The weekend brings On the Fly Improv, Veteran European Pheasant Shoot and a Halloween pub crawl, along with fundraisers, live music and more to the Freeport area.
Halloween Party
What: Enjoy cocktails, prizes, music and more at Pretzel City Pub’s Halloween party. Costume judging will be at 11 p.m. There will be prizes for the most original and the funniest costumes. DJ Kenny Zee will be entertaining.
When: 8 p.m. – midnight Oct. 31
Where: Pretzel City Pub, 1350 W. Galena Ave., Freeport
On the Fly Improv
What: Winneshiek’s On the Fly Improv Troupe will perform. Everything is made up on the spot and absolutely nothing is off-limits. Don’t miss the costume contest during intermission. There will be prizes for the funniest, scariest and most creative costumes.
When: 7 p.m. Oct. 31 (doors open at 6 p.m.)
Where: Winneshiek Playhouse, 228 W. Clark St., Freeport
Halloween Pub Crawl
What: The Valley Tap Halloween Pub Crawl features costumes, cocktails and creepy good times all night long. Participating bars are Valley Tap, Kaps Tap, Ridott Corners, The Vault, Fibbers and Hot Rod Nellies. Costumes are encouraged. Each bar will have spooky drink specials and more. Finish the crawl and return your completed card to any participating location by noon Nov. 2 for a chance to win a prize.
When: 4 p.m. Oct. 31
Moon Viewing and Ikebana
What: Meet at the visitor center by 5:45 p.m. From there, guests will be escorted out to the pavilion. This event takes place outdoors; please dress accordingly. The AJG Ikebana group will display an exhibition of Ikebana. Reiko Takahashi, an Ikenobo Ikebana instructor, will create “Tatehana,” the oldest style of the Ikenobo Ikebana School, as an offering to the Moon. After this, Kimiko Gunji, Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois, will perform the Kencha tea ceremony, serving a bowl of tea to the moon. Tea and special sweets will be served to all participants. Enjoy a Shakuhachi performance by Omar Francis while viewing the moon.
When: 6-8 p.m. Nov. 1
Where: Anderson Japanese Gardens, 318 Spring Creek Road, Rockford
Cost: $45; $40 for members
Rockford Ice Hogs hockey game
What: The Rockford IceHogs host the Grand Rapids Griffins for a Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) celebration. The first 2,500 fans through the doors receive a limited-edition Hammy Sugar Skull Bobblehead. The team will skate in Day of the Dead specialty jerseys, with a postgame jersey auction.
When: 7 p.m. Nov. 1
Where: BMO Center, 300 Elm St., Rockford
Cost: Tickets start at $22
The Handcuffs with The Attitudes
What: Chicago’s The Handcuffs features Brad Elvis of The Romantics and The Elvis Brothers on drums. Brad Elvis and Chloe Orwell formed The Handcuffs from the ashes of Big Hello, their first band together. The Handcuffs began as primarily a studio project, in which Elvis and Orwell wrote and recorded an abundance of material. During the process, they realized they missed the live band experience, so The Handcuffs as recording artists and a dynamic live band was born. Completing the line-up are bassist Emily Togni, lead guitarist Charlie Short and keyboardist Carolyn Engelmann, all of whom originate from different parts of the country, but have made Chicago their home. Joining The Handcuffs will be local band, The Attitudes.
When: 8 p.m. Nov. 1
Where: Mary’s Place, 602 N. Madison St., Rockford
Holiday Craft & Gift Expo
What: Shop a wide variety of handcrafted gifts, home décor, holiday items and unique products from 65 local crafters and vendors.
When: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Nov. 1
Where: Fitness Lifestyles of Freeport, 641 W. Stephenson St., Freeport
Chili Shoot-Out Golf Outing
What: The golf outing will have a two-person scramble format with a 10:30 a.m. shotgun start. Fee includes 18 holes of golf, lunch and cash prizes based on field size. Teams can be men, women or mixed. Sign up by calling the Golf Shop; spots are limited.
When: 10:30 a.m. Nov. 1
Where: Freeport Club, 1614 S. Park Blvd., Freeport
Cost: $70 per team; $50 for members
Learn & Create: Alma Thomas
What: Momentum Art Guild member Courtney Smith will lead this workshop where participants will learn about American artist Alma Thomas, then create a work in her style. From 11 a.m. to noon, learn about Thomas, a major American painter of the 20th Century, by exploring her life, work and artistic style. There will be a lunch break from noon to 1 p.m. before those registered for the afternoon session will create an artwork in her style. You are free to bring food with you to eat in the library or go out for a quick bite.
The morning session is open to all. The afternoon art session from 1–2:45 p.m. is by registration only.
When: 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Nov. 1
Where: Freeport Public Library meeting room, 100 E. Douglas St., Freeport
Cost: Free
Dart Tournament/Toy Drive
What: This dart tournament includes the fourth annual toy drive to support the Salvation Army Toy Drive. Register by 1 p.m. and throw at 2 p.m. sharp.
When: 1 p.m. Nov. 1
Where: Wayside Saloon, 1802 Crossroads Lane, Freeport
Cost: $15 buy-in plus a donated toy worth at least $10 or $10 cash donation without a toy donation
The Power of Balance
What: Laurie Hasken, Sara Horn and Pat Leitzen Fye are co-hosts of this retreat, which will focus on balance in all the many ways we experience it and the ways in which we may lose it. Learn about attaining and maintaining physical balance, emotional and mental balance, even relationship balance, in fun and interesting ways, including one-on-one interactive learning, movement, music, meditation and more. Yoga and meditation experience is not required. Props and modifications will be offered as needed. The agenda includes discussion, yoga and movement accompanied by Sara’s original music and crystal singing bowls. End the day with a guided, meditative relaxation. Cost includes refreshments and hand-outs. Pre-registration and payment is required.
When: 12:30-5:30 p.m. Nov. 1
Where: Highland Community College, 2998 W. Pearl City Road, Freeport
Cost: $50
Craft Show/Open House
What: Visit more than 20 vendors at the sixth annual craft show.
When: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Nov. 1
Where: The Building on Campbell, 17855 W. Campbell Road, Davis
Cost: Free admission
Veteran European Pheasant Shoot
What: Enjoy a special day of honor and outdoor fun. The event highlights include a European-style pheasant shoot, mentorship and outdoor sporting traditions. Connect with fellow veterans and inspire the next generation.
When: 11 a.m. Nov. 2
Where: Rock Hollow Hunt Club, 1891 IL Rt. 75E, Freeport
Cost: Free for veterans and youth leaders
Coming next week
For the Love of Local
What: Join Amera Striegel, a local food advocate, to discover the rich and diverse availability of local food. Dissect the meaning of “Shop Local” into these four fundamental pieces: defining local; the economic and environmental effect of shopping local; the benefits to personal and community health; and discussing the abundance of our local food access and actions we can take to shift the current community food model to a more sustainable one. For the Love of Local is more than a tagline, it is a mission to educate, empower and support individuals in this community, starting with access to Earth-honoring, human-nourishing, real food produced close to home.
When: 7 p.m. Nov. 3
Where: St. John United Church of Chris, 1010 S. Park Blvd., Freeport
Slime Making: Harvest Glitter Slime
What: This month, make harvest glitter slime.
When: 3:30-5:30 p.m. Nov. 4
Where: Freeport Public Library youth program room, 100 E. Douglas St., Freeport
Christiany’s Dawn in Asia Minor
What: Join Volkan Yazici, renowned guide and historian, on a journey to the heart of Christianity’s early sites in Asia Minor. This lecture will focus on the birthplaces and historical landmarks pivotal to Christian history, such as the birthplace and the house of St. Paul, the church of St. Nicholas and the renowned Mount Ararat area. Volkan will also explore the significance of the first ecumenical council in Nicea and the ancient city of Antioch. Through this focused exploration, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of these sacred sites and their critical roles in shaping the early Christian Church. Discover the stories and legacy of these locations in global religious history. This is a live, online, interactive lecture. Come watch it on the big screen in the meeting room; this lecture is not available for viewing from home.
When: Noon – 1 p.m. Nov. 5
Where: Freeport Public Library, 100 E. Douglas St., Freeport
Cost: Free, no registration required
Italian Wine Dinner
What: This dinner features Italian flavors, fine wine and community. The Great Debate chefs have crafted a special four-course Italian dinner. Each course is paired with an Italian wine to elevate the experience. There is limited seating.
When: 6-9 p.m. Nov. 5
Where: The Great Debate, 1 E. Spring St., Freeport
Cost: $95
Pour Your Own Epoxy
What: Craft your own epoxy river charcuterie board or lazy susan in this informative and hands-on workshop. Available boards feature premium black walnut and other fine hardwoods, accented with epoxy in colors of your choice. Select up to two epoxy colors when you arrive. After the class, your project will undergo a finishing process, which typically takes six weeks. Epoxy projects must sit and fully cure for approximately a week before the finishing process begins. The overall timeline is dependent on class size and shipping processes. Once perfected, your creation will be shipped to you. Each attendee aged 12 and older must have a ticket, while couples tickets offer an opportunity for two individuals to collaborate on a single project.
When: 6-8 p.m. Nov. 5
Where: Lena Brewing Co., 9426 W. Wagner Road, Lena
Cost: $139
Zach Williams & Crowder with Matt Maher
What: Join Gammy award-winning artist Zach Williams as he takes the stage alongside the soulful sounds of Crowder and the inspiring voice of Matt Maher for live music, heartfelt stories and authentic moments.
When: 7 p.m. Nov. 6
Where: BMO Center, 300 Elm St., Rockford
Cost: $25-$35
Ben Folds and A Piano Tour
What: Ben Folds is widely regarded as one of the major music influencers of our generation. The Emmy-nominated singer-songwriter-composer has created an enormous body of genre-bending music that includes pop albums with Ben Folds Five, multiple solo and collaborative records. Special guest is Lindsey Kraft.
When: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6
Where: Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford
Cost: $57-$108
Book discussion:
What: Paulette Jiles writes historical fiction, focusing on the Civil War era. Come discuss her latest novel, Chenneville: A Novel of Murder, Loss, and Vengeance, which starts as the Civil War is ending. The protagonist, Union Army First Lt. John Chenneville, is recovering from a head injury sustained after an explosion in Petersburg, Va. As he wakes from a seven-month coma, Chenneville begins a journey back to himself, striving to regain his balance, strength, memory, and ability to read and write. Most of all, he is fighting for a reason to remain living in the world he returns to, a world radically changed by the war and its aftermath. All are welcome; no registration is required.
When: 10:30-11:30 a.m. Nov. 6
Where: Senior Resource Center, Freeport
Women, Wine & Wheels
What: Enjoy drinks, hors d’oeuvres and car tips every woman should know. Learn how to care for your vehicle, ask questions and connect with other car-savvy ladies.
When: 6 p.m. Nov. 6
Where: AutoSmart, 601 E. South St., Freeport
Cost: Free
Kathi Edwards is a freelance contributor to the Freeport Journal-Standard.
This article originally appeared on Journal Standard: On the Fly Improv is among 13 events this weekend in Freeport area
Reporting by Kathi Edwards / Journal Standard
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