There’s so much to do in our region! Here’s a look at upcoming lectures and educational enrichment.
November
Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
Nov. 1, 12-1:30 p.m. Traditional Hispanic celebration and remembrance of our deceased, with a display altar, games, refreshments. Nordlof Center, 118 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 965-7606, option 2, rockfordpubliclibrary.org.
Reggio The Hoofer
Nov. 1, 2-3 p.m. Reggio has danced on Broadway and his energetic style has been profiled on many educational television shows. Nordlof Center, Rockford, rockfordpubliclibrary.org.
Bill Breakey, Motivational Speaker
Nov. 4, 7 p.m. This school administrator/business consultant/professional speaker has helped many organizations. Free; tickets required: (815) 226-4100. Venue: Fisher Memorial Chapel, Rockford University, 5050 E. State St., Rockford, rockford.edu.
Poetry and Prose Reading
Nov. 4, 6 p.m. Presented by Dr. David Pink, RVC Professor of English. First Tuesday Series. Student Center Atrium, Rock Valley College (RVC), 3301 N. Mulford Road, Rockford, rockvalley.edu.
Tournées French Film Festival: Breathless
Nov. 7, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8, In the House; Nov. 15, The French Minister; Nov. 21, GrisGris; Dec. 5, Blue is the Warmest Color; Dec. 6, On My Way. Room 150, Center for the Sciences, Beloit College, (608) 363-2261.
Fall Symposium: Wee, Wild & Woody
Nov. 1, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Presentations from three experts; silent auction; box lunch. Rotary Botanical Gardens (RBG), 1455 Palmer Dr., Janesville, (608) 752-3885, rotarybotanicalgardens.org.
Year in Review
Nov. 13, 7 p.m. Anderson Japanese Garden’s Head Horticulturist Tim Gruner talks about projects and accomplishments of 2014. $5/members free. 318 Spring Creek Road, Rockford, (815) 316-3307, andersongardens.org.
10th Annual Nonprofit Dialogue
Nov. 14, 8:30 a.m. Discuss issues and trends nonprofits face and how Rockford University can support them. Hosted by Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence (NICNE). RSVP by Nov. 12, (815) 394-4384. Rockford University, rockford.edu.
Fresh and Local: Ancient Grains
Nov. 15, 2-4 p.m. Learn about non-traditional food grains and meet with a local food expert. Part of a monthly series about local and real foods. RPL East Branch, 6685 E. State St., Rockford (815) 965-7606, press 2, rockfordpubliclibrary.org.
Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis
Nov. 22, 8:30 a.m. Teams and individuals run or walk a 5-kilometer route, in costume or with jingle bells tied to their shoelaces. Registration/Info: (312) 880-4733, jinglebellrockford.kintera.org. Event: Indoor Sports Ctr., 8800 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park, Ill.
Rotary Gardens Taste of Chocolate
Nov. 22, 6-10 p.m. Kick off the holidays with a delicious meal, decadent chocolate, festive music and more than 355,000 twinkling lights. RGB, Janesville, rotarybotanicalgardens.org.
FHN Festival of Trees Holiday Tree Lighting
Nov. 23, 5 p.m. Refreshments, holiday caroling. Freeport Mayor Jim Gitz “flips the switch” on Freeport’s holiday tree. 1045 W. Stephenson St., Freeport, (877) (600) 0346 x901.
December
First Tuesday Lecture Series
Dec. 2, 6 p.m. Lecture by RVC Business Professor Stacy McCaskill on the types of messages gay/lesbian, bisexual and transgender people receive from organized religion and movements working to reconcile differences. Student Center Atrium
NICNE Customer Service Workshop
Dec. 4, 10:30 a.m. Designed to hone the skills of front line staff. Register by Nov. 25, (815) 394-4384. Rockford University, rockford.edu.
24th Annual Cookie Walk
Dec. 6, 8-11 a.m.. Thousands of home-baked cookies, candy, breads, cakes and more sold by the pound. St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 1400 Kiwanis Dr., Freeport, (815) 232-3804.
Trinity Annual Cookie Walk
Dec. 6, 8-11 a.m. Large assortment of homemade cookies, including decorated cut-out cookies, and candy. Trinity United Methodist Church, 2600 W. Pearl City Road, Freeport. (815) 233-0057.
Community Scholarship Fair
Dec. 9, 5-8 p.m. Information from representatives of many Rockford-area scholarships; presentations on the financial aid process, FAFSA and scholarship resources. Mendelssohn Hall, 406 N. Main St., Rockford, rplexplorer.com.
Rockford Christmas Bird Count
Dec. 14. Northwest Winnebago County. Annual census to better understand the populations and problems of birds, locally and nationwide. Beginners welcome. To participate call Dan Williams, (815) 979-8335.
Kishwaukee Christmas Bird Count
Dec. 20. Southern Winnebago and northern Ogle counties. To participate call Barbara Williams, (779) 537-3352.
Holiday Happenings
Dec. 14, noon- 4 p.m. Cultural holiday events at three Rockford museums. One ticket for all; free wagon rides between sites. Pre-order tickets at any of the three venues or purchase at event. Ethnic Heritage Museum, 1129 S. Main St., (815) 962-7402, ethnicheritagemuseum.org; Tinker Swiss Cottage, 411 Kent St., (815) 964-2424, tinkercottage.com; Erlander Home, 404 S. 3rd St., (815) 963-5559, swedishhistorical.org.
January
See a Juggler! Be a Juggler!
Jan. 10, 11 a.m. Rock n’ Roll Variety Juggling Show with comedy, tons of audience participation and huge balancing and juggling stunts. Nordlof Center, Rockford, rockfordpubliclibrary.org.
I Have A Dream Day
Jan. 19, 4-5 p.m. Learn about Martin Luther King Jr., an outstanding African American leader and hero; listen to stories and make a craft. Ages 6 to 12. RPL Lewis Lemon Branch, 1988 Jefferson St., Rockford, (815) 965-7606, option 2, rockfordpubliclibrary.org.