Community Calendar

Contrary to popular belief, dinosaurs never went extinct — they're still alive and flying among us in the form of birds. Birds are the only dinosaurs to survive the cataclysmic mass extinction caused by an asteroid the size of Mount Everest crashing into Earth some 66 million years ago. The big question is: how? How did birds not only endure the apocalypse that wiped out every other dinosaur, but go on to evolve and populate every corner of the planet? Now, rare fossil discoveries are revealing the secrets of bird evolution going back more than 100 million years — telling the story of how resilient, feathered dinosaurs persevered and transformed into the vast, colorful array of species filling our skies today.

Free and open to the public. Approximately 53 minutes, rated G, and made possible through Kanopy.

Chicago famously has a sweet tooth, and why wouldn’t it? For much of the twentieth century, Chicago reigned supreme as the “Candy Capital of the World.” From Cracker Jack and M&Ms, to Snickers and Lemon Heads, many of the world’s most well-known sweets originated in the city. At its peak, 100 Chicago candy companies, including Wrigley, Mars, and Ferrara produced a third of all candy in the United States and employed more than 25,000 people. But however all-American this world of confection may appear; it was immigrants who came to Chicago in the nineteenth century who helped mold the industry. This program is free and open to the public. It is 55 minutes, not rated and made possible through WTTW/PBS.

Come see Rockford's only showing of the Oscar Nominated film, The Voice of Hind Rajab, at the Nordlof Center, Saturday, June 20 at 3PM.

Purchase tickets for the one of the best films in 2026. The Voice of Hind Rajab has won the BAFTA Film Award, the Ghent Film Festival Best Film Award, the Hamptons International Film Festival Best Film Award, and was nominated for best feature at the Chicago Film Festival, Satellite Awards, Golden Globes, European Film Festival , and nominated for an Oscar. Come hear the story that has touched so many lives, and opened up the eyes of humanity on what gets stolen when we stop seeing people, as people.

Tickets are $5 a person and all profits from the film showing will go to charity. Children under 16 years old will not be allowed access without an accompanied adult.

Schedule

Open Doors at 2:30 PM

Introduction 2:55 PM

Movie Start at 3:05 PM

End of Film 4:50 PM

Post Discussion on Mental Health

Doors Close 5:30 PM

Hosted by Judge Douglas Ginsburg, this documentary explores the spirit and worldwide influence of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. Ginsburg guides viewers through the major turning points in U.S. and world history where the Declaration served as a blueprint for self-government, from the abolitionist movement and Women's Suffrage to the words that moved iconic figures like Frederick Douglass and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to action.

Its reach extends far beyond American shores. Since 1776, more than 100 countries have drafted their own declarations of independence, and Ginsburg brings these moments to life through short, character-driven stories spanning major waves of independence in France, Latin America, and the Czech Republic. We'll also hear from refugees fleeing Hong Kong, Venezuela, and Vietnam, each pursuing the promise of "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness." And throughout it all, everyday people share their unfiltered thoughts on America's progress toward a nation where "all men are created equal."

The program is free and open to the public. It is approximately 56 minutes, not rated, and made possible through PBS.

Experience a pivotal moment in American history through this compelling adaptation of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical. Set against the backdrop of a nation on the verge of revolution, follow John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson as they confront political discord, personal struggles, and the urgent need to unify the Continental Congress in pursuit of independence. Drawing from the letters and memoirs of the Founding Fathers, 1776 offers a thoughtful and resonant portrait of the convictions and sacrifices that shaped the founding of the United States. The film runs 2 hours and 21 minutes, is rated G, and is free and open to the public. Presented through public performance rights by SWANK.

There is no road quite like Route 66, and no state that embodies its spirit quite like Oklahoma. Home to more surviving miles of the Mother Road than any other state, Oklahoma is where the legend of America's most iconic highway truly comes alive.

Join us for this centennial celebration of Route 66, tracing the history, landmarks, and stories that made the road a symbol of freedom, adventure, and the open American spirit. From the glowing neon signs of Tulsa to the beloved Blue Whale, the storied Lucille's Service Station, and the legendary Cal's Café in Erick, this documentary uncovers the people and places that shaped a highway, and a nation's imagination. This free program is open to the public. It is approximately 27 minutes, not rated and made possible by PBS.

Have you ever wished you could travel back in time and uncover the history of the very ground beneath your feet? That's exactly what WTTW host Geoffrey Baer does in Chicago Time Machine, peeling back layers of fascinating stories from all over Chicagoland, going back as far as 14,000 years. From a notorious vice district south of the Loop, where crooked ward bosses went by names like Bathhouse John and Hinky Dink, to Wicker Park at the end of the Ice Age when prehistoric giant beavers roamed freely, this is Chicago history like you have never quite seen it. Along the way, Baer uncovers a World War II aircraft engine plant that now houses a mall and makes Tootsie Rolls, a decommissioned limestone quarry retrofitted as a neighborhood fishing pond, and a quiet River North alley where four notorious executions took place in 1887. Every corner of this city has a story, and most of them are stranger than fiction.

This free program is open to the public. It is approximately 1 hour and 22 minutes, not rated and made possible through PBS.

Curb cuts, building ramps, and braille on elevator buttons may seem like ordinary features of everyday life today, but they were hard won. This powerful documentary tells the emotional and dramatic story of the decades-long fight for equality and accessibility that culminated in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990.

Told through the voices of key participants and witnesses, the film highlights the determined men and women who literally put their bodies on the line to make their voices heard, and who changed the lives of all Americans in the process. A testament to the power of coalition building, bipartisan cooperation, and the enduring strength of ordinary people, the passage of the ADA stands as one of the great civil rights achievements in American history and a shining example of democracy at its best. This free program is open to the public. It is approximately 52 minutes, rated PG, and made possible through Kanopy.

Set on Virginia's Chincoteague Island, this heartwarming film invites you to experience the story of a centuries-old herd of wild ponies and the legendary Phantom — a mare famed for her mysterious ability to elude capture. As the community readies for its annual Pony Penning Day, you'll follow young siblings Paul and Maureen on their determined quest to catch Phantom, a journey that proves both transformative and unforgettable. Adapted from Marguerite Henry's beloved Newbery Honor-winning novel Misty of Chincoteague, this special screening commemorates the Chincoteague Pony Swim, held annually in July.

While enjoying the film, attendees are invited to craft their own wild pony — paint a wooden horse cut out and add a yarn mane to take home. This free public screening runs 91 minutes, not rated, and is made possible through Kanopy

Celebrate Harry Potter's birthday with an afternoon of inspired crafts, themed drinks, and snacks. Costumes welcome! Try your hand at four craft stations — make a wand, a Hogwarts House bookmark, a potion bottle, and decorate a photo frame — then snap a photo at our themed backdrop to slip inside. Crafts, drinks, and snacks are available while supplies last. We'll wrap up the afternoon with a screening of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, made possible through Swank Licensing.

Free and open to all ages. Recommended for ages 6 and up; children under 6 are welcome with a parent or guardian. No registration required.