There’s so much to do in our neck of the Old Northwest Territory! Here’s a sampling of some upcoming events.
June
36th Annual Glitzy Garage Sale
June 1-3, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. F-Sat; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sun. Biggest, longest-running fundraiser for nonprofit Womanspace. Womanspace, 3333 Maria Linden Dr., Rockford, (815) 877-0118, womanspace-rockford.org.
Garden Fair
June 1-3, noon-8 p.m. Fri.; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.; 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sun. Area’s largest outdoor garden/nature marketplace with vendors from across the Midwest. Benefit for Klehm Arboretum. Tickets: klehm.org. Event: Klehm Arboretum, 2715 S. Main St., Rockford.
Collectibles Series: La Belle Flow Blue China
June 14, 7-8 p.m. Bill Wright displays some of his flow blue china collection and talks about their history. Helen Jeffris Wood Museum Center, 426 N. Jackson St., Janesville, Wis., (608) 756-4509, rchs.us.
Angry Birds
June 15, 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Create catapults and slingshots, adjust trajectories and knock things down using the science behind this physics phenomenon. Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 963-6769, discoverycentermuseum.org.
Author Visit: Merrill Markoe
June 15, 7-8 p.m. The author of two books told from a dog’s perspective. Info: Maddox Theatre, Rockford College, 5050 E. State St., Rockford, rockfordlibrary.org.
Books, Barks, and Buddies
June 16, 11-11:45 a.m. Meet therapy dogs from SwedishAmerican Health System’s Caring Canines Program and read about dogs that help. Rockford Public Library (RPL) Main Branch, 215 N. Wyman St., Rockford (815) 965-7606, rockfordpubliclibrary.org.
MDA Tub Run
June 16, noon-9 p.m. Sign-in June 15, from 1 p.m. South Central Wisconsin Harley Owners of Janesville. Fundraiser for Muscular Dystrophy Association. Info: (608) 757-0880. Event start: Kutter Harley-Davidson/Buell, 3223 N. Pontiac Dr., Janesville, Wis.
Father’s Day Tours at Lincoln Tallman House
June 17, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Dads receive a complimentary ticket. Tours on the hour at Helen Jeffris Wood Museum Center. Lincoln Tallman House, 440 N. Jackson St., Janesville, (608) 756-4509, rchs.us.
59th Annual Ice Cream Social
June 21, 5-8 p.m. Pie, cake, ice cream and coffee, with other menu items for sale. $5 at the door. Stephenson County Historical Society Museum, 1440 S. Carroll Ave., Freeport, (815) 232-8419, stephcohs.org.
City of Gardens Wine and Roses
June 21, 5 p.m. Fine wines, appetizers from area restaurants, live entertainment. Benefit for City of Gardens and Sinnissippi Rose Garden Endowment. Tickets: (815) 987-1689, rockfordparkdistrict.org/cog. Sinnissippi Rose Garden, 1300 N. 2nd St., Rockford.
Relay for Life
June 22-23, 7 p.m. Winnebago County Relay for Life to benefit the American Cancer Society. Rockford Christian High School, 1401 N. Bell School Road, Rockford. Info: (815) 505-4538.
“Many Faces, One Community”
June 30, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Opening of the museum’s new gallery. Its first exhibit portrays the Rockford immigrant experience. Tours, games, presentations, ethnic food. $15/group; $5; $4/member. Midway Village Museum, 6799 Guilford Road, Rockford, (815) 397-9112, midwayvillage.com.
July
Collectibles Series: Antique Mousetraps
July 12, 7-8 p.m. Antique mousetrap collector Mary Putsch presents some of her collection and talks about their history. Helen Jeffris Wood Museum Center, Janesville, (608) 756-4509, rchs.us.
The Good, the Bad & the Bugly
July 14, 1-3 p.m. Learn about managing invasive species and attracting beneficial insects. By Donna Danielson of The Morton Arboretum. $15/$12 members. Klehm Arboretum, Rockford, klehm.org.
Garden Dinner Dance
July 14, 6 p.m.-midnight. Cocktails, formal waited dinner, live auction. Benefits Rotary Botanical Gardens. Info: (608) 752-3885. Event: Rotary Botanical Gardens, 1455 Palmer Dr., Janesville, Wis.
Behind the Scenes Tours
July 15, 1 & 2:30 p.m. One-hour, small group tours of museum archives and storage areas of nearly 100,000 objects from Rockford’s past. Registration req. Midway Village Museum, Rockford, midwayvillage.com.
Alpine Kiwanis Brat Days
July 20-21, from 11 a.m. All proceeds benefit local nonprofits. Edgebrook, 1639 N. Alpine; Logli’s, 6410 E. State; Logli’s, N. Alpine & Harlem. Live music. Info: alpinekiwanis-il.com.
SitStayRead: A Visit with Reading Therapy Dogs
June 23, 2-3 p.m. See certified dog teams with SitStayRead, the U.S. literacy organization that uses dogs to improve reading skills for at-risk children. RPL East Branch, 6685 E. State St., Rockford (815) 965-7606, press 2, rockfordpubliclibrary.org.
Heritage Garden Day
July 28, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tours, presentations, recipes, crafts and plant sales, all centered on historic gardens and landscapes. Also local vendors. $8. Midway Village Museum, Rockford, midwayvillage.com.
August
KANDU Winners Golf Outing & Dinner
Aug. 2, noon shotgun. Includes lunch buffet; golf; prizes; dinner. Benefits KANDU Industries, assisting local disabled clients & families. Registration: (608) 755-4123, kanduindustries.com. Event: Glen Erin Golf Club, 1417 W. Airport Road, Janesville, Wis.
Tallman Arts Festival
Aug. 5, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Juried event. Ice cream social; homemade pies & cakes; live music; silent auction. Tickets at gate. Fundraiser for Rock County Historical Society. Lincoln Tallman House, 440 N. Jackson Street Janesville, Wis., (608) 756-4509, rchs.us.
Art in the Garden
Aug. 11, 6 p.m. Open-air dining; moonlight dancing. Proceeds support Rockford Art Museum exhibitions and education programs. Info: (815) 978-2787. Event: La Paloma Gardens, Brookview Road, Rockford.
Bats!
Aug. 16, dusk. Presentation by Kathy Martinez, Severson Dells Educator on bats, including a trip outside to look for bats. $15 family/ $10 members. Klehm Arboretum, Rockford, klehm.org.
Rotary Corn Roast & Mud Volleyball
Aug. 18, 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Janesville’s Rotary Club fundraiser. Food/beverage vendors; free sweet corn; children’s activities. Info: (608) 774-8660. Event: Traxler Park, 600 N. Main St., Janesville, Wis. ❚