Livingston Today

City of Rockford issued the following announcement on Dec 9.

The Rockford Chamber of Commerce and the City of Rockford are preparing to kick off the Christmas season with plenty of family-fun events.

Enjoy the beauty of downtown Rockford during the holiday season. The much anticipated and popular Holiday Lighting Ceremony will be held this year in Garden Club Park at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, December 3. The City of Rockford’s Department of Public Services (DPS) have been working day and night to string thousands of lights on almost every tree and light post through-out the downtown. Including the new addition of a 25-foot fir tree decorated with around 5,000 lights. The evening will feature holiday music performed by the talented combined choirs from the Rockford High School music department. After the ceremony the crowd will count down from 10 and the gorgeous view of the downtown landscape will be spectacularly lit.  There will also be free carriage rides from 6:30-8:30 at the Rotary Pavilion, located on the corner of Courtland and Squires Streets.

Santa Claus is coming to town on Saturday, December 4. He will arrive during the Santa Parade beginning at 11:00am. The parade will start at Main St. and Lewis traveling south down Main St. then turning east at Courtland and north at Monroe. New this year is a dedicated sensory/quiet zone for parade attendees from Pederson Funeral Home on Monroe to the end of the parade route.

After the parade Santa will be setting up shop and visiting with children until 2pm in the Christmas Tent located in the parking lot just north of Garden Club Park.  Santa loves downtown Rockford so much; he will also be visiting with his reindeer on December 8 and 15 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The quaint shops will capture the essence of the season with crowd-stopping window displays that are sure to delight both young and old. Take a free carriage ride through this Hallmark setting. The slow and steady pace will create special family memories. Carriage rides are available on December 4 immediately after the parade until 2:00pm. December 9, 10, 16 and 17 from 5:30 p.m. until 8:30p.m. and depart from the Rotary Pavilion at the corner of Courtland and Squires Streets.

On Friday, December 17, gather on the corner of Bridge and Main Streets for a Live Nativity and Petting Zoo event. The story of the birth of Jesus will told and celebrated with the singing of carols every 30 minutes from 7:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.

Several new additions to our holiday event schedule include a Snowman Scavenger Hunt, Polar Express Event, and Christmas Carol Karaoke and Ugly Sweater Party.

There are 20 snowmen hidden throughout the downtown. Download a clue sheet from the Rockford Chamber of Commerce’s website (www.rockfordmichamber.com) or stop at Aunt Candy’s Toy Company for a copy, follow the clues to find them all from now until the end of the year. 

Bring a comfy blanket and a bag chair to the Christmas Tent on Saturday, December 11 at 5:00 p.m. for a free viewing of The Polar Express movie.

On December 18 from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. the Chamber of Commerce will host a Christmas Karaoke and Ugly Sweater party in the Christmas Tent.

The Rockford Chamber of Commerce and the City of Rockford invite you to step back, take time and enjoy this very special season and Discover a Rockford Christmas.

Original source can be found here.