S'Mores Collectibles and Vintage
- 328 E State St
Collectibles and Vintage store specializing in 90's and Y2K items.
Screw City Vintage
- 2019 Broadway
Screw City Vintage is your go-to destination for authentic vintage clothing, featuring a curated collection from the 1970s to the early…
Smiley's Vintage
- 120 N. Madison Street
Smiley’s Vintage was started in 2016 under the name “The Steal Store”, it’s gone through quite a few changes and upgrades since then…
SRM Prints + Gift Shop
- 406 E. State St.
SRM Prints + Gift Shop is a collective featuring SRM Prints, Every Person Vintage and Ayadora Skin. GEM is not open every day. Check social…
The Symbols
- 316 W State St
The Symbols is a men's clothing store selling suits, dress shirt and tie sets, dress and casual shoes, accessories, and big men's sizes…
Synergy Collective
- 1625 N Alpine Rd
A boho brand to inspire your lifestyle, bringing wellness for the Mind + Body + Home + Soul.
Three Ravens Pottery
- 1005 5th Ave
Three Ravens offers a complete studio experience for those who are brand new to clay and for those who want to expand their knowledge. We…
Winnie Nutter Vintage
- 1410 North Main St
Step into a world of nostalgia at Winnie Nutter Vintage, a charming vintage shop tucked away in the North End of Rockford. This lowkey haven…
Wolf Hollow Gift Shoppe
- 3800 E. State St., Suite 103
Find goodies for your body, mind and home - maybe even your soul. A mix of new and old, strange and borderline macabre, everyday practical…
Wonderland Sweets
- 1292 S. Alpine Road
At Wonderland Sweets, we know you have a choice about where to get those sweets that help you mark life’s most important moments – the…
holiday blogs
Stroll on State Bucket List
- 4 min
📷 Snap Your Way Through the Holiday Season in Rockford
- 2 min
Rockford Rocks the Midwest Holiday Scene
- 5 min