The weekend brings the season opening of Wing It! Mini Golf, along with fundraisers, live music and more to the Freeport area.
Midwestern Biennial Public Exhibition
What: Juried by acclaimed artist Laurie Hogin, the 2026 Rockford Midwestern is the 78th presentation of the museum’s survey exhibition of new work by contemporary artists from across the Midwest. Hogin selected 98 pieces by 98 artists to be included in this year’s exhibition. First choice and two Juror’s Choice awards will be announced at the opening – as well as the 2026 Dean Alan Olson Purchase Award, to the artist whose work has been selected for inclusion in the Rockford Art Museum permanent collection. The event includes a gallery walk with Hogin at 6 p.m. and public opening from 6-7:30 p.m.
When: 6 p.m. May 22
Where: Rockford Art Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford
Cost: Free
Wild Adventures: A Smart Zoo Experience
What: This one-of-a-kind event features hyper-realistic and fully animatronic animals, including lions, tigers, elephants, pandas, monkeys, a smoke breathing King Cobra, dinosaurs and deep dish cookies. There will also be a fully immersible virtual reality aquarium; soft play equipment for kids to play, climb and crawl through; fossil dig pits; facepainting; temporary tattoos; and photo opportunities. A cookie purchase is required for each person attending. There is an additional charge for virtual reality, face painting and souvenirs.
When: Noon – 6 p.m. May 23
Where: Stephenson County Fairgrounds, 2250 S. Walnut Road, Freeport
Cost: One cookie purchase ($5 each) or buy six for $25
Wing It! Season opening
What: Wing It! Mini Golf is opening for the season. Bring your family and friends for a round and enjoy prizes, balloon art and photo booth fun. New this year are season passes and promotional days.
When: Noon – 7 p.m. May 23
Where: 1122 S. Burchard Ave., Freeport
Rockford Peaches Play Day
What: Watch the women of the Rockford Peaches Living History League play ball. Game time is 1 p.m. Light concessions and Peaches merchandise will be available for purchase. There are bleachers, but lawn chairs are welcome. Take selfies in front of images of the Peaches’ old Beyer Stadium. At 11 a.m., there will be a presenter in costume as Peaches star player Dottie Kamenshek. Peaches Playdate tickets include admission to Midway’s Victorian Village and the Museum Center for the day, so you can learn more about the Peaches – from the actual uniforms they wore and game programs to photos and other memorabilia.
When: 1-3 p.m. May 23 (gates open at 10 a.m.)
Where: Midway Village Museum, 6799 Guilford Road, Rockford
Cost: $15; $12 for ages 5-12 and seniors age 62 and older; free for ages 4 and younger and members
Stereotype
What: Check out Stereotype and their original music.
When: 7 p.m. May 23
Where: Hooks and Bobbers, 612 Bridge St., Winslow
Memorial Day Celebration
What: Celebrate Memorial Day with history, fun and family activities. Explore the exhibits, including the Cooper Corliss engine located in its own building just to the west of the museum. Steam train rides depart on the hour from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. This is a cash-only venue and there is no ATM on site.
When: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. May 24 and May 25
Where: Silver Creek Museum/Stephenson County Antique Engine Club, 2954 S. Walnut Road, Freeport
Cost: $4 museum tours; free for children age 11 and younger; train rides $10, $2 for age 11 and younger; lunch $10, $5 for children age 10 and younger
Coming next week
Memorial Day Celebration & Proclamation
What: Honor the future veterans fought for while coming together to uplift and support the mental health of children and families. Immediately after the Memorial Day Parade, The Mayor will officially present a proclamation recognizing Children’s Mental Health Awareness & Action, highlighting the importance of supporting the emotional well-being of our youth and families. The celebration includes live music by Lobbin Robbin, free activities for kids and families, food available for purchase from The Traveling Chef, community partners, agencies, nonprofits, and local businesses sharing resources, activities and support.
When: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. May 25
Where: Freeport Arts Plaza, across from Union Dairy, Freeport
Pecatonica Memorial Day Parade
What: This is the 156th annual Pecatonica Memorial Day Parade. Food trucks can be found in the two municipal lots on Main Street.
When: 2 p.m. May 25
Where: 315 Main St., Pecatonica
Kathi Edwards is a freelance contributor to the Freeport Journal-Standard
This article originally appeared on Journal Standard: Wing It! opens for the season among 6 weekend events around Freeport
Reporting by Kathi Edwards, Special to the Freeport Journal-Standard / Journal Standard
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