July in the Stateline is the peak of summer fun! If you haven’t had a chance to check out a fair, festival, fireworks, or pools yet this summer, this is the month to do it! There are a bunch of fun things happening in July and exciting news for families in the Stateline this month!
Exciting News & Business Openings
- Cookies are coming! There are two cookie companies coming to the Stateline within the next few months. Dirty Dough is the first with an opening set for July! It will be located on E. State Street in Rockford, next to Flow. Crumbl is also coming soon to Rockford!
Parades and Fireworks
Fourth of July is being celebrated from July 1st – 4th in the Stateline! There are fireworks displays almost every night as well as parades throughout the weekend too! You can see a list of fireworks displays here and parades here. Happy Fourth!
Fairs and Festivals
There are two big fairs happening in the Stateline area in July! ByronFest is going on from July 7 – 9 and Rock County 4-H Fair is happening July 25 – 30. More about these festivals and fairs here.
Family-Friendly Live Shows & Concerts
There are some fantastic family-friendly shows happening in the Stateline in July! Here’s a list of what you can go see!
- July 1 and August 2-6: Cinderella at RVC Starlight Theatre
- July 26 – 30: Oliver! at RVC Starlight Theatre
- July 7-9: Willy Wonka at Janesville Performing Arts Center
Outdoor Movie Night in Rockford
Friday Night Flix continues in Davis Park in Rockford on July 7th with a showing of Sonic the Hedgehog 2. These shows are FREE and include pre-movie activities with games and food trucks with items for sale.
Jim Gill Concert at Discovery Center Museum
Children’s musician and performer, Jim Gill, will be performing at Discovery Center Museum on July 28th at 10 am and 1 pm. Jim Gill sings fun and silly songs that will entertain kids. Admission to Discovery Center Museum is $10 per person, kids 1 and younger are free.
Beloit Strawberry Festival
Sun Valley’s 15th Annual Strawberry Festival happens in Beloit on July 8th from 7 am – 3 pm. This festival includes breakfast, a vendor fair with handmade items, a children’s carnival with a bounce house, and lots of strawberry desserts. Admission is free.
Ice Cream Social and Artists in the Park at Beckman Mill
Head to Beckman Mill on July 16th from 12 pm – 4 pm for ice cream, cake, and root beer floats. The grist mill will be in operation and the museum and gift shop will be open. Kids painting activities will be happening as well. Admission is free.
Firefly Night at Nature at the Confluence
Head to Nature at the Confluence on July 28th at 7:30 pm to learn about fireflies, their life cycle, and why they glow. Register for this free event here.
Family Creek Walk at Severson Dells Nature Center
Bring the family, kids ages 6 and up, to explore Hall Creek and the cliff faces of the Dells on July 8th from 1 pm – 3 pm. Closed toe-shoes are required. Register here.
Free Garden Days
There are free and donation days happening at some of our local gardens this month.
July 20: Anderson Japanese Gardens
There are more donation days coming up this summer. You can check out a list here.
Get Outside and Play
Spend a sunny summer day at one of the Stateline’s local playgrounds. You can see a list of Playground Profiles organized by city here.
Have a joyful July!
