FAVORITES—Hayrides and scarecrow making are favorites that take place all three weekends of Rockford Harvest Festival. This weekend, enjoy family fun with games, BBQ, an antique tractor parade at 1 p.m., downtown and much more.
Forget high-tech, old-fashioned food and games are best
What did kids and adults used to do to have fun? Find out during the three weekends of Harvest Festival in Rockford, starting this Friday with Family Fun Weekend.
This year, what is new is what is old as students from the Rockford High School Youth Initiative offer old-fashioned games in Garden Club Park (by the dam). The games are free, although the club is accepting donations. The group has set a high goal this year of building a Habitat Home, hopefully somewhere in Rockford.
The games will be noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays all three weekends and 1 to 4 p.m. each Sunday.
The three weekends of fun begin Friday, September 25 as Rockford Rotary repeats their popular chicken dinner sale at the Rotary Pavilion from noon to 8 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Drive-up service is available for to-go orders.
All three weekends enjoy hayrides, scarecrow making, and activities and demonstrations around town.
Returning with a new twist is the chili cook-off, formerly a Jaycee event, now organized by the Rockford Chamber. Chefs should hone their recipes now for that event, held Saturday, October 3 during Heritage Weekend. Judges will be local firemen, traditional experts in the field. Set up will be in the Rotary Pavilion at 10 a.m.
Also returning that weekend is the classic car show and fiddle competition.
Kids will enjoy a chance to challenge their skills in a coloring contest (see page 11) with entries to be displayed at D&W. Winners will be announced the second weekend of Harvest Festival.
“There are lots of new things, and also returning favorites,” said Brenda Davis, Rockford Chamber Director. Davis said merchants are joining the fun more this year by offering in-store demonstrations. Harvest Fest is in its 33rd year and is a celebration of old-fashioned activities and of hometown enjoyment.
Rockford is the perfect setting for such an event, and is often compared to a Norman Rockwell painting come to life.
Not all events take place in downtown proper. D&W will be selling hotdogs to benefit the North Kent Service Center this Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. Rockford Hardware will host an antique tractor show Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Located in Rockford’s “east side,” Herman’s Boy will have the Rogue River Artists with work on display and for sale all three weekends.
Take a peek back in time all three weekends with tours of the Little Red Schoolhouse (near North Rockford Middle School) from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturdays.
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