This weekend in Beloit, WI

Anglers can team up for a channel catfish tournament at Martin Memorial Park with a five-fish bag limit per team. Teams may include one to three people and can use up to six rods total. The competition area covers Boundary Waters from north of the Milan Dam to the Wisconsin border. Rod and reel methods are required, and boats must remain at least 50 yards from any anchored vessel. The field is capped at 30 teams. Entry is $50 per team, with optional big-fish pots of $25 for Big Channel and $25 for Big Flat. Fishing is allowed only during official tournament hours, and each team must return its chip by the deadline to avoid disqualification. All fish must be alive and healthy and must be released back into the water; if a fish is not lively or does not swim off on its own, the team will be disqualified. Registration takes place at Martin Memorial Park. Disputes are handled by tournament directors Jon Race and Ernest McKee. Cheating results in disqualification and a permanent ban from RMTS and Monsters on the Fox events. For details, contact Jonathan Race at 815-668-1744 or Ernest McKee at 815-298-2217, or email rockmonsters2021@gmail.com.

Hosted by the Rock River Valley YMCA Rowing Club, the annual Head of the Rock regatta takes place on a 5,000 meter (3.1 mile) course along the Rock River, with many vantage points for spectators between Martin Park and the Y. Centered on the YMCA of Rock River Valley campus, the event offers a scenic setting along with vendors and food. Backing from sponsors, club members, and volunteers helps deliver a high quality experience for participants and fans.

Enjoy favorite brunch dishes along with a selection of drinks. Purchase two drinks and receive a complimentary second breakfast with your first, subject to exclusions.

DeLorean enthusiasts will set out from Old Sauk Mobil in Madison for a scenic group drive to the Field of Dreams movie site in Dyersville, Iowa. The plan calls for an earlier-than-usual departure to allow extra time. After leaving Iowa, the route crosses the Mississippi with a stop in Galena, Illinois for a late lunch or dinner before heading back north to Wisconsin. The drive covers roughly 250 miles and takes about 4.5 hours.

Players gather for friendly Pokemon TCG matches in the Standard format at this league. A League Challenge option is available for those seeking a slightly more competitive experience, with a higher entry fee and additional prizing. Regular League entry is $9, and League Challenge entry is $15. Prize packs are given to every participant when available, and the most recent Standard set booster packs are awarded as prizes.

Celebrate the season at Youth Movement’s Fall Shop-a-Trunk, a family-friendly marketplace filled with local vendors, handmade treasures, and plenty of good food. Browse distinctive finds, connect with neighbors, and help uplift small businesses in a warm community setting. The experience also supports youth programs in the community.

CherryVale Mall in Rockford hosts a showcase of vendors featuring sports cards, comic books, Pokémon items, and an array of other collectibles, plus crafts and offerings from home-based businesses.

Celebrate the season at a free, family friendly community festival at Bethany featuring a potluck lunch and a variety of activities. Guests who wish to bring a dish to share can sign up on the sheet in the narthex or send a message through the Bethany church Facebook page. Look forward to a bounce house, bags and other yard games, a fire pit with a s’mores station, a hot cocoa station, and crafts, along with additional seasonal fun for all ages. Enjoy good food, warm drinks, and time with neighbors in a relaxed fall setting.

Grass Attack presents a broad mix of sounds, covering folk and country as well as newgrass and bluegrass.

Make Sunday a family treat with a special dining offer. Children 12 and under receive a complimentary kids entrée, up to a $15 value, with the purchase of an adult entrée. The deal is limited to one free kids meal for each adult meal purchased. It cannot be combined with other promotions, specials, dip certificates, or used on holidays.

The Packers and Bears rivalry gets served in a bowl at the 2nd annual chili cook off. Entries are open to anyone who wants to bring a favorite recipe. Alongside the cook off, a Meat Raffle features a variety of cuts, merch, themed food baskets, homemade desserts, liquor bottles, drink chips, and more. Look for food and drink specials, plus add em ups for extra fun.

A free, family friendly community celebration at The Gathering Place features activities and games, pumpkin decorating, crafts, live band music, photo opportunities, children's music, story time, a costume parade, pumpkin launching, and concessions.

Violinist Dawn Wohn and pianist Eunice Kim perform in Collins Recital Hall at the Hamel Music Center as part of the Live from the Mead Witter School of Music chamber music series. Admission is free, and no ticket is required. The performance will also be available as a live stream. This series is supported by donors through the David and Kato Perlman Live from the Mead Witter School of Music Fund.

This Lorcana Locals gathering happens every week, and entry is one pack.

Settle in for a relaxed sketching session at The Boneyard. Participants are encouraged to bring a sketch kit and a portable stool for comfortable drawing. The venue offers beverages and food trucks, along with seating both inside and outside the dog-park section, so there are plenty of spots to set up and create.

The Tony Award winner for Best Musical that captivated audiences worldwide returns in a refreshed national tour, fresh from Broadway, bringing its vibrant take on The Wizard of Oz to Overture Center for the Arts. Critics have praised the production for dynamic performances, eye-catching movement, and imaginative design, creating a revival bursting with energy. Dorothy’s journey unfolds in a contemporary setting and is set to a celebrated score that blends soul, gospel, rock, and 1970s funk. The creative team includes director Schele Williams, whose work includes The Notebook and the revival of Disney’s Aida, choreographer JaQuel Knight, known for Beyoncé’s Single Ladies and Black Is King, and writer Amber Ruffin, a Tony and Emmy nominee recognized for The Amber Ruffin Show and Late Night with Seth Meyers. Their mix of ballet, jazz, and modern pop gives this classic a fresh pulse.

A friendly Pokémon League session invites players of all ages to enjoy casual play and activities, whether you are into Pokémon GO, the trading card game, or the video games. Admission is $5. Each attendee receives four promo packs while supplies last, and bringing a first-time friend earns both of you an extra league promo pack. A free Pokémon Trainer Club account is required for all players. Please register ahead of time, choose the option to receive a Player ID, and bring that ID to the league. Play matches throughout the session to earn rewards, with an additional promo prize pack awarded for every four matches played, limited to one bonus pack per session.

A family-friendly Trunk or Treat from the Wolf Pack Social Club brings candy-filled trunks and Halloween fun to Murphy’s Pub. Kids of all ages are welcome, and costumes are encouraged.

This National Coming Out Day celebration follows the Forest City Chorus concert and brings people together for community, connection, food, and fun. A potluck supper is part of the evening, and those who wish can contribute a shareable dish. Expect pop-up drag performances, with local performers taking the stage. Open to LGBTQ+ community members, allies, friends, and family. Presented by Forest City Rainbow Chorus, Rockford Area Pride, and The LIAM Foundation.

This weekly One Piece locals event features a $10 entry fee.

Jumpstart Jam with Dan Kennedy at Cargo Coffee offers a friendly, low-volume space to explore live, collaborative music. It suits first timers, those returning after a break, and anyone who wants to play with others while building confidence in a supportive circle. In this session style format, everyone gathers in a circle and plays together. Participants may suggest songs or simply listen, strum, and sing along, and there are frequent chances for emerging soloists to take a few bars. All ages, skill levels, and instruments are welcome, including singers. If your instrument needs amplification, bring a small amp or plug into the house PA. A vocal mic will be available. Any genre fits, from blues and country to soul, jazz, pop, and more. Original material is encouraged as well, and those bringing a tune should have a chart or be ready to guide the group.

Presented by FPC Live, INOHA headlines a bill featuring Capital Soirée and Pretoria at Majestic Theatre. Open to all ages, this concert gathers multiple acts on one stage. Tickets are available at The Sylvee box office during business hours.

FPC Live presents Earl Sweatshirt and MIKE bringing the Home on the Range Tour 2026 to The Sylvee, with Harrison [Surf Gang] and Cletus Strap rounding out the bill. The show has been rescheduled, and tickets purchased for the original date will be honored. This is an all-ages event. Tickets are available through The Sylvee and at the box office during business hours.

The Smashing Pumpkins perform live at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.

Martin Sexton brings a seated performance to Atwood Music Hall in Madison as part of a tour celebrating the 25th anniversary of Live Wide Open, his double vinyl live album. The set includes favorites from that release along with new material and unexpected covers. Seating options include front row seats at $60 in advance or $65 the day of show, and general admission seating at $40 in advance or $45 the day of show. A limited VIP upgrade is available for an additional $50, limited to 25, which offers early entry, a post-show meet and greet with signing of a purchased merchandise item, and a choice of a vinyl record or a tour poster.

The Smashing Pumpkins bring their Rats in a Cage Tour to the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin. This live concert features the band on tour at this Madison venue.