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Summer Reading Challenge is BACK!
Posted by Rockford Buzz
Posted on June 4, 2021
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The summer reading challenge is back and it's bigger and better than ever! Rockford Public Library is promoting its new theme "Reading Colors, Your World", to encourage kids to read throughout the summer. There are some perks to this that you'll have to listen to hear about. đ
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Kegel's has won the 2021 NBDA Bicycle Retailer Excellence Award!
We have some awesome news! Rockfordâs local bike shop, Kegelâs Bicycle Store, received the 2021 Bicycle Retailer Excellence Award by the National Bicycle Dealers Association (NBDA)! This certification is granted to fewer than 200 bicycle shops across the country and signifies Kegelâs as one of the top local bicycle retailers in the United States. Kegelâs Bicycle Store has been in Rockford since 1927 when it first opened on State and Madison Street. In 1979, Kegelâs moved to its current location on Charleâs Street, and only one year later, Robb Sinks, the future owner of the company, would be employed there! Robb has now owned Kegelâs for 24 years, but the message remains the same, outstanding customer service, quality products, and a SERIOUS love for bikes. With everything from BMX bikes to trail riding, fitness, and kids bikes, Kegelâs not only has everything you need but also repairs what you already have! They have a strong presence in the biking community as well as the Rockford community. They work closely with the Rockford Park District to maintain the biking trails at Atwood park and provide tips and awareness around proper bike etiquette on dirt trails to ensure they donât deteriorate. Rockford has been able to love and enjoy Kegelâs Bicycle Store for over 100 years but now we can also have pride in knowing they are one of the best bike shops in the country. NBDA President, Heather Mason, had this to say about Kegelâs:âThe Bicycle Retailer Excellence Award requires not only great shopping experiences and expert leadership and staff, but also support for their local community and national cycling advocacy. Each retailer awarded fits these criteria and more. The local bicycle retailer is not only a store, but also a pillar of a community. By being given this award, Kegelâs has proven that they exemplify this ideal.âThe National Bicycle Dealers Association is a non-profit organization established in 1946 which promotes the interests of cycling and specialty bicycle retail across North America. The NBDA certification process is lengthy and rigorous, which further exemplifies what an honor this is for Kegelâs! So head down to Kegelâs Bicycle Store and congratulate them on their outstanding achievement!
August 4, 2021
Vote for the 815's Best Golf Course!
August is National Golf Month, and we want to know what YOUR favorite local golf course is! Vote below for a chance to win a round of golf on us!
August 3, 2021
The History of Rockford's Magic Waters!
In honor of National Water Park Day on Wednesday, we decided it would be fun to tell Rockford a little bit about the history of our beloved Magic Waters (now Hurricane Harbor)! Although Magic waters was originally built under private ownership in 1984, the Rockford Park District was heavily involved in the planning. After 2 years of private operation, Magic waters filed for bankruptcy and the Rockford Park District officially stepped in, increasing its attendance by 50%. In 2018, after 32 years of operation by the Rockford Park District, Six Flags announced it would be operating Magic Waters by spring of 2019. In August of 2019 Six Flags officially renamed Magic Waters to Six Flags Hurricane Harbor. Due to a delay during the COVID-19 pandemic, Hurricane Harbor officially opened in July 2020. Hurricane Harbor features 12 water slides and 3 pools! One of the greatest family attractions, Splash Magic River, was added to the park in 1993. Another attraction for younger kids is Tiki Island, a multilevel water playground with mini water slides, waterfalls, and plenty of areas to climb and explore! For more experienced swimmers, the Tidal Wave is the Midwestâs first and only tailspin waterslide reaching speeds of up to 15 miles per hour! There is also the Double Dare Drop which is a seven-story high, near-vertical slide where you feel as if you're free-falling as you plummet down 75 FEET! Hurricane harbor also has five concession stands and two dippinâ dots stands for when you need to refuel after a long day of massive waterslide drops and swimming in the wave pool. Hurricane Harbor (formerly Magic Waters) is one of Rockfordâs biggest attractions and a great place for the whole family to cool off in the summer heat! It has brought the people of Rockford so much joy for nearly 37 years so get out there and enjoy an adventurous day on the slides or a relaxing day in the lazy river before it closes for fall!Sources: https://www.sixflags.com/hurricaneharborrockfordhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Flags_Hurricane_Harbor_RockfordImage Source: https://www.sixflags.com/hurricaneharborrockford
August 1, 2021
Jake Plays
Can you spot Jake in this video?đ The people of Rockford who saw him filming this goofy video sure did! He got a lot of funny looksđ€Ł Check out the instructions Jake shows in the video to make sure you can always see Rockford Buzz on your feed! #815Over60 #WheresWaldo
July 31, 2021
Weekend Roundup July 30 - August 1
The weekend is finally here! Rockford has some fun activities in store this weekend including, trivia, a spiritual medium, kayaking, and more! So whether you want to show off your Office Trivia knowledge, get some spiritual guidance, learn to kayak, or anything in between, Rockford has you covered. Ahhh, thatâs why we love the 815, always giving us the coolest events and activities to participate in every weekend! Have fun Rockford!On Friday at 6:00 pm, The Pottery Lounge is hosting The Office Trivia Paint Night! If you love The Office and painting pottery, test your knowledge and win some fun prizes! After you pick what pottery piece you want to paint, you can sit with friends or whoever you would like and begin painting! Trivia questions will be asked every 30 minutes and a winner will be announced after each round! There will be pizza, cake, and grape soda to snack on while you paint, test your Office knowledge, and win prizes!On Saturday, starting at noon, The Stateline Medium is coming to Wolf Hollow! Rebecca Medley (The Stateline Medium) is a spiritual healer who uses her spiritual gifts and tools to help you find peace, purpose, and direction. Walk-in sessions are welcome from 4:30-7 pm, and each session is 15 minutes long! Whether you want general guidance or have a specific area of your life you need direction in, The Stateline Medium can help. When youâre done with your session you can look around Wolf Hollow at their wonderful oddities and gifts!On Sunday at 1:00 pm, Rocktown Adventures is teaching an Intro to Kayaking class at Rock Cut State Park! Whether youâve never been kayaking at all or have been but simply want to get more comfortable, this class is the perfect opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills for your next kayaking adventure! There are not many better ways to spend a peaceful Sunday afternoon than in a kayak enjoying the beautiful scenery of Rock Cut State Park. Make sure you register ahead of time to get a spot! These are only a few of the awesome activities and events going on in Rockford this weekend, so make sure you check out https://rockfordbuzz.com/events for more!
July 30, 2021
Rockford Revolution Football is in the Playoffs!
Come out and support the Rockford Revolution this Saturday, July 31st, at Game 2 of the League Playoffs! Revolution Football has been Rockford's NLFL team for the past 20 years. Cheer them on as they fight for the championship!đ #815Over60 #NLFL #RockfordRevolution
July 29, 2021
Cool Off This Summer With Rockford Splash Pads
Itâs National Waterpark Day! But since everyone already knows about Magic Waters (Six Flags Hurricane Harbor), we decided to let you know about the awesome (and free) splash pads that Rockford has to offer! With the weather heating up, splash pads are the perfect way for the whole family to cool off. Splash pads are generally safer than pools for younger children, so parents can rest easy while the kids are playing, OR you can get in there and play in the splash pad yourself! According to Rockford Park Districtâs website, there are over 13 different splash pads in Rockford that operate from Memorial Day to Labor Day! The splash pads listed below are activated by the push of a button from 1:00 pm - 8:00 pm every single day!Splash Pads and locations according to RPDâs website:Beattie Playground (1251 Rural Street, Rockford, IL)Blackhawk Park (101 15th Avenue, Rockford, IL)Bloom School Playground (2901 Pelham Road, Rockford, IL)Brown Park (2010 North Main Street, Rockford, IL)Churchill Park (2002 7th Avenue, Rockford, IL)Harmon Park (1924 East Gate Parkway, Rockford, IL)Highland Park (3011 Rural St., Rockford, IL)Keye-Mallquist Park (1702 11th Street, Rockford, IL)Liberty Park (1555 Morgan Street, Rockford, IL)Mandeville Park (650 Montague Road, Rockford, IL)Sabrooke Playground (2900 Kishwaukee St., Rockford, IL)S. Henrietta Park (527 S. Henrietta Street, Rockford, IL)Washington Park (3617 Delaware Street, Rockford, IL)Labor Day is September 6th, so get out there and enjoy the weather before the splash pads close down for the fall! For more information and a complete list of rules regarding splash pad usage, check out https://rockfordparkdistrict.org/spray-pads. Credit to Stateline Kids for the photo!
July 28, 2021
Segurito Segurito Viene A Davis Park
PrĂłximamente en Rockford desde Sinaloa, Mexico La Septima Banda cantando sus Ă©xitos con Decreto Norte, Los Gemelos De Sinaloa, Cuarto Destino y Conjunto DezibelâŠLugar - Davis Festival ParkFecha - SĂĄbado, Julio 31stTiempo - 3pm-11pmMuchas gracias para Nuestro Non for Profit Organization - South West Ideas For Today and Tomorrow (SWIFTT)Gracias para Nuestros PatrocinadoresâŠGoRockford, LaMonica Beverages, RADIO RANCHO GRANDE, Test Site and Clip Factory ProduxionzVendedoresâŠMario's Taco Express, Tacos y Mariscos El Kiosko, Tacos El Rey, La Chucheria, Churros Blossoms, El Gummy Loco, Micheladas ElPatrĂłn, Miches Galan, La Voz Latina, R-Bouncies, Elisa's Sparkling Gems, Skandy By Prince y Los JerezanosâŠGracias para Domingos en el Parque, un Evento gratis para nuestra Comunidad que estĂĄ asociado con Rockford Park District. Ellos tendrĂĄn Jumpy Houses para los Niños.Gracias para la Comunidad de Trocas/Carros por ser parte de este EventoâŠProducido por - Siempre Fino Productions
July 27, 2021
Segurito Segurito Is Coming To Davis Park
Coming to Rockford from Sinaloa, Mexico La Septima Banda performing live with Decreto Norte, Los Gemelos De Sinaloa, Cuarto Destino and Conjunto DezibelâŠVenue - Davis Festival ParkDate - Saturday, July 31stTime - 3pm-11pmSpecial thanks to our Non for Profit Organization - South West Ideas For Today and Tomorrow (SWIFTT)Thanks to all our SponsorsâŠGoRockford, LaMonica Beverages, RADIO RANCHO GRANDE, Test Site and Clip Factory ProduxionzVendorsâŠMario's Taco Express, Tacos y Mariscos El Kiosko, Tacos El Rey, La Chucheria, Churros Blossoms, El Gummy Loco, Micheladas ElPatrĂłn, Miches Galan, La Voz Latina, R-Bouncies, Elisa's Sparkling Gems, Skandy By Prince and Los JerezanosâŠThanks to Domingos en el Parque which is a free Community Event in Partnership with the Rockford Park District. They will be providing Jumpy Houses.Thanks to the Truck/Car Club Community for showcasing their BuildsâŠProduced by - Siempre Fino Productions
July 27, 2021
We're Doing a Timelapse with Cassie from JR Finally Art Studio!
Cassie is offering classes at Jill Rae Finally Art! Clay, Drawing, and Mixed Media are part of the line-up. But for THIS video she's doing a time-lapse for us of a plant from a certain video game featuring a famous plumber. Enjoy the sort of peace and calm that can only come from a time-lapse video. đ
July 26, 2021
The Best Rockford Restaurants with Vegan/Vegetarian Options!
With so many vegetarians and vegans out there these days, we wanted to create a list of local Rockford restaurants that accommodate them! Below are just some of Rockfordâs favorite local spots and their vegetarian and vegan options! Also, this list is not in any sort of order other than Pig Minds being first because it is an entirely vegan restaurant!Pig Minds:Number one on our list is, of course, Pig Minds! Pig Minds is a veganâs paradise because every single thing on the menu is vegan! You donât have to worry about asking for no cheese or sauce because everything is animal-free. But not only is it vegan, itâs also delicious! Vegans and meat-eaters alike can enjoy everything from the patty melt burger to the fried avocado tacos because it is all SO good!Rathskeller Rockford:Rathskeller Rockford has a great selection of vegan and vegetarian options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! From their vegan banana chocolate muffin in the morning, vegetable döner kebap for lunch, and their vegan âhot dogâ for dinner, there will never be a shortage of exciting foods to try. Rathskeller Rockfordâs modern take on German fare will appeal to any meat-lover or meat-less foodie!Octane:Although Octane only has a few vegan and vegetarian options, what they have is delicious. The spicy buffalo cauliflower bao is TO DIE FOR. SeriouslyâŠthe cauliflower is fried and crispy to perfection, the sauce is amazing, and the pickled onions add the perfect level of tang, itâs a must-try for anyone and everyone!Abreo:Abreo has several great vegetarian options! They do not indicate any vegan options on their menu, however, weâre sure accommodations could be made. They have an innovative menu and a luxurious ambiance that makes it the perfect place for a fancy night out! Baker Street Burgers:Baker Street Burgers gives you the option of substituting any of their beef burger patties with a Beyond patty or traditional veggie burger patty, which makes it a great option for any burger-loving vegan/vegetarian! They also have an outstanding mac and cheese for all of the carb lovers out there!Lucha Cantina:Lucha Cantina has a couple of good options! There are so many delicious salsas to fill up on before the meal but they also have a cauliflower taco and a burrito that can be made vegetarian or vegan!Woodfire:VEGAN CHEESEâŠneed I say more? All Woodfire pizzas can be made with vegan cheese which is amazing for all vegan and dairy-free peeps out there! They also have several meat-free pizza options for vegetarians, so anyone in your crew can enjoy a delicious wood-fired pizza!Prairie Street:Prairie Street has an impressive selection of vegetarian and vegan options. They have Impossible patties for any of their burgers as well as a black bean patty, several appetizers and salad options, and a VEGAN CHEESECAKE! YeahâŠjust go. Try it all. You wonât regret it.The Norwegian:The Norwegian has an Impossible sausage breakfast sandwich for brunch and an Impossible burger for lunch! They also have several other vegan and vegetarian options, which makes it a great breakfast, brunch, and lunch spot for any plant-based peeps!Thunder Bay Grille:Thunder Bay Grille has a hearty selection of vegetarian/vegan-friendly salads, entrees, appetizers, and an Impossible burger! Also, if you love mushrooms, this is the place for you! They have a cheesed stuffed mushroom cap appetizer and two portabella entrees! Johnâs Pizza:Johnâs Pizza has a LARGE selection of vegetarian and vegan options on the menu! They have an Impossible Burger, a vegan pizza, as well as several pasta dishes. All items on the menu are very clearly marked if they are vegetarian or vegan which makes it very easy to know what the options are! We hope you go out and try some new spots after this! However, this list is not comprehensive and we would love to know what some of YOUR favorite local veg/vegan spots or meals are! Let us know in the comments or DMs on our social media!
July 25, 2021
Weekend Roundup July 23-25
Well, itâs finally the weekend again! So you can either lay in bed all weekend or enjoy some awesome activities in Rockford! (Both are respectable choices in our book) But itâs the last few weeks of summer and the weather will be HOT, so we suggest getting out there and enjoying it.On Friday at 6:00 pm, Tutti Loops is playing at Pig Minds Brewery! Pig Minds never charges a cover, so all you have to do is show up, drink some deliciously local beer, eat some of the best vegan food in the area, and enjoy the show! With Tom Rucker on the guitar and Tyler Smith on the steel pan, Tutti Loops is the perfect chill music to unwind to after your work week! So grab some friends, order a Happi Daze blueberry beer to beat the heat, and end your Friday on a high note with Tutti Loops.On Saturday, starting at 9:00 am, Hidden Treasures Mall & Antiques is having an outdoor market full of unique vintage, handmade, and new treasures! There will be so many exciting vendors outside, but if you need to cool off, you can step inside Hidden Treasureâs 37,000 square foot shop! Whether youâre inside or out, we know you will find the perfect addition to your home, collection, or wardrobeâŠyou just canât be scared of a little treasure hunting.On Sunday at Anderson Japanese Gardens, you can enjoy a traditional Japanese dance demonstration! Awa Odori is a traditional dance that started as a harvest dance in ancient Japan but evolved into a massive citywide dance party during the late 1500s. The performance is from 11:00 am - 12:30 pm and 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm and the cost of viewing the dance is included in general admission into the gardens. So enjoy the sights and sounds of this traditional Japanese dance on the beautiful backdrop of the gardens!These are only a few of the awesome activities and events going on in Rockford this weekend, so make sure you check out https://rockfordbuzz.com/events for more!
July 23, 2021
After Losing His Mom Unexpectedly, This Rockford Man Decided to Write a Book
Inspired by the stories Thomas Person heard about his mother after her death, "I Should Have Wrote a Book" is a moving collection of extraordinary tales from ordinary people's lives. Pick up your copy on Amazon and Kindle! #815Over60 #RockfordBuzz #RockfordAuthors
July 22, 2021
Skitch & Dan Ride Their Bikes Across Iowa.
WOWâŒïž Dan and Skitch are going on an almost 1,000-mile bike ride across Iowa and back?? We'll be supporting this one from the couchđ But if you're interested in something this adventurous or want to join a community of cyclists in Rockford, check out I Bike Rockford and Team Fur Bandit! #815Over60 #IBikeRockfordhttps://rockfordbuzz.com/i-bike-rockfordhttps://rockfordbuzz.com/team-fur-bandit
July 20, 2021
Arts Council & RACVB Bring a New Mural to Downtown
We couldn't have said it better ourselves! You HAVE to see this mural in person! So head down to West State and Winnebago to see this stunning mural of Rockford's greatest icons.đ€© Special thanks to RAAC Rockford Area Arts Council and GoRockford! #815Over60 #ArtsCouncil #Muralhttps://rockfordbuzz.com/rockford-area-arts-councilhttps://rockfordbuzz.com/rockford-area-convention-visitors-bureau
July 19, 2021