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Hello Rockford! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. 

In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Hidden gardens roundup, J.B. Pritzker touts trades talent, and Florida strawberry truckload sale + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.

Today’s sponsor, Spot Pet Insurance, is something I wish I had before a late-night emergency vet visit left me with a $10,000 credit card bill. It’s cheaper than Netflix… and means you never have to choose between your pet and your savings. It takes less than 5 minutes to sign up – get started here.

📰 In the news

Lush sanctuaries across Illinois: A new roundup spotlights 10 hidden gardens and conservatories to visit in 2026, featuring Rockford favorites Nicholas Conservatory, Anderson Japanese Gardens, and Klehm Arboretum for year round nature escapes — see the full Illinois list.

Illinois bolsters trades pipeline: Gov. J.B. Pritzker praised Rockford’s trades talent as students joined a career expo at the Northern Illinois Electrical Apprenticeship and Training Center, with growth expected to create more openings — get details on openings and training.

New approach to property sale: After no takers in its sealed-bid attempt, Belvidere School District is considering a resolution to hire a broker to market the former Kishwaukee Elementary School, allowing negotiated offers — see what’s being considered.

Gold & silver are hot: Coming off gold’s best year since 1979, the momentum is carrying well into 2026 with silver remaining one of the most talked-about assets. Curious why they’re back in focus? American Hartford Gold has a free guide that explains what’s happening and how people are approaching it today. It’s free – and definitely worth a read.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Highlights this week:

• Florida Strawberry Truckload Sale rolls in
• Explore Langston Hughes with Dorothy Paige-Turner
• Eat Chipotle to benefit the museum
• This top-tier home warranty is 50% off right now

🐾 One pet emergency can cost $10,000+

Together with our sponsor Spot Pet Insurance

Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache.

From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving.

As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Spot.

It’s super affordable and reimburses up to 90% on qualified vet bills. It was too late for me, but it’s not too late for you. Sign up today.

🫶 We got your back

Small plates, big vibes: Craving a grazing dinner over one big entrée? Abreo delivers with creative shareables, thoughtful cocktails, and a warm downtown buzz. It’s ideal for midweek catch-ups or low-key date nights, with plates made for passing and sips that keep the conversation easy.

Weekend outside, anyone?: If your gear shelf looks tired, Rocktown Adventures has packs, paddles, and winter layers to revive it, plus classes and guided trips so you’ll actually use them. Consider this a gentle nudge to plan something outside before the week slips away.

Make it a show night: Haven’t stepped inside the Coronado Theatre lately? Rockford’s grand, gold-trimmed landmark delivers concerts, comedy, dance, and touring Broadway on the regular. Plush seats, twinkling ceilings, and big-stage energy turn any weeknight into an occasion… proof that staying home is overrated.

Access cash without selling your home: A reverse mortgage can help anyone over 62 cover everyday expenses, support healthcare needs, fund home improvements, or even reduce pressure on 401(k) withdrawals – all while staying in your home. Longbridge offers a free calculator to estimate how much flexibility your home could provide, with no commitment required.

📆 Fun for the whole fam

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🐵 Sock Monkey Madness Sock Hop @ Midway Village Museum | Saturday (3/7) at 9:00 AM – Whether your sock monkey’s a family heirloom or a kit in progress, Midway Village is going full 50s sock hop. Dress up, pose with the ’55 Ford, eat like a teen, learn how humble socks built Rockford’s grit, and yes, dance with stuffed primates.

🧚 Fairy Lantern Workshop @ The Landscape Connection | Saturday (3/7) at 10:00 AM – If you’ve been waiting for an excuse to play with glitter without a grandkid as cover, this is it. Craft a solar fairy lantern with ArtbyKarla at The Landscape Connection, supplies included, and bring charms, ribbon, or trinkets. Low stress, whimsy, and it fills fast.

🎶 Music in the Museum @ Discovery Center Museum | Saturday (3/7) at 10:00 AM – Give the living room drums a break and head to the museum for hands-on rhythm games, instrument tryouts, and musical mayhem with Rockford Music Academy. Kids get to make noise in the Music & Melodies exhibit, you get cultural points, and everyone leaves humming.

🏛 Erlander Home Museum March Pop-up Tour @ Erlander Home Museum | Saturday (3/7) at 10:00 AM – Whether you geek out on Rockford history or just like peeking into well-preserved parlors, the Erlander Home Museum’s March pop-up tour is your speed. No reservation needed, RSVP helps. It’s 10 bucks, or free for Swedish Historical Society members, and they do private tours too.

💃 Tinker’s Ball @ Tinker Swis Cottage Museum and Gardens | Saturday (3/7) at 6:00 PM – Put on your finery and waltz into a Civil War-themed ball at Memorial Hall, complete with live dance callers and old-school etiquette. It’s prom for history buffs, with better manners, refreshments from the heritage crowd, and an excuse to wear the good gloves.

🎗 Craft and Vendor Show for a Cause @ Loves Park City Hall | Sunday (3/8) at 10:00 AM – If you need a sign to shop local and feel good, swing by Loves Park City Hall for a craft and vendor show benefiting Tommy Corral Memorial Foundation. Donate to enter, eat well, raid the bake sale, eye wreaths, and chase the 50/50.

🕷 Nature on Tap: Ticks, Ticks, Boom @ Lucha Cantina | Tuesday (3/10) at 6:30 PM – Nothing like a pint on your tab and learning which local bushes are plotting against your ankles. U of I researchers share a five-year study on tick-borne hotspots, plus what actually helps, not folklore; all ages welcome, registration required, $3 members, $5 general.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🔥 Worth a peek

We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.

• Thinning hair? Don’t wait – here are 3 treatments that work
• This free tool helps connect you with the right financial advisor
• Got debt? You may be able to pay less than you owe
• Protect your pet from disaster with this pet insurance plan
• You can own physical gold and silver in your retirement account
• Treat yourself: Save on self-care during the CVS Epic Beauty Sale

📻 Rockford report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 50°F – Low: 39°F – Precip: 16%

A slight chance of rain showers after 3pm. Partly sunny. High near 50, with temperatures falling to around 48 in the afternoon. East wind around 5 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: A chance of rain showers before midnight, then rain showers likely and patchy fog. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. East wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

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Tomorrow – High: 51°F – Low: 40°F – Precip: 67%

Rain showers likely and patchy fog. Cloudy, with a high near 51. North northeast wind around 5 mph, with gusts as high as 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Later: A chance of rain showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Someone Googled you this week 👀

It may feel like an invasion of privacy, but unfortunately It’s the new normal. Whether you’re joining a committee, selling something locally, dating again, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up online.

Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.

Thankfully, there’s a really easy way for you – or someone you care about – to clean up outdated results that no longer tell the real story. Learn more here.

This house is wild

This beautifully updated 3-bed, 2-bath home in Mulfords Wildwood Subdivision blends style and function with a refreshed kitchen boasting new cabinets, sleek quartz counters, and warm hardwood floors. A spacious layout offers easy flow for everyday life and entertaining. Outside, a large, partially fenced yard showcases an inground pool and storage shed. A 2-car garage completes this move-in-ready gem.

Take a peek inside →