The weekend brings the United Way Celebrity Dinner and an Earth Day plant swap, along with fundraisers, live music and more to the Freeport area.
Bat Out of Hell the Musical
What: “Bat Out of Hell,” the award-winning musical, is a spectacle in which the timeless music of Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf reigns supreme. In this reimagined show, a dynamic eight-piece rock band performs amidst sprawling multi-level platforms that transport you through the diverse worlds of Bat Out Of Hell. The cast will bring powerhouse vocals to Meat Loaf’s anthems including “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That),” “Dead Ringer for Love,” “It’s All Coming Back to Me,” and of course, “Bat Out of Hell.”
When: 8 p.m. April 17
Where: Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford
Cost: $62-$118
Record Store Day 2026
What: Stop in and get your favorite Record Store Day titles.
When: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. April 18
Where: Re-Spun Records and Re-sale, 119 E. Stephenson St., Freeport
Pancake Breakfast
What: Come to the third annual pancake breakfast for pancakes, sausages, applesauce and desserts. Try for a chance to win raffle basket prizes. All funds raised will go toward academic scholarships for the 2026-2027 school year.
When: 8:30-11 a.m. April 18
Where: Open Bible Learning Center, 3800 W. Stephenson St., Freeport
Cost: $10; $5 for children
Opening Weekend Summerfield Zoo
What: Come for the opening weekend of Summerfield Zoo. Tour the zoo’s exotic animals, including capybaras, zebra, otters, hyenas, wolves, reindeer and sloth. Get up close with many animals and see an animal presentation featuring Daisy the mini cow (with photo opportunities). Buy bottles for the baby goats and pellets for the adult goats. Visit the gift and snack shops. All proceeds support the care of the animals. The zoo is open rain or shine.
When: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. April 18
Where: Summerfield Zoo, 3088 Flora Road, Belvidere
Cost: $16; $14 for seniors; $10 for children; free parking
Spring Open House
What: Come see what’s changed at the permanent Ho scale layout located in the historic Chicago central railroads bunkhouse.
When: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. April 18 and April 19
Where: Fever River Railroad/Stephenson Society of Model Trainmen, 1055 W. Beach St., Freeport
Earth Day Plant Swap
What: Celebrate Earth Day by getting a new houseplant and giving away a spare houseplant from your own home. This event is for potted houseplants only, no outdoor plants. Limit five plants per donation.
When: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. April 18
Where: Freeport Public Library meeting room, 100 E. Douglas St., Freeport
Cost: Free
Steak Supper and Dance
What: Enjoy a steak supper from 4-8 p.m. with ribeye, potato, green beans and salad. The dance, from 8 p.m. to midnight features entertainment from Cross Cut Revival, raffle prizes, auction items and a card raffle.
When: 4 p.m. to midnight April 18
Where: Pearl City Fire Station, 300 Station St., Pearl City
United Way Celebrity Dinner
What: All proceeds will benefit community initatives in Stephenson, Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties. Must be 21 or older to attend this event.
When: 5-11 p.m. April 18
Where: The Freeport Club, 1614 S. Park Blvd., Freeport
Cost: $40
Girls’ Creative Night Out
What: Enjoy a relaxing, kid-free creative night out at the studio with your women friends. Whether you’re coming with friends or hoping to meet new creative women, this evening is all about slowing down, creating and enjoying good company. Choose to paint a canvas tote bag or a terracotta plant pot. While your project dries, keep the creativity flowing with the bracelet making bar or bookmark making station. Bring your favorite drinks. Light snacks and refreshments are included. No experience is needed.
When: 6:30-9 p.m. April 18
Where: Jacquelyn Nelson Studio, 101 S Liberty Ave., Suite 10, FreeportCost: $30
Tyler Henry
What: Medium Tyler Henry, star of the Netflix series, “Life After Death with Tyler Henry” and E! Entertainment’s show, “Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry,” continues his sold-out national Live Show tour across the country. Tyler will explain how he communicates with the other side, give audience readings and answer audience questions.
When: 7 p.m. April 18
Where: Hard Rock Casino Rockford, 7801 E. State St., Rockford
Cost: $68-$138
Sheez-It
What: These four women will perform rock music for your entertainment.
When: 7-10 p.m. April 18
Where: Victory Tap, 45 Church St., German Valley
Rockford Symphony Orchestra
What: Experience the musical brilliance of compositions exploring destiny and the courage to face it. The concert opens with Carlos Simon’s Fate Now Conquers, a 2020 work depicting the “unpredictable ways of fate,” inspired by Beethoven’s journals and Homer’s Iliad. Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 features soloist Miri Yampolsky, whose artistry showcases the lyrical elegance and innovation of this pinnacle piano work. The evening concludes with Brahms’s Symphony No. 2, a masterpiece filled with warmth, hope and a triumphant spirit.
When: 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. April 18
Where: Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford
Cost: $35-$85; free for youth; student pricing available
Ladies Spring Luncheon
What: Enjoy food, fashion and music at this event. Tickets include one drink, lunch buffet, a swag bag, fashion show and the vendor spotlight.
When: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. April 19
Where: Mousie’s on the Boulevard, 1614 S. Park Blvd., Freeport
Cost: $50
Queensryche
What: With 20 million albums sold worldwide, innumerable accolades and a career that has charted the course of multiple genres, Queensryche, “the Thinking Man’s Metal Band” will perform. At a time when bands were writing about sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll, Queensryche were writing about politics, religion and social injustice – topics that are more relevant now than ever. The cloying together of the band’s past and present has become the mark of the band who regrouped in 2012. Guests must be at least 21 to attend the show; a valid photo ID is required. This is a fully seated event. All tickets grant entry and reserved seating.
When: 8 p.m. April 19 (doors open at 7 p.m.)
Where: Hard Rock Casino Rockford, 7801 E. State St., Rockford
Cost: $31-$73
Coming next week
Clue Live on Stage
What: Murder and blackmail are on the menu when six mysterious guests assemble at Boddy Manor for a night they’ll never forget. Based on the fan-favorite 1985 Paramount Pictures movie and inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, Clue is the ultimate whodunit that will leave you dying of laughter and keep you guessing until the final twist.
When: 7:30 p.m. April 20
Where: Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford
Cost: $59-$108
Teen Tuesday: Edible Cookie Dough
What: Follow a simple recipe and create a sugar cookie base. Make it your own with customized toppings and complete it with a custom name.
When: 4-5 p.m. April 21
Where: Youth Program Room, Freeport Public Library, 100 E. Douglas St., Freeport
World Ballet Company: Cinderella
What: The fairy tale comes to life in a Broadway-style production for all ages, blending humor, romance and the timeless majesty of classical ballet. World Ballet Company’s Cinderella features a cast of 40 international dancers, more than 150 radiant hand-sewn costumes, hand-crafted sets and choreography by Marina Kesler. There is a 20-minute intermission during the two-hour show, which is appropriate for anyone age 2 and older.
When: 7 p.m. April 21
Where: Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford
Cost: $60-$114
Freeport Park District Registration Night
What: Registration Night is a one-night-only opportunity to get ahead, get inspired and maybe even win a raffle drawing when you complete a registration. Get registered quickly with staff on hand to help. Explore programs and find the perfect fit for your family. Ask questions and get personalized recommendations.
When: 5-7 p.m. April 22
Where: Freeport Park District Administration Center, 1122 S. Burchard Ave., Freeport
Cost: Free
Albert Einstein visits the Library
What: Duffy Hudson, previously in Freeport as all of the characters in A Christmas Carol, Edgar Allen Poe and Houdini, brings us Albert Einstein. Even if physics isn’t your thing, this is sure to be an entertaining live portrayal by this favorite actor. No registration is required.
When: 6:30-7:30 p.m. April 22
Where: Freeport Public Library meeting room, 100 E. Douglas St., Freeport
Kathi Edwards is a freelance contributor to the Freeport Journal-Standard.
This article originally appeared on Journal Standard: Earth Day plant swap among 14 weekend events around Freeport
Reporting by Kathi Edwards, Special to the Freeport Journal-Standard / Journal Standard
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
