If you didn’t get enough fair food or carnival rides this summer, there’s still time to enjoy a fair or festival in the Stateline. There are also some awesome events a short drive from Rockford. Head out to one of these fairs to paint a pumpkin, make a scarecrow, walk the Midway, and see a parade!
Here are the upcoming 2018 fall fairs and festivals in the Stateline area.
September 2018 Fall Festivals and Fairs
Roscoe Lions Fall Festival
Leland Park, 10701 3rd St, Roscoe, IL
When: September 7 – 9
Hours:
Friday, September 7 from 5 pm – 10 pm
Saturday, September 8 from 12 pm – 10 pm
Sunday, September 9 from 12 pm – 8 pm
Cost: Free admission
About:
Roscoe Fall Festival is a smaller festival held in Leland Park near downtown Roscoe, IL. There will be games, rides, fair food, live music, craft vendors, face painting, a costume parade, raffles, and a Bingo tent.
Events for Kids:
- Kiddie Costume Parade
Saturday, September 8 at 9:45 am
Children are invited to dress up in costume in the theme of “princesses and pirates”. Meet in the Bingo tent at 9:45 am to register. Best costumes will win prizes. - Bubbles the Clown and Award Presentation
Saturday, September 8 at 10:45 am - Kids’ Day on the Midway
Saturday, September 8 from 12 pm – 4 pm
For $20 kids can ride as many times as they want. - Lions Festival Parade
Sunday, September 9 at 11 am
starts at Bridge and Main Street and ends at Leland Park. There will be floats and marching bands. - Fireworks
Sunday, September 9 at 8:30 pm
Beloit Festival on the Rock
Preservation Park, 3444 Riverside Dr, Beloit, WI
When: September 7 – 8
Hours:
Friday, September 7 from 4 pm – midnight
Saturday, September 8 from 8 am – midnight
Cost: Free admission, parking and live music
About:
Festival on the Rock in Beloit, WI is located near the beautiful Rock River. There will also be a cardboard boat regatta, Knockerball, volleyball tournament, boat rides, food, fireworks, carnival rides, games and more.
Events for Kids:
- Carnival Rides
Friday, September 7 – Saturday, September 8
They’ve added more rides for teenagers this year. - Touch a Truck and Community Appreciation Event
Saturday, September 8 from 12 pm – 4 pm
Kids and family members can touch trucks, ambulances, fire engines, and police cars as well as talk to the professionals that drive those vehicles. - Cardboard Boat Regatta
Saturday, September 8 at noon
Watch cardboard boats try to race down the river. - Fireworks Show
Saturday, September 8 at dusk
Dixon Scarecrow Festival
300 block of downtown Dixon, IL
When: September 16
Hours:
10 am – 4 pm
Cost: Free admission
About:
Scarecrow Fest is a yearly festival celebrating fall held in Dixon, IL. There will be scarecrow decorating contests, face painting, sign painting, pumpkin painting, balloons, food, a petting zoo, craft vendors and a pumpkin patch.
Events for Kids:
- Scarecrow decorating
- Face painting
- Sign painting
- Pumpkin painting
- Balloons
- Petting Zoo
- Pumpkin patch
Stillman Valley Fall Festival
120 N Walnut St, Stillman Valley, IL
When: September 21 – 23
Hours:
Friday, September 21 from 5 pm – 9 pm
Saturday, September 22 from 10 am – 5 pm
Sunday, September 23 from 10 am – 5 pm
Cost: Free admission
About:
Stillman Valley Fall Festival is an annual indoor craft show, car show, tractor show and parade. There will be live music, food, carnival rides and games and more.
Events for Kids:
- Fireworks show
Saturday, September 22 at dusk
Fall for Rockford
100 and 200 blocks of N. Main St, Rockford, IL
When: September 22
Hours:
2 pm – 8 pm
Cost: Free admission
About:
Fall for Rockford is a brand new fall festival hosted by the River District in downtown Rockford, IL. There will be live music and many local food vendors including District Bar and Grill, Lucha Cantina, and Baker Street Burgers. Taste Tickets will be $10 for a sheet of 10 Taste Tickets. Food items will cost 2-8 tickets each.
Events for Kids:
- Swedish American KidZone
Area with bounce houses, games, and other activities.
Autumn Pioneer Festival
Boone County Conservation District, 603 N. Appleton Rd, Belvidere, IL
When: September 22 – 23
Hours:
Saturday, September 22 from 9 am – 5 pm
Sunday, September 23 from 10 am – 4 pm
Cost: Free admission
About:
Autumn Pioneer Festival is a chance to travel back to the 1800s to learn about lifestyles and crafts of the day in Belvidere, IL. There will be blacksmith demonstrations, historic buildings to tour, horse-drawn wagon rides, old-time games, and food.
Events for Kids:
- Horse-drawn wagon rides
- Pioneer life demonstrations
- Old time games
October 2018 Fall Festivals and Fairs
Scarecrow Harvest Festival
Midway Village Museum, 6799 Guilford Rd, Rockford, IL
When: October 6
Hours:
10 am – 4 pm
Cost: $7 adults, $5 children (ages 3-17), free for kids 2 and under
About:
Scarecrow Harvest Festival at Midway Village in Rockford, IL is a scarecrow themed event for all ages. There will be a scarecrow decorating contest, antique farm demonstrations, pumpkin carving demonstrations, square dancing, and fall games and crafts. Make-A-Scarecrow kit advance discount is available at www.midwayvillage.com. Make-A-Scarecrow kits available for purchase at the event for $10 ($2 per clothing or accessory piece).
Events for Kids:
- Scarecrow building
- Hoo Haven’s Birds of Prey program at 1 pm
- Fall games and crafts
Autumn at the Arboretum
Klehm Arboretum, 2715 S. Main St, Rockford, IL
When: October 14
Hours:
10 am – 3 pm
Cost: Free admission
About:
Autumn at the Arboretum is one of Klehm’s most popular family events. There will be scarecrow building, pumpkin decorating, face painting, horse-drawn wagon rides, and more. Food and drink are available for purchase.
Events for Kids:
- Scarecrow building
- Pumpkin decorating
- Face painting
- Horse-drawn wagon rides
- Pickles the Clown entertainment with balloon creations
- Storybook princesses and superheroes
- Petting zoo with farm animals
Up for a drive?
If you want to go to more fall festivals, these are a 60-90 minute drive from Rockford.
St. Charles Scarecrow Fest
2 E. Main St, Saint Charles, IL
When: October 5 – 7
Hours:
Friday, October 5 from 10 am – 9 pm
Saturday, October 6 from 10 am – 9 pm
Sunday, October 7 from 10 am – 5 pm
Cost: Free admission
About:
If you’re only going to make it out of town for one fall festival, make it St. Charles’ Scarecrow Fest. It is worth the drive! Over 100 handmade and mechanical scarecrows will be on display for you to vote on your favorite. There will also be rides, live music, arts and crafts, and food.
Events for Kids:
- Make your own scarecrow
- Carnival rides
- Games
- Entertainment
Sycamore Pumpkin Festival
133 W. State St, Sycamore, IL
When: October 26 – 28
Hours:
Friday, October 26 from 12 pm to 10 pm
Saturday, October 27 from 12 pm to 10 pm
Sunday, October 28 from 12 pm to 5 pm
Cost: Free admission
About:
Sycamore Pumpkin Fest is a yearly event celebrating the return of fall in Sycamore, IL. There will be thousands of decorated pumpkins on display, arts and craft shows, a pie eating contest, carnival, fun fair, parade, and race.
Events for Kids:
- Pie eating contest
- Carnival rides
- Games
- Parade
Sunday, October 28 at 1 pm
Lake Geneva Oktoberfest
Main and Broad Streets, Lake Geneva, WI
When: October 6 – 7
Hours:
Saturday, October 6 from 11 am – 5 pm
Sunday, October 7 from 11 am – 5 pm
Cost: Free admission
About:
Lake Geneva Oktoberfest is located near lovely Lake Geneva in Wisconsin. There will be pony rides, bounce houses, music, children’s performances, food, donuts, Scootoberfest games, and the Giant Pumpkin Weigh-in. You can also visit local shops and see the beautiful fall colors around the lake.
Events for Kids:
- Pony rides
- Bounce houses
- Children’s performances
Oregon Autumn on Parade
105 S 5th St, Oregon, IL
When: October 6 – 7
Hours:
Saturday, October 6 from 9:00 am – 8:00 pm
Sunday, October 7 from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Cost: Free admission
About:
Oregon Autumn on Parade takes place in front of historic Ogle County Courthouse in Oregon, IL. There will be a farmer’s market, live entertainment, food, rides, games and a parade.
Events for Kids:
- Donut eating contest
- Create a canvas
- Fun zone with slide, obstacle course, and Bungee Run
- Parade
Sunday, October 7 at 1 pm
