January in the Stateline is a time to rest, recover from the holidays, and enjoy the winter weather. There are several fun events to ring in the New Year with your family and outdoor activities you can do once the snow flies. Make your plans to enjoy January with some of these awesome events and exciting news for families in the Stateline.

Exciting News and Business Openings

Bop Bop Korean BBQ and Rice Bowl recently opened in the Rockford City Market Building (116 N. Madison St). They are open daily Monday through Saturday for both dine in and carry out. Check out their Facebook page for more information. We highly recommend the Korean corn dog, they are delicious! 

Vanakkam India, a brand new Indian restaurant, is now open for carry out in Rockford! The restaurant is located at 1620 N. Bell School Road in Rockford. They are open for both lunch and dinner service every day but Monday. They plan to open table service soon. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for more information. 

A new swim school, Streamline Swim Academy, is opening up in Janesville in early January. The swim school is located inside of Janesville Athletic Club (1301 Black Bridge Rd). Classes are starting at $80 per month. Get more information here.

New Year’s Day Hike

Welcome 2024 with an outdoor hike at Severson Dells Nature Center on January 1st from 10 am – 11:30 am. Families can enjoy a hike with a cup of tea or hot chocolate. Cost is $3 per member and $5 per general admission. Register your family here.

Sinnissippi Station at Nicholas Conservatory

Fans of trains can head to Nicholas Conservatory between January 1 – 28 to check out the model train exhibit. The exhibit has numerous model trains running through the gardens and replicas of Rockford landmarks. The gardens are open throughout the week. The exhibit is included in admission costs. You can view hours and admission costs here. There will also be wooden railway workshops where kids can design, paint, and create their own railroad cars on January 2nd and 4th from 11 am – 3 pm. Each car is an additional $2 + admission.

Family Shelter Building

Find out if your family has what it takes to survive in the wild! Spend the morning at Severson Dells Nature Center on January 20th from 9:30 am – 11:30 am learning how to build an emergency shelter that will keep you out of the elements. This is for families with kids ages 7 and up. The cost is $10 per family for members and $15 per general admission. Register here.

Illinois Snow Sculpture Competition

Sinnissippi Park in Rockford is hosting the Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition from January 24th – 27th. Teams from around the state compete for the right to represent Illinois in the U.S. National Snow Sculpting Competition. There is also a high school division with area high schools competing. You can drive through and see the progress of the sculptures from Wednesday through Saturday when they are judged and awarded ribbons. It is free to drive through or walk through. 

If you’d like to see another snow sculpting competition, Lake Geneva also has their Winterfest from January 31st – February 4th. You can learn more about the event here.

Family-Friendly Live Shows & Concerts

There are some fantastic family-friendly shows happening in the Stateline in January! Here’s a list of what you can go see!

Disco Night at Riverside Ice Arena

Get funky on the ice at Disco Night at Riverside Ice Arena in Belvidere on January 12th. Riverside Ice Arena is an outdoor arena where families can ice skate throughout the winter season. They often host themed events and Disco Night is the first for the new year. Families are encouraged to dress in their 1970s best and enjoy ice skating to disco music. Admission is $5 per adult, $3 per kid ages 3-17, and free for kids 3 and under. Skate rental is $5 per person and renting the Bobby (skating aid) is $3.

Family Nature Game Night at NATC

Nature at the Confluence continues to hold fun family events geared around nature in 2024. At Family Nature Game Day on January 13th, families can cozy up with nature themed games, puzzles, and crafts for all ages. There will also be nature trivia where families can win prizes. IT costs $15 for families to participate. Sign up here.

Rent Some Snowshoes and Have an Adventure

Once the snow flies, local outdoor outfitters, Rocktown Adventures, have the gear you need to have a good time in the snow. Snowshoeing is a great way to get active and enjoy the outdoors when there’s snow on the ground. All snow sports rental for kids (ages 12 and under) are half-price! Not only does Rocktown Adventures offer snowshoes, but they also offer cross-country skis and roller skis. You can find out more and book a rental here.

Beloit Winterfest

Beloit Winterfest is an annual event at the end of January each year. The event includes sled dog demonstrations, make-and-take crafts, open skate, and wagon rides. There will also be a Kids Snowflake Cookie Decorating event happening at Main Street Mini during on January 20th that you can register for here. We’ll add more information as it becomes available. 

Winter Dazzle Day at NATC

Don’t let the winter blues get you down! Bring the family to Winter Dazzle Day on January 27th from 1 pm – 2:30 pm at Nature at the Confluence. Families can enjoy an outdoor hike, scavenger hunt, tie-dye snowflake craft, and educational activities. There will also be a blazing fire with hot chocolate. Snowshoes will be available to borrow on a first come, first serve basis. This event is completely free. Register here!

Get Outside and Play

Even though the playgrounds may be inaccessible, there are still places to have fun outdoors in the Stateline! Families can go sledding in the Stateline at a variety of hills. Read this article to find out the best places to go!

Have a joyful January!