Rockford-Area Memorial Day Events Perfect for Family Fun

For people all over the United States, Memorial Day weekend has always been spent honoring the sacrifice of our service members, and it also means summer fun is officially ON.

Unofficial Kickoff to Summer

I know summer doesn’t technically begin until June 21, but anyone who has survived an Illinois winter knows Memorial Day weekend is the real kickoff.

We've spent too many months being stuck indoors wrapped up in sweaters and blankets. We made it through the multiple personalities of spring, and the weather is finally beginning to warm up consistently...we owe it to ourselves to go out and soak up some sunshine!

Memorial Day weekend tends to be the first big weekend where everybody suddenly emerges from hibernation wearing flip-flops, firing up grills, and pretending 68 degrees is “pool weather.”

Growing up around Rockford, Memorial Day weekend was always filled with festivals, parades, carnivals, live music, and backyard parties, and I am determined to make this holiday weekend no different! Thankfully, there are plenty of events happening this weekend in the Rockford area to choose from. Here are just a few of them:

Of course, Memorial Day weekend is ultimately about remembrance and gratitude. It's truly important to take a moment to honor the brave men and women who made all of our freedoms possible, and a great way to do that is at a parade!

Are you ready to grab your lawn chairs, bug spray, and sunscreen to celebrate one of the best weekends of the year? Summer in Illinois is short, friends…we’ve got to enjoy every second of it!

Here are some more great places to do exactly that this summer: