November 21, 2025 • 28 mins
The Family VacationerEpisode 203: Christmas in Rockford, IllinoisGuest: Kristen Paul, Director of Marketing and Public Affairs, Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Host: Rob Jones Episode Summary If you’re dreaming of twinkling lights, festive markets, and that perfect small-town holiday charm, you’ll love this stop in our Christmas in the U.S. series. In this episode, Rob heads to Rockford, Illinois, a city that knows how to celebrate Christmas in a big way — with dazzling light displays, heartwarming traditions, and a community that truly embraces the season. Rob chats with Kristen Paul from the Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau about what makes this Northern Illinois destination a must-see during the holidays. From the magical Stroll on State celebration to breathtaking attractions like Anderson Japanese Gardens: Illuminated, Festival of Lights, and All Aglow along the Rock River, Kristen shares how Rockford shines bright with festive fun for the whole family. You’ll also discover where to shop for locally made gifts, can’t-miss holiday eats (yes, brunch lovers, this one’s for you!), and how Rockford celebrates its quirky and creative history with nods to Cheap Trick, the Rockford Peaches, and even the original sock monkey. Whether you’re looking for a new holiday getaway or just a little Christmas inspiration, this episode captures the heart, community, and magic that make Rockford feel like a Hallmark movie come to life.
In This Episode
In This Episode
- Why Rockford’s Stroll on State is one of the Midwest’s best free holiday events
- The story behind the city’s beloved sock monkey and how it became a local icon
- Family-friendly attractions including Festival of Lights, Anderson Gardens Illuminated, and All Aglow
- Where to find the best holiday brunch (hint: try Abrio’s biscuits and gravy or shrimp and grits!)
- Tips for visiting with kids and grandparents — including easy walkability and hotel recommendations
- How Rockford celebrates its musical and sports heritage through Cheap Trick and the Rockford Peaches
- GoRockford.com – Official visitor information, events, and itineraries
- Anderson Japanese Gardens – “Illuminated” holiday event details
- Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens – “All Aglow” light displays
- Festival of Lights – Rockford’s iconic drive-thru holiday tradition
- 📘 The Family Vacationer: A Parent’s Guide to Meaningful Travel — Available now on Amazon and Barnes & Noble
- 🌐 thefamilyvacationer.live
- 📸 Instagram: @thefamilyvacationerpodcast
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
If you're dreaming of twinkling lights, festive markets, and that
perfect small town holiday charm, you're going to love today's episode,
we're heading to Rockford, Illinois, a city that knows how
to celebrate Christmas in.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
A big way.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
From family traditions to incredible community events, Rockford shines bright
hearing the Holidays.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Episode two oh three starts right now.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Welcome to The Family Vacationer with Robin.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Tracy, your go to podcast for families on the moon.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Hey, everybody, Welcome back to the Family Vacation Or, the
podcast that helps families create meaningful and memorable travel experiences together.
We're continuing at Christmas in the US series, where we
explore some of the best family friendly holiday destinations across
the country. Today, we're stopping in Rockford, Illinois, a city
(00:57):
that captures the spirit of Christmas through community, creativity, and
good old fashioned holiday fun. Joining me today is Kristin Paul,
director of Marketing and public Affairs for the Rockford Area
Convention and Visitors Bureau. Christin Welcome to the show.
Speaker 4 (01:14):
Thank you, thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
Glad to have you on. So let's start right at
the heart of it. What makes Christmas time in Rockford
so special for families.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
Oh man, where do I even begin?
Speaker 3 (01:27):
Rockford is Rockford's a special place in general, Like it
really is all about community here and you.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
Know, helping small businesses and being.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
Part of feeling like you're in a big city but
still in a small town. And Christmas is no exception.
We decorate to the nines our downtown. It is done
by a huge group of volunteers that actually meet in
a building called Santa's Workshop for months before before our
big kickoff event. Stroll on State and then downtown looks
(01:57):
absolutely gorgeous. It's like a Hallmark movie that you want
to walk through. But then in addition to our downtown,
there are so many spots to see absolutely breathtaking lights.
It really does feel like you can get everything you
could get in a big city right here in Rockford
and be a quick drive to all of them.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Let's back up for a second. Where is Rockford? If
somebody has just never heard of Rockford, Illinois before, where
are you guys located?
Speaker 3 (02:21):
We are about an hour and a half from Chicago,
about an hour from Madison, about an hour and fifteen
for Milwaukee, so perfect location. Lots of flight options, if
you're in the area, Quick drives from a lot of
areas as well, So right in northern Illinois.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Perfect.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Okay, let's get back to the local traditions. What local
traditions are in Rockford that families look forward to Christmas
time every year?
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Well, I have to say the one of the most
popular and biggest is Strolling State. And Strolling State takes
place the Saturday after Thanksgiving every year. This will be
its thirteenth year this no November twenty nine, and it
really is the kickoff to the holiday season.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
So, as I mentioned, we have a place called.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Santa's Workshop and from September until November, we have a
group of volunteers. They get together every Tuesday and every
Saturday and we make, we repair, we fix, we build
and create this community of decorations. And with that, through
the event, there is the Downtown City Tree Lighting, which
(03:27):
is a forty foot live tree. It's beautiful, it's so fun.
I will say, I think it's prettier than a Rockapilla
Center or many of the big cedy trees that you
can see other places.
Speaker 4 (03:38):
But also part of that.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Event, we have two different vendor markets, multiple live stages
of music all day long bars where you can grab
drinks and hot chocolates and everything you can imagine, food
vendors galore, a drone show of fireworks.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
I mean really, it is a full day of magic.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
It kicks off with the five k run and then
goes into a with Macy's style balloons, and really it's
everything you could want, but in a town that feels
accessible and feels welcoming and really and truly is open
to the community. What is so special about the event
is that it is entirely free. So anything that you
(04:17):
want to come and do is free to attend. The
only thing that you would pay for would be if
you want to shopping or if you want something special
from a food truck. Everything else is free, every attraction,
every stage. There is no special places that you can't
get to. If you're if you're not, if you're not
special enough for it, I guess. So it's like everybody
(04:38):
can come, and that's how we want it to feel.
We really want it to feel like we're welcoming you
to our home, and Downtown is our home, so we
say all are welcome, all are invited, and we hope
that you can make it from there. Other special things man,
there is a really cool drive through lights display called
Festival of Lights that has been there for more than
(04:59):
fifty years, has so so many displays that are absolutely
breathtaking and magical. Anderson Japanese Gardens turns their garden into
a place called Illuminated and it is, I mean truly
one of the most beautiful places year around that you
can go to, and the holiday lights are no exception.
And then we have All of Glow, which is right
along the river and it's a park district property that has,
(05:22):
I mean seriously more lights than you can possibly imagine.
So it is something for everybody and things that you
can do over and over again, or things that you
can make a night of and say, I'm going to
spend this whole night and go to all these light displays.
It's kind of what you want to make of it,
but you feel at home the whole time.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
I think you mentioned every one of these, but let's
go in on them a little bit more. Are there
any unique local performances. I think you mentioned the Christmas Market,
and I know you mentioned the parade, but can you
kind of go in a little bit more about those
experiences and what families can expect.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
Yeah, So both of those are at stroll On State,
and we have a holiday market. We actually have two
holiday markets within the event that have this year. We
have over one hundred vendors that are local artisans and
local makers or regional makers, food trucks and food vendors,
so it's really something for everybody.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
Plus we have.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Some really truly amazing, unique local stores that are all
open throughout the event, so you can come and you
can get all of your holiday shopping done right before
even December starts. You can get all of your shopping
knocked off your list. You can have some phenomenal food
at either a food truck or some of our local restaurants.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
You can't beat it, like they really are.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
I was talking to some of our restaurant owners just
last week and I said, this is rival's Randolph Street
in Chicago. Now, Like, we really have some places that
are amazing and they're just really special chefs that really
care about what they do, and so you can come
experience that right here. The parade at Sirloin State has grown,
(06:58):
It's really grown a lot. We actually have this year
ten Macy's Day style of balloons that are featured in
the parade and almost all of them have now been
custom made for Rockford, so they're Rockford themed or regional themes.
So we have a sack monkey because the sack monkey
actually was invented here in Rockford. So we have a
forty five foot sack monkey balloon that goes down the street.
(07:21):
We have Rockford one of Cheap Trick the band, so
we have Rick Nielsen's famous five neck guitar as a
balloon that goes down the street. We have the Rockford
Peaches featured. We have we're known as Screw Sydney. We
have a giant screw that's decked up like a Christmas
tree that goes down the street. We have a new
one this year that hasn't been announced yet that will
be really fun to see coming down the street as well.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
But it's also another thirty footer that it's big.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
It's a lot of helium that we use that day,
so it is so fun. And then combine that with
floats that are milt that are built by different businesses
and fans that are are throughout like it really is
a fun kickoff the day that you don't want to
miss and you know your kids are gonna get candied
up because there's more candy than you can imagine that
(08:05):
gets handed out.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
There's so much to unpack. Their cheap trick uh sock monkeys,
Rockford peaches. There's so much that I would love to
get into there. Maybe we'll put a pin in that,
come back to it a little bit. But so with
all these with all these chefs, now do you get
to sample since you're since you're putting it all together,
you should get to sample all that, right, I.
Speaker 4 (08:26):
Mean, I've made my way to most of them.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
It's funny because my coworker and I we will look
at each other halfway through the through the.
Speaker 4 (08:33):
Night and we're like, have you eaten? Have you drunk?
Speaker 3 (08:35):
Have you like gone to the bathroom because you haven't
drunk all day? Right, And we'll we'll get to the
end of the day and we're like, there's.
Speaker 4 (08:40):
So many amazing places and we haven't even stopped for
a single second.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
But everybody else that comes says that they eat well
throughout the day, and then you can definitely eat well
throughout the season. There is there's some really great places
for all budgets throughout the downtown and throughout Rockford in general.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
So in the theme park world. They call this an overlay.
But are there any nearby attractions, museums, parks that offer
special holiday themed experiences for families. I know that you
mentioned some of them, but.
Speaker 4 (09:12):
Yeah, so Anderson Japanese Gardens is a big one.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
It's called Illuminated. Sinnesippi Park has all a glow. It's
at the Conservatory, and then across from that is the
Festival of Lights, and those are all very holiday specific.
There's another awesome holiday event called Snow Market and it
is at it's outside of this restaurant. It's called The
Norwegian and it is truly a unique experience. It's all
(09:36):
done like a Nordic village, and so you can come
experience kind of what that would feel like. And there's
you know, every drink and snack and food that you
can imagine. It's like salmon on a stick and things
that you might not get at a normal market that are.
Speaker 4 (09:50):
Really actually delightful.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
Like you think, I don't know about this, and it's
really really well done. But their restaurant in general, that's
just outside of downtown and it is a real great spot.
They do weekly specials and weekly menu changes, so it's
super fresh.
Speaker 4 (10:05):
And super chef.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
Driven and definitely holiday themed. You can get some great
holiday drinks there. All of our restaurants do different specials
and different promotions. We have on the east side of
town we have additional again super upscale or you know,
if you want to dine fast and be in and out,
both options of locally owned places that do features and specials.
(10:29):
And I think we might have more coffee shops than
anyone else as well, So lots of local options that
you get your favorite holiday drink, whether it be from
a bar or from a coffee bar.
Speaker 4 (10:40):
Like either way, you're covered here.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
All right.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
So that's a good segue because I was going to
talk about the food. What are do you have a
favorite local holiday dish? And if so, where do you
get that? Oh?
Speaker 3 (10:53):
Man, Okay, I'll probably get in trouble for saying this,
but one of my favorite traditions is actually Abrio Would,
which is a very fun, fancy restaurant, does a brunch
service throughout the holidays, and their brunch is one of
my favorite things in the whole world.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
And I'm not even really a brunch.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Girl, like I'm I'm more of a dinner lover, but
their brunch is really something magnificent. I think, man, there's
a restaurant called Salt that is fantastic.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
They do again upscale dining.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
But then we also have some of these Italian restaurants
that do some Italian themed holiday you know, the Seven
Fishes and different different ideas throughout the holidays, like Lino's
or Francesco's. Like there's too many places to name, because honestly,
like you could eat until your heart's.
Speaker 4 (11:41):
Content here and not even hit them all.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
So I honestly can't give you one favorite item on
the brunch because there's two that it's almost like you say,
I'm gonna order one as an appetizer even though it's
an entree, and then I'm gonna order one as an entree,
and then do you want to share that other one?
But it's the biscuits and gravy. I don't know what
makes it special, but it is phenomenal. And then it's
the shrimp and grits, like some of the best shrimp
(12:04):
and grits I've ever had. So it's kind of like
I don't feel bad because you're like, I'm having breakfast
and then I'm having lunch, so it doesn't.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
Count that's what brunch is, right, So I mean that's
that's the whole boy, so exactly.
Speaker 4 (12:18):
So for Abrio, those are my two thaves for sure.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
Man from the Norwegian Oh again, they changed their menu
so much, but they actually have they do these like
plates and they can't think of what they're called right now,
but they're like, it's it's not charcuterie, but it's kind
of like charcuterie, but like it'll have like a soft
boiled egg and like gravel ox and like stuff that
you're like, I'm not sure what that is, but I
(12:44):
want it.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Yeah, awesome, Okay, I've gut to start stop doing this
at dinner time, all right. So you you mentioned a
lot of the artisan that families would love and do
their shopping at if they're looking for that perfect holiday souvenir.
You mentioned the two markets, Like, what what are the
(13:06):
times that those markets are up and running? Is it
all deer in the holiday?
Speaker 3 (13:11):
So those specific markets are just open for the event
for stroll on State.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
If you want the perfect souvenir.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
All season long, I would say come downtown and check
out Rockford Art Deli. It is a local T shirt
shop that has some really great unique designs. And then
there's also I mean a bunch of different salons that
sell some really great products. I don't know if you
have a daughter, but my daughter is just about eleven,
(13:39):
and I swear skincare products are like the end all
be all of all things, and I'm like, just sleepovers
just so they can wash their face, and I'm like, okay,
So there are some really great products that they love
and you can try out at some different stores that
are downtown.
Speaker 4 (13:56):
There's also some really cool like home stores.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
There's this place called Urban Farm that has every bit
of decor and fun items. Like when I need a
brain break, I say, I run over to Urban Farm
Grow and check it out and just kind of wander
around aimlessly and carry things in my basket. Even if
I don't end up buying them, I'm like, no, I
need to have it with me for a moment.
Speaker 4 (14:17):
So definitely things to do.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
And even if you come down and think for the
events for all on state, I don't want to carry
things around, come back later and buy again, because you'll
be sorry if you go all the way home and
don't have it with you.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
Well, let's talk travel strategy. So if families have never
been to Rockford during the holidays. What are your top
recommendations for the families that are visiting.
Speaker 3 (14:41):
Yeah, during the holiday specific I would say if you're
family with kids, you want to come downtown and hang
out downtown and you can.
Speaker 4 (14:49):
Stay at the Embassy Suites.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
It's right within walking distance of everything, and you want
to just wander through and get that feeling of the
holiday spirit. And then you want want to go to
the lights displays, So you want to go to Nicholas
Conservatory and just walk through the oli glow displays. It's
at your own leisure, so you can go there after dinner,
before dinner, and you will just be wowed and you
(15:12):
will get some amazing pictures with your with your family.
You want to drive through the lights display at Profestival
of Lights, because you know you can see lights displays
that you drive through, but you don't see them this
where there's so many displays, and everywhere you see you're like, wait,
there's another one, Wait that one move, that one changed.
Speaker 4 (15:32):
And then you get home and you're like, these.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
Pictures didn't even do a justice because you can't show
it in pictures what it is in person.
Speaker 4 (15:39):
Because you know the lights.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
Go on and off and they're flight like it's really magnificent.
And then if you want a night that is memorable
that you will go home talking about, you don't want
to miss Anderson Gardens and seeing Illuminated because Anderson Gardens
is maybe my favorite place in the whole city year round.
I mean it is gorgeous, like it is one of
(16:02):
one of the best voted best gardens Japanese gardens in
the world, literally right here in Rockford, so we're lucky
to have it. But then in the holiday season, it's
like non traditional colors, so it's like these purples and
blues and pinks, and you feel like you're a fairy
walking around, like you feel like it's just magical, and
like I'll take my kids and I'll think, oh, I
(16:23):
hope they're not bored, and it's like they're in awe,
like they can't even stop.
Speaker 4 (16:27):
They're like, take my picture, here, take my picture here.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
You get home and you're just like, oh man, we
sat on he bails and had a hot chocolate and
we feel like we feel like Christmas, like we feel
like the holiday is in ourselves, like it just awakens
in you.
Speaker 4 (16:41):
So you don't want to miss it.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
Yeah, well, you know, multi generational travel is more and
more popular, especially during the holidays. So do you have
any tips for visitors that are traveling with you know,
young children and or grandparents that maybe will make the
trip easier and more enjoyable.
Speaker 4 (16:59):
You know, what's great.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
About Record is that you don't have to be in
your car the whole time, like I know, for me,
if I'm traveling with like my kids or especially when
they were younger, like getting them in the car to
go from place to place and you're twenty thirty minutes
away from each destination, that adds a lot of stress,
Like it adds a lot of difficulty. But what's great
about Rockord is that you can get from each of
(17:21):
these attractions in just a couple of minutes, so you
can grab dinner and be at your next place before
they've even started to complain that their seat belts aren't
or are funny, Like, you can walk to enough places
that you know, if you're within your elderly grandparents, they're
still comfortable and they can still keep up because you
don't feel like you have to go two miles before
(17:43):
you get to the next place, like you're you're within
a comfortable walking distance, so you don't have to you
don't ever have to feel like you have to pick,
like you get to do it all, which is what
I think is so unique.
Speaker 4 (17:57):
And like I said, you can space it out. If
you're here for couple of days.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
You can do one night, one light show, this day,
one this day, and you know, do some shopping in between,
or you can hit it all in one night. So
you can say, we're going to start at four o'clock
when it's dark, and the rest of the night, you
guys are going to be so lighted up that you're
not going to know what to do with it.
Speaker 4 (18:16):
We're going to have more hot chocolate.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
Than than the elves, and you're gonna have fun that
way too, So you really can decide.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
You mentioned Embassy Suite. Are there any other hotels in
the area that you would call out that are good
for families?
Speaker 3 (18:29):
Honestly, all of our hotels are really nice. Embassy is
the one that's going to be downtown. If you're more
of you know, kind of your traditional where you want
to do some shopping and hit some non local and
some local on the on the other side of town,
we have a whole.
Speaker 4 (18:46):
Series of hotels.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
We've actually just opened, man, I guess it's probably been
a year and a half or more now a couple
of years that the Hard Rock Casino opened. And if
you have older kids or you're coming in to meet friends,
it's a fantastic place. Like it is top of the line.
The restaurants inside of there are amazing. There's hotels right
around there as well. But we have you know, all
(19:09):
of your classics, your Radison's, your Hilton's, your Days AND's like,
you can't go wrong with any of them.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
All right, stepping outside of the holidays for a second,
I want to come back to the uh, the Cheap
Trick for one, because I'm a huge Cheap Trick fan.
Are there ways to take in the fact that that
that's the hometown of Cheap Trick?
Speaker 3 (19:27):
You know, there is subtle ways I would say, like,
I mean, you never know, you might see Rick around
some place because he does live here, His kids and
his family live here. His son Miles, who does tour
with them some actually opened a place called the Music Box.
Speaker 4 (19:44):
It's downtown.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
It's a really small music venue that is very intimate
and very cool. He often plays or his wife Kelly Stewart,
who's a phenomenal artist and herself plays. Rick is known
to show up different places, so again, if you're if
you're at Antis Gardens, he might show up on stage
during their Tuesday night music series. It's not uncommon to
(20:05):
see him at getting Swedish pancakes at some of the
places here locally.
Speaker 4 (20:10):
I mean, he's very.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
Much part of our community. So if you're a fan,
you can see it. Some of our roadways have been
renamed for them, so you can check out some of
the cheap trick signs of places that they grew up,
in places that they frequent. So it's subtle, but it's
here for sure. Yeah, and we also have really cool
if you hear year round, but especially during the summer,
(20:34):
some of the warmer months where you do want to
do more walking or.
Speaker 4 (20:37):
Public art is phenomenal.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
Like we have over sixty murals, like big large scale
murals throughout the community. Downtown especially, we have thirty five
sculptures that are in the downtown vicinity from that are
on loan or on least from different artists, so you
can come and just really feel cultured while you're here.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
All right, So what about the peaches that's a that's
fun to take in. Is there a way to take
in that?
Speaker 3 (21:07):
Yeah, So, actually there's a big development coming. There's a
place that they the Peaches actually played at this place
called Buyer Stadium, and it is still a place that
you can go and visit, but they're actually in the
process of building a really cool museum, so you'll have
to come back for that one at some point and
see what that's like. But the Peaches, we actually have
a Peaches mural that is there's a train station that
(21:30):
was just outside of downtown and it's where they all came
in and many of them lived, So we put a
mura up over in that area so you can kind
of get a feel of what it was like or
where they came into Rockford at We actually filmed part
of a show here for the commercial or for an
Amazon show that came out, so you can see some
(21:51):
of those things that were featured in that show and
featured in with them. You can still visit, like there
is nightclubs that are still open and that we're here
when the Peaches were here, so you can definitely get
glimpses of them as well.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
Yeah, that's the cool piece of history. And finally the monkeys.
We got to talk about the monkeys. How do you
properly enjoy that?
Speaker 3 (22:15):
Yeah, So there was this company called Nelson Knitting Company
that actually was founded in Rockford and created this first
sock monkey, I mean, however many years ago, and so
it's just kind of stuck around with us, like, we
are pretty proud that that came from Rockford.
Speaker 4 (22:34):
You can buy them in a lot of different places.
There's actually a stock.
Speaker 3 (22:37):
Monkey exhibit at one of the museums, and it's pretty
cool that you can see really the history of the
sock monkey and of the Nelson Knitting Company. That's at
Midway Midway Village here in Rockford, and you can definitely
jump into that and get into it. You know, it's
a love hate with with the sock monkeys. Some people
(22:58):
really think they're creepy. Some people think they're really cool.
Speaker 4 (23:01):
You know. I'm somewhere in between.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Yeah, but depends on the day, yeah, you know, but.
Speaker 3 (23:08):
I mean, either way, it's kind of cool that they're
they're featured here and it's still part of our we
embrace it as a community.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
Let's bring it back to the holidays, though, what would
you say if there's one thing. There may not just
be one thing, but what would you say captures the
heart of Rockford at Christmas time?
Speaker 3 (23:24):
I mean, I think the thing that captures the heart
of Rockford is that how invested the community is in
all of it, and how how people want to get involved,
Like even you know, I plan still in state, so
I see that side of it more than most. But
how many people show up and volunteer, and how many
people just want to leave a mark and say that
(23:45):
I was part of it. Like we have at our
workshops high school students that show up and I'm like, oh,
do you need a.
Speaker 4 (23:52):
Volunteer for them?
Speaker 3 (23:52):
Because some of them you don't have to have required hours. No,
Like no, I just like coming, Like I just I
just like being here. I just want to volunteer. And
I think it just captured what our community is all about.
Speaker 4 (24:02):
Like you know, so.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
Many places you get lost or you don't feel like
you really have a spot that you belong. And I
think Rockford is big enough that you feel like there's
enough to do, but you still feel like you belong
and you still feel like you have a home here,
and even if you're here visiting, you still get that
sense and you still feel like that's that's a place
I could call home, Like that's a place that I
(24:26):
could could be. And I think the holidays just amplifies that,
you know, like it just amplifies that sense of belonging
of community of that feels good, that feels right.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
All right, Well, I'm gonna end up putting you on
the spot.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
So do you have a favorite Rockford holiday memory that
you'd like to share?
Speaker 3 (24:48):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (24:49):
Man, I mean.
Speaker 3 (24:52):
Again, because my world in my day at this point
revolves around stroll on State, So it's hard not to
bring it.
Speaker 4 (24:58):
Back to that. Yeah, but it is being at the tree.
Speaker 3 (25:02):
Lighting for the city of Rockford and knowing that before
stroll and State, before this event, the city didn't have
a city tree. And so for the last thirteen years,
strollin State has gotten to be a part of that
and bring that to Rockford. And there is a moment
that as the mayor does the countdown and does the
tree lighting, and it is jam packed in the parking
(25:23):
lot and there are people up and down the parking garage,
so you can see them on every level. You can
see them lind up on the stairs at the Demo Center,
and it is everybody waiting, counting their counting down the moments,
and then the second that tree lights, that is the
moment that I'm like, okay, like this is There's nothing
(25:43):
cooler than this moment. There's nothing that could take this
moment away to make it not worth the work, not
worth worth the hours, not work worth the effort. And
I think our whole community feels that, Like I think
it's that like collective breadth of we got through this year,
we're here together, and we're going to go into the
next year really strong.
Speaker 4 (26:04):
Too awesome.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
Uh is there a point that let me try that
again for our listeners?
Speaker 4 (26:14):
Is there?
Speaker 1 (26:14):
Is it the the local Facebook page? Is it your website?
What's the best place for them to go to make
their trip planning for Rockford?
Speaker 4 (26:23):
Go to go Rockford dot com.
Speaker 3 (26:24):
You will find everything you possibly want to know, including
every restaurant, every hotel is seen, every event history and
information about Rockford.
Speaker 4 (26:36):
You can even find how how can you move here?
On that website. So go to go Rocker dot com
and you will find what you need right.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
There perfect well.
Speaker 1 (26:44):
Christen, thank you so much for joining me today and
sharing all the ways that Rockford celebrates the Christmas season.
Speaker 3 (26:49):
Thank you so much, Thank you so much, and I
wish you very happy holidays you too.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
It sounds like a place that's full of heart, community
and holiday spirit. Everything we love here at The Family Vacationer. Now,
if you'd like to start planning your own Rockford holiday getaway,
check out go Rockford dot com for event schedules, hotel information,
and family friendly itineraries. And before we wrap up, I
am so excited to share with you guys my new book,
(27:17):
The Family Vacationer, a parent's guide to meaningful travel. It's
on sale right now wherever books are sold, including Amazon
and Barnes and Noble. It's filled with stories and strategies
and inspiration to help your family make every trip more
intentional and rewarding. And they make great Christmas gifts. That's
(27:37):
all for this episode of The Family Vacationer. Remember, folks,
keep your passports and your hearts open. Safe travels everyone.
I'm God.
Speaker 5 (27:55):
Places, hotel stasis, the park rids and water slides, mountain
ranges and seasonal changes.
Speaker 4 (28:07):
I'm here to serve.
Speaker 5 (28:08):
I'm the family vacation Nerves.
Speaker 6 (28:14):
I've got in full on other beach preces and hotel
spaces amusement, park rats and water slides, mountain ranges and
seasonal changes.
Speaker 5 (28:29):
I'm here to serve on the family vacation
If you're dreaming of twinkling lights, festive markets, and that
perfect small town holiday charm, you're going to love today's episode,
we're heading to Rockford, Illinois, a city that knows how
to celebrate Christmas in.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
A big way.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
From family traditions to incredible community events, Rockford shines bright
hearing the Holidays.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Episode two oh three starts right now.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Welcome to The Family Vacationer with Robin.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Tracy, your go to podcast for families on the moon.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Hey, everybody, Welcome back to the Family Vacation Or, the
podcast that helps families create meaningful and memorable travel experiences together.
We're continuing at Christmas in the US series, where we
explore some of the best family friendly holiday destinations across
the country. Today, we're stopping in Rockford, Illinois, a city
(00:57):
that captures the spirit of Christmas through community, creativity, and
good old fashioned holiday fun. Joining me today is Kristin Paul,
director of Marketing and public Affairs for the Rockford Area
Convention and Visitors Bureau. Christin Welcome to the show.
Speaker 4 (01:14):
Thank you, thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
Glad to have you on. So let's start right at
the heart of it. What makes Christmas time in Rockford
so special for families.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
Oh man, where do I even begin?
Speaker 3 (01:27):
Rockford is Rockford's a special place in general, Like it
really is all about community here and you.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
Know, helping small businesses and being.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
Part of feeling like you're in a big city but
still in a small town. And Christmas is no exception.
We decorate to the nines our downtown. It is done
by a huge group of volunteers that actually meet in
a building called Santa's Workshop for months before before our
big kickoff event. Stroll on State and then downtown looks
(01:57):
absolutely gorgeous. It's like a Hallmark movie that you want
to walk through. But then in addition to our downtown,
there are so many spots to see absolutely breathtaking lights.
It really does feel like you can get everything you
could get in a big city right here in Rockford
and be a quick drive to all of them.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Let's back up for a second. Where is Rockford? If
somebody has just never heard of Rockford, Illinois before, where
are you guys located?
Speaker 3 (02:21):
We are about an hour and a half from Chicago,
about an hour from Madison, about an hour and fifteen
for Milwaukee, so perfect location. Lots of flight options, if
you're in the area, Quick drives from a lot of
areas as well, So right in northern Illinois.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Perfect.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Okay, let's get back to the local traditions. What local
traditions are in Rockford that families look forward to Christmas
time every year?
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Well, I have to say the one of the most
popular and biggest is Strolling State. And Strolling State takes
place the Saturday after Thanksgiving every year. This will be
its thirteenth year this no November twenty nine, and it
really is the kickoff to the holiday season.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
So, as I mentioned, we have a place called.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Santa's Workshop and from September until November, we have a
group of volunteers. They get together every Tuesday and every
Saturday and we make, we repair, we fix, we build
and create this community of decorations. And with that, through
the event, there is the Downtown City Tree Lighting, which
(03:27):
is a forty foot live tree. It's beautiful, it's so fun.
I will say, I think it's prettier than a Rockapilla
Center or many of the big cedy trees that you
can see other places.
Speaker 4 (03:38):
But also part of that.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Event, we have two different vendor markets, multiple live stages
of music all day long bars where you can grab
drinks and hot chocolates and everything you can imagine, food
vendors galore, a drone show of fireworks.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
I mean really, it is a full day of magic.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
It kicks off with the five k run and then
goes into a with Macy's style balloons, and really it's
everything you could want, but in a town that feels
accessible and feels welcoming and really and truly is open
to the community. What is so special about the event
is that it is entirely free. So anything that you
(04:17):
want to come and do is free to attend. The
only thing that you would pay for would be if
you want to shopping or if you want something special
from a food truck. Everything else is free, every attraction,
every stage. There is no special places that you can't
get to. If you're if you're not, if you're not
special enough for it, I guess. So it's like everybody
(04:38):
can come, and that's how we want it to feel.
We really want it to feel like we're welcoming you
to our home, and Downtown is our home, so we
say all are welcome, all are invited, and we hope
that you can make it from there. Other special things man,
there is a really cool drive through lights display called
Festival of Lights that has been there for more than
(04:59):
fifty years, has so so many displays that are absolutely
breathtaking and magical. Anderson Japanese Gardens turns their garden into
a place called Illuminated and it is, I mean truly
one of the most beautiful places year around that you
can go to, and the holiday lights are no exception.
And then we have All of Glow, which is right
along the river and it's a park district property that has,
(05:22):
I mean seriously more lights than you can possibly imagine.
So it is something for everybody and things that you
can do over and over again, or things that you
can make a night of and say, I'm going to
spend this whole night and go to all these light displays.
It's kind of what you want to make of it,
but you feel at home the whole time.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
I think you mentioned every one of these, but let's
go in on them a little bit more. Are there
any unique local performances. I think you mentioned the Christmas Market,
and I know you mentioned the parade, but can you
kind of go in a little bit more about those
experiences and what families can expect.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
Yeah, So both of those are at stroll On State,
and we have a holiday market. We actually have two
holiday markets within the event that have this year. We
have over one hundred vendors that are local artisans and
local makers or regional makers, food trucks and food vendors,
so it's really something for everybody.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
Plus we have.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Some really truly amazing, unique local stores that are all
open throughout the event, so you can come and you
can get all of your holiday shopping done right before
even December starts. You can get all of your shopping
knocked off your list. You can have some phenomenal food
at either a food truck or some of our local restaurants.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
You can't beat it, like they really are.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
I was talking to some of our restaurant owners just
last week and I said, this is rival's Randolph Street
in Chicago. Now, Like, we really have some places that
are amazing and they're just really special chefs that really
care about what they do, and so you can come
experience that right here. The parade at Sirloin State has grown,
(06:58):
It's really grown a lot. We actually have this year
ten Macy's Day style of balloons that are featured in
the parade and almost all of them have now been
custom made for Rockford, so they're Rockford themed or regional themes.
So we have a sack monkey because the sack monkey
actually was invented here in Rockford. So we have a
forty five foot sack monkey balloon that goes down the street.
(07:21):
We have Rockford one of Cheap Trick the band, so
we have Rick Nielsen's famous five neck guitar as a
balloon that goes down the street. We have the Rockford
Peaches featured. We have we're known as Screw Sydney. We
have a giant screw that's decked up like a Christmas
tree that goes down the street. We have a new
one this year that hasn't been announced yet that will
be really fun to see coming down the street as well.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
But it's also another thirty footer that it's big.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
It's a lot of helium that we use that day,
so it is so fun. And then combine that with
floats that are milt that are built by different businesses
and fans that are are throughout like it really is
a fun kickoff the day that you don't want to
miss and you know your kids are gonna get candied
up because there's more candy than you can imagine that
(08:05):
gets handed out.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
There's so much to unpack. Their cheap trick uh sock monkeys,
Rockford peaches. There's so much that I would love to
get into there. Maybe we'll put a pin in that,
come back to it a little bit. But so with
all these with all these chefs, now do you get
to sample since you're since you're putting it all together,
you should get to sample all that, right, I.
Speaker 4 (08:26):
Mean, I've made my way to most of them.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
It's funny because my coworker and I we will look
at each other halfway through the through the.
Speaker 4 (08:33):
Night and we're like, have you eaten? Have you drunk?
Speaker 3 (08:35):
Have you like gone to the bathroom because you haven't
drunk all day? Right, And we'll we'll get to the
end of the day and we're like, there's.
Speaker 4 (08:40):
So many amazing places and we haven't even stopped for
a single second.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
But everybody else that comes says that they eat well
throughout the day, and then you can definitely eat well
throughout the season. There is there's some really great places
for all budgets throughout the downtown and throughout Rockford in general.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
So in the theme park world. They call this an overlay.
But are there any nearby attractions, museums, parks that offer
special holiday themed experiences for families. I know that you
mentioned some of them, but.
Speaker 4 (09:12):
Yeah, so Anderson Japanese Gardens is a big one.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
It's called Illuminated. Sinnesippi Park has all a glow. It's
at the Conservatory, and then across from that is the
Festival of Lights, and those are all very holiday specific.
There's another awesome holiday event called Snow Market and it
is at it's outside of this restaurant. It's called The
Norwegian and it is truly a unique experience. It's all
(09:36):
done like a Nordic village, and so you can come
experience kind of what that would feel like. And there's
you know, every drink and snack and food that you
can imagine. It's like salmon on a stick and things
that you might not get at a normal market that are.
Speaker 4 (09:50):
Really actually delightful.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
Like you think, I don't know about this, and it's
really really well done. But their restaurant in general, that's
just outside of downtown and it is a real great spot.
They do weekly specials and weekly menu changes, so it's
super fresh.
Speaker 4 (10:05):
And super chef.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
Driven and definitely holiday themed. You can get some great
holiday drinks there. All of our restaurants do different specials
and different promotions. We have on the east side of
town we have additional again super upscale or you know,
if you want to dine fast and be in and out,
both options of locally owned places that do features and specials.
(10:29):
And I think we might have more coffee shops than
anyone else as well, So lots of local options that
you get your favorite holiday drink, whether it be from
a bar or from a coffee bar.
Speaker 4 (10:40):
Like either way, you're covered here.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
All right.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
So that's a good segue because I was going to
talk about the food. What are do you have a
favorite local holiday dish? And if so, where do you
get that? Oh?
Speaker 3 (10:53):
Man, Okay, I'll probably get in trouble for saying this,
but one of my favorite traditions is actually Abrio Would,
which is a very fun, fancy restaurant, does a brunch
service throughout the holidays, and their brunch is one of
my favorite things in the whole world.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
And I'm not even really a brunch.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Girl, like I'm I'm more of a dinner lover, but
their brunch is really something magnificent. I think, man, there's
a restaurant called Salt that is fantastic.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
They do again upscale dining.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
But then we also have some of these Italian restaurants
that do some Italian themed holiday you know, the Seven
Fishes and different different ideas throughout the holidays, like Lino's
or Francesco's. Like there's too many places to name, because honestly,
like you could eat until your heart's.
Speaker 4 (11:41):
Content here and not even hit them all.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
So I honestly can't give you one favorite item on
the brunch because there's two that it's almost like you say,
I'm gonna order one as an appetizer even though it's
an entree, and then I'm gonna order one as an entree,
and then do you want to share that other one?
But it's the biscuits and gravy. I don't know what
makes it special, but it is phenomenal. And then it's
the shrimp and grits, like some of the best shrimp
(12:04):
and grits I've ever had. So it's kind of like
I don't feel bad because you're like, I'm having breakfast
and then I'm having lunch, so it doesn't.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
Count that's what brunch is, right, So I mean that's
that's the whole boy, so exactly.
Speaker 4 (12:18):
So for Abrio, those are my two thaves for sure.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
Man from the Norwegian Oh again, they changed their menu
so much, but they actually have they do these like
plates and they can't think of what they're called right now,
but they're like, it's it's not charcuterie, but it's kind
of like charcuterie, but like it'll have like a soft
boiled egg and like gravel ox and like stuff that
you're like, I'm not sure what that is, but I
(12:44):
want it.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Yeah, awesome, Okay, I've gut to start stop doing this
at dinner time, all right. So you you mentioned a
lot of the artisan that families would love and do
their shopping at if they're looking for that perfect holiday souvenir.
You mentioned the two markets, Like, what what are the
(13:06):
times that those markets are up and running? Is it
all deer in the holiday?
Speaker 3 (13:11):
So those specific markets are just open for the event
for stroll on State.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
If you want the perfect souvenir.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
All season long, I would say come downtown and check
out Rockford Art Deli. It is a local T shirt
shop that has some really great unique designs. And then
there's also I mean a bunch of different salons that
sell some really great products. I don't know if you
have a daughter, but my daughter is just about eleven,
(13:39):
and I swear skincare products are like the end all
be all of all things, and I'm like, just sleepovers
just so they can wash their face, and I'm like, okay,
So there are some really great products that they love
and you can try out at some different stores that
are downtown.
Speaker 4 (13:56):
There's also some really cool like home stores.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
There's this place called Urban Farm that has every bit
of decor and fun items. Like when I need a
brain break, I say, I run over to Urban Farm
Grow and check it out and just kind of wander
around aimlessly and carry things in my basket. Even if
I don't end up buying them, I'm like, no, I
need to have it with me for a moment.
Speaker 4 (14:17):
So definitely things to do.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
And even if you come down and think for the
events for all on state, I don't want to carry
things around, come back later and buy again, because you'll
be sorry if you go all the way home and
don't have it with you.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
Well, let's talk travel strategy. So if families have never
been to Rockford during the holidays. What are your top
recommendations for the families that are visiting.
Speaker 3 (14:41):
Yeah, during the holiday specific I would say if you're
family with kids, you want to come downtown and hang
out downtown and you can.
Speaker 4 (14:49):
Stay at the Embassy Suites.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
It's right within walking distance of everything, and you want
to just wander through and get that feeling of the
holiday spirit. And then you want want to go to
the lights displays, So you want to go to Nicholas
Conservatory and just walk through the oli glow displays. It's
at your own leisure, so you can go there after dinner,
before dinner, and you will just be wowed and you
(15:12):
will get some amazing pictures with your with your family.
You want to drive through the lights display at Profestival
of Lights, because you know you can see lights displays
that you drive through, but you don't see them this
where there's so many displays, and everywhere you see you're like, wait,
there's another one, Wait that one move, that one changed.
Speaker 4 (15:32):
And then you get home and you're like, these.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
Pictures didn't even do a justice because you can't show
it in pictures what it is in person.
Speaker 4 (15:39):
Because you know the lights.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
Go on and off and they're flight like it's really magnificent.
And then if you want a night that is memorable
that you will go home talking about, you don't want
to miss Anderson Gardens and seeing Illuminated because Anderson Gardens
is maybe my favorite place in the whole city year round.
I mean it is gorgeous, like it is one of
(16:02):
one of the best voted best gardens Japanese gardens in
the world, literally right here in Rockford, so we're lucky
to have it. But then in the holiday season, it's
like non traditional colors, so it's like these purples and
blues and pinks, and you feel like you're a fairy
walking around, like you feel like it's just magical, and
like I'll take my kids and I'll think, oh, I
(16:23):
hope they're not bored, and it's like they're in awe,
like they can't even stop.
Speaker 4 (16:27):
They're like, take my picture, here, take my picture here.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
You get home and you're just like, oh man, we
sat on he bails and had a hot chocolate and
we feel like we feel like Christmas, like we feel
like the holiday is in ourselves, like it just awakens
in you.
Speaker 4 (16:41):
So you don't want to miss it.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
Yeah, well, you know, multi generational travel is more and
more popular, especially during the holidays. So do you have
any tips for visitors that are traveling with you know,
young children and or grandparents that maybe will make the
trip easier and more enjoyable.
Speaker 4 (16:59):
You know, what's great.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
About Record is that you don't have to be in
your car the whole time, like I know, for me,
if I'm traveling with like my kids or especially when
they were younger, like getting them in the car to
go from place to place and you're twenty thirty minutes
away from each destination, that adds a lot of stress,
Like it adds a lot of difficulty. But what's great
about Rockord is that you can get from each of
(17:21):
these attractions in just a couple of minutes, so you
can grab dinner and be at your next place before
they've even started to complain that their seat belts aren't
or are funny, Like, you can walk to enough places
that you know, if you're within your elderly grandparents, they're
still comfortable and they can still keep up because you
don't feel like you have to go two miles before
(17:43):
you get to the next place, like you're you're within
a comfortable walking distance, so you don't have to you
don't ever have to feel like you have to pick,
like you get to do it all, which is what
I think is so unique.
Speaker 4 (17:57):
And like I said, you can space it out. If
you're here for couple of days.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
You can do one night, one light show, this day,
one this day, and you know, do some shopping in between,
or you can hit it all in one night. So
you can say, we're going to start at four o'clock
when it's dark, and the rest of the night, you
guys are going to be so lighted up that you're
not going to know what to do with it.
Speaker 4 (18:16):
We're going to have more hot chocolate.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
Than than the elves, and you're gonna have fun that
way too, So you really can decide.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
You mentioned Embassy Suite. Are there any other hotels in
the area that you would call out that are good
for families?
Speaker 3 (18:29):
Honestly, all of our hotels are really nice. Embassy is
the one that's going to be downtown. If you're more
of you know, kind of your traditional where you want
to do some shopping and hit some non local and
some local on the on the other side of town,
we have a whole.
Speaker 4 (18:46):
Series of hotels.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
We've actually just opened, man, I guess it's probably been
a year and a half or more now a couple
of years that the Hard Rock Casino opened. And if
you have older kids or you're coming in to meet friends,
it's a fantastic place. Like it is top of the line.
The restaurants inside of there are amazing. There's hotels right
around there as well. But we have you know, all
(19:09):
of your classics, your Radison's, your Hilton's, your Days AND's like,
you can't go wrong with any of them.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
All right, stepping outside of the holidays for a second,
I want to come back to the uh, the Cheap
Trick for one, because I'm a huge Cheap Trick fan.
Are there ways to take in the fact that that
that's the hometown of Cheap Trick?
Speaker 3 (19:27):
You know, there is subtle ways I would say, like,
I mean, you never know, you might see Rick around
some place because he does live here, His kids and
his family live here. His son Miles, who does tour
with them some actually opened a place called the Music Box.
Speaker 4 (19:44):
It's downtown.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
It's a really small music venue that is very intimate
and very cool. He often plays or his wife Kelly Stewart,
who's a phenomenal artist and herself plays. Rick is known
to show up different places, so again, if you're if
you're at Antis Gardens, he might show up on stage
during their Tuesday night music series. It's not uncommon to
(20:05):
see him at getting Swedish pancakes at some of the
places here locally.
Speaker 4 (20:10):
I mean, he's very.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
Much part of our community. So if you're a fan,
you can see it. Some of our roadways have been
renamed for them, so you can check out some of
the cheap trick signs of places that they grew up,
in places that they frequent. So it's subtle, but it's
here for sure. Yeah, and we also have really cool
if you hear year round, but especially during the summer,
(20:34):
some of the warmer months where you do want to
do more walking or.
Speaker 4 (20:37):
Public art is phenomenal.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
Like we have over sixty murals, like big large scale
murals throughout the community. Downtown especially, we have thirty five
sculptures that are in the downtown vicinity from that are
on loan or on least from different artists, so you
can come and just really feel cultured while you're here.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
All right, So what about the peaches that's a that's
fun to take in. Is there a way to take
in that?
Speaker 3 (21:07):
Yeah, So, actually there's a big development coming. There's a
place that they the Peaches actually played at this place
called Buyer Stadium, and it is still a place that
you can go and visit, but they're actually in the
process of building a really cool museum, so you'll have
to come back for that one at some point and
see what that's like. But the Peaches, we actually have
a Peaches mural that is there's a train station that
(21:30):
was just outside of downtown and it's where they all came
in and many of them lived, So we put a
mura up over in that area so you can kind
of get a feel of what it was like or
where they came into Rockford at We actually filmed part
of a show here for the commercial or for an
Amazon show that came out, so you can see some
(21:51):
of those things that were featured in that show and
featured in with them. You can still visit, like there
is nightclubs that are still open and that we're here
when the Peaches were here, so you can definitely get
glimpses of them as well.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
Yeah, that's the cool piece of history. And finally the monkeys.
We got to talk about the monkeys. How do you
properly enjoy that?
Speaker 3 (22:15):
Yeah, So there was this company called Nelson Knitting Company
that actually was founded in Rockford and created this first
sock monkey, I mean, however many years ago, and so
it's just kind of stuck around with us, like, we
are pretty proud that that came from Rockford.
Speaker 4 (22:34):
You can buy them in a lot of different places.
There's actually a stock.
Speaker 3 (22:37):
Monkey exhibit at one of the museums, and it's pretty
cool that you can see really the history of the
sock monkey and of the Nelson Knitting Company. That's at
Midway Midway Village here in Rockford, and you can definitely
jump into that and get into it. You know, it's
a love hate with with the sock monkeys. Some people
(22:58):
really think they're creepy. Some people think they're really cool.
Speaker 4 (23:01):
You know. I'm somewhere in between.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Yeah, but depends on the day, yeah, you know, but.
Speaker 3 (23:08):
I mean, either way, it's kind of cool that they're
they're featured here and it's still part of our we
embrace it as a community.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
Let's bring it back to the holidays, though, what would
you say if there's one thing. There may not just
be one thing, but what would you say captures the
heart of Rockford at Christmas time?
Speaker 3 (23:24):
I mean, I think the thing that captures the heart
of Rockford is that how invested the community is in
all of it, and how how people want to get involved,
Like even you know, I plan still in state, so
I see that side of it more than most. But
how many people show up and volunteer, and how many
people just want to leave a mark and say that
(23:45):
I was part of it. Like we have at our
workshops high school students that show up and I'm like, oh,
do you need a.
Speaker 4 (23:52):
Volunteer for them?
Speaker 3 (23:52):
Because some of them you don't have to have required hours. No,
Like no, I just like coming, Like I just I
just like being here. I just want to volunteer. And
I think it just captured what our community is all about.
Speaker 4 (24:02):
Like you know, so.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
Many places you get lost or you don't feel like
you really have a spot that you belong. And I
think Rockford is big enough that you feel like there's
enough to do, but you still feel like you belong
and you still feel like you have a home here,
and even if you're here visiting, you still get that
sense and you still feel like that's that's a place
I could call home, Like that's a place that I
(24:26):
could could be. And I think the holidays just amplifies that,
you know, like it just amplifies that sense of belonging
of community of that feels good, that feels right.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
All right, Well, I'm gonna end up putting you on
the spot.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
So do you have a favorite Rockford holiday memory that
you'd like to share?
Speaker 3 (24:48):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (24:49):
Man, I mean.
Speaker 3 (24:52):
Again, because my world in my day at this point
revolves around stroll on State, So it's hard not to
bring it.
Speaker 4 (24:58):
Back to that. Yeah, but it is being at the tree.
Speaker 3 (25:02):
Lighting for the city of Rockford and knowing that before
stroll and State, before this event, the city didn't have
a city tree. And so for the last thirteen years,
strollin State has gotten to be a part of that
and bring that to Rockford. And there is a moment
that as the mayor does the countdown and does the
tree lighting, and it is jam packed in the parking
(25:23):
lot and there are people up and down the parking garage,
so you can see them on every level. You can
see them lind up on the stairs at the Demo Center,
and it is everybody waiting, counting their counting down the moments,
and then the second that tree lights, that is the
moment that I'm like, okay, like this is There's nothing
(25:43):
cooler than this moment. There's nothing that could take this
moment away to make it not worth the work, not
worth worth the hours, not work worth the effort. And
I think our whole community feels that, Like I think
it's that like collective breadth of we got through this year,
we're here together, and we're going to go into the
next year really strong.
Speaker 4 (26:04):
Too awesome.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
Uh is there a point that let me try that
again for our listeners?
Speaker 4 (26:14):
Is there?
Speaker 1 (26:14):
Is it the the local Facebook page? Is it your website?
What's the best place for them to go to make
their trip planning for Rockford?
Speaker 4 (26:23):
Go to go Rockford dot com.
Speaker 3 (26:24):
You will find everything you possibly want to know, including
every restaurant, every hotel is seen, every event history and
information about Rockford.
Speaker 4 (26:36):
You can even find how how can you move here?
On that website. So go to go Rocker dot com
and you will find what you need right.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
There perfect well.
Speaker 1 (26:44):
Christen, thank you so much for joining me today and
sharing all the ways that Rockford celebrates the Christmas season.
Speaker 3 (26:49):
Thank you so much, Thank you so much, and I
wish you very happy holidays you too.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
It sounds like a place that's full of heart, community
and holiday spirit. Everything we love here at The Family Vacationer. Now,
if you'd like to start planning your own Rockford holiday getaway,
check out go Rockford dot com for event schedules, hotel information,
and family friendly itineraries. And before we wrap up, I
am so excited to share with you guys my new book,
(27:17):
The Family Vacationer, a parent's guide to meaningful travel. It's
on sale right now wherever books are sold, including Amazon
and Barnes and Noble. It's filled with stories and strategies
and inspiration to help your family make every trip more
intentional and rewarding. And they make great Christmas gifts. That's
(27:37):
all for this episode of The Family Vacationer. Remember, folks,
keep your passports and your hearts open. Safe travels everyone.
I'm God.
Speaker 5 (27:55):
Places, hotel stasis, the park rids and water slides, mountain
ranges and seasonal changes.
Speaker 4 (28:07):
I'm here to serve.
Speaker 5 (28:08):
I'm the family vacation Nerves.
Speaker 6 (28:14):
I've got in full on other beach preces and hotel
spaces amusement, park rats and water slides, mountain ranges and
seasonal changes.
Speaker 5 (28:29):
I'm here to serve on the family vacation
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Male Room with Dr. Jesse Mills
As Director of The Men’s Clinic at UCLA, Dr. Jesse Mills has spent his career helping men understand their bodies, their hormones, and their health. Now he’s bringing that expertise to The Male Room — a podcast where data-driven medicine meets common sense. Each episode separates fact from hype, science from snake oil, and gives men the tools to live longer, stronger, and happier lives. With candor, humor, and real-world experience from the exam room and the operating room, Dr. Mills breaks down the latest health headlines, dissects trends, and explains what actually works — and what doesn’t. Smart, straightforward, and entertaining, The Male Room is the show that helps men take charge of their health without the jargon.