Community Calendar

Young children are invited to join our Halloween Parade through the Children’s Department, with a few stops at various points to “trick-or-treat.” Come in costume and join the parade!

We will have multiple parades after this week's story times:
October 28 at 9:45 & 10:45 a.m.
October 29 at 10:30 a.m.

No registration is required.

For additional information, please contact Theresa at theresaw@dkpl.org or at (815) 756-9568 ext. 3350.

The Next Picture Show is once again proud to host the Plein Air Painting Show, sponsored by the Rock River Valley Painters Guild. En plein air, or plein-air painting, is the act of painting outdoors with the artist's subject in full view.

In conjunction, The Next Picture Show will also host Stories in Portraits, also sponsored by the Rock River Valley Painters Guild. This is an all-media exhibition of both 2-D and 3-D original work.

Both exhibitions run Oct. 22-Nov.15. Both are juried shows. A reception and awards presentation will be held Oct. 24, 6-8 p.m.

Annual Fundraiser for Scouts BSA Troop 123 in Rockford, IL. located at 4500 Spring Creek Road. Halloween week hours are 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM daily Monday 10/27/25 through Thursday 10/30/25. Pumpkin pricing varies by size from small to very large pumpkins. Cash, check, and electronic payment through square accepted. Funds raised will support the activities and programs of the troop throughout the next 12 months.

Learn why letting leaves stay in your yard this fall is good for your garden, local wildlife, and the planet! Discover how fallen leaves enrich soil, provide habitats, and reduce waste, all while saving you time and effort.

Registration is not required. This program is intended for adults, but all are welcome.

For additional information, please contact Amy at amyf@dkpl.org or call (815) 756-9568 ext. 2150.

Improve your knowledge of English and become more comfortable speaking in everyday situations. Practice basic English grammar concepts in conversation, learning how to ask and answer questions, expanding your vocabulary, and learning to understand the sounds of spoken English.

This class is intended for adult participants at a low intermediate level of speaking English or higher, but all are welcome to attend.

On September 2 this class will be held in the Bilder Family Meeting Room.

This program requires registration. There will be limited seats for unregistered patrons.

For more information or to register, please contact Britta at brittak@dkpl.org or (815) 756-9568 ext. 2100.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a well-known tale of a good man going bad. People know the concept of ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ as a catchphrase for a double life and generally see it as a shocking horror story. Presenters Jim Gould and Ted Hazelgrove deepen this understanding, taking the tale as a meditation that challenges us to think about morality and personal happiness. Registration required.

The League of Women Voters of Freeport will host an informational program featuring two professionals employed by Rosecrance Healthcare Group: Sherri Holoubek and Jamie Stockman.
Understanding Mental and Behavioral Health issues that are frequently in the news is very important.
The LWV believes it's important to have an informed public, so people are equipped to engage effectively in civic affairs.

David Bingaman and Bob Logsdon, Lowden Gallery, Sept 1 - Oct 31

David Bingaman:

David Bingaman began his photographic journey in 1973 when he bought a Nikon camera and then backpacked throughout Europe and North Africa. Since that time, he has developed his skill in capturing landscapes as well as other natural and portrait subjects.

David lives on the Rock River in Dixon, IL with his wife Sarah where he pursues Bald Eagles, Great Blue Herons, and amazing sunsets. He also travels extensively in the U.S. as well as Africa and South America to capture interesting subjects.

He has displayed his work at many area galleries and won numerous awards including Best Landscape Award at the Franklin Grove Harvest Festival, Best of Photography at the Grand Detour Arts Festival, First Place in Digital Photography at The Woodlawn Arts Academy, and Best of Show at the About Face and the Winter Scenes and Holiday Dreams Exhibitions at TNPS.
Picture

Bob Logsdon:

Bob Logsdon is an accomplished landscape photographer, residing in Grand Detour, Illinois. Bob is an extensive traveler who documents his traveling experience in his pictures. It is through photography that Bob introduces the viewer to his endless and challenging imagination

The Next Picture Show is once again proud to host the Plein Air Painting Show, sponsored by the Rock River Valley Painters Guild. En plein air, or plein-air painting, is the act of painting outdoors with the artist's subject in full view.

In conjunction, The Next Picture Show will also host Stories in Portraits, also sponsored by the Rock River Valley Painters Guild. This is an all-media exhibition of both 2-D and 3-D original work.

Both exhibitions run Oct. 22-Nov.15. Both are juried shows. A reception and awards presentation will be held Oct. 24, 6-8 p.m.

Paula Kuehl, Lowden Gallery, October 1 - November 30

Paula Kuehl, of McHenry, has been painting since 1981. She started painting with oil paints, which were fun but slow to dry and would become muddy if you didn’t wait for them to dry. When she discovered pastels, she switched to them and never went back to oils. Pastels better suit her personality – she loves to draw, and pastels are like drawing with color. She also loves the vibrancy of the medium and the versatility it provides – versatility in the ability to use different types of paper and the way the pastel reacts on that paper. She feels her work is a study capturing the essence of life – whether it be in a child, a flower, or a landscape. Pastels are like life – vibrant and full of energy. That is what she attempts to capture in her works.