Community Calendar

Get ready to wiggle and glow at our ultimate Valentine’s “Day-time” dance party! DJ Joe Majesty will be dropping the beats (and the volume!) mixed with techno remixes of your little one’s favorite tunes, like Wheels on the Bus and Ol’ Macdonald.

This colorful dayglow party is designed for parents and children to dance and explore rhythm together in a safe, kid-friendly environment. We’ll supply glow sticks, bubble machines, non-strobe-effect lights, and age-appropriate music. You bring the tiny dancers and energy! Need a break from the music and lights? You’ll find a space across the hall in our Zimmerman Meeting Room to sit and “chill”, color a picture, and reenergize to keep dancing.

This event is intended for families with children ages 6 and under. Older siblings will be allowed with parent supervision.

Please note that although music will be played at a lower volume, this still may be too loud for those with sensitivities. It is recommended that you bring any protective or noise reduction headphones your child may require.

Also note that although no strobe lights will be used at this event, we will have black lights to create a glow effect, color swirling lights, and laser dot light show.

For additional information please contact Stormy at stormye@dkpl.org or at (815) 756-9568 ext. 3310.

Today Was Tomorrow - a solo show by Kari McDonald will kick off our 2026 exhibition season. Lemuette is the artistic moniker of Rockford-based printmaker Kari McDonald. Her meditative, nature-inspired work invites viewers to slow down and find moments of calm. Her intricate designs in woodblock often feature native prairie plants, whimsical flowers, and playful critters, capturing the beauty and wonder of the natural world.

FAM is open Tuesday - Friday 10 AM to 5 PM, Saturday 12 to 5 PM.

Finally, a chance to play with food! And—even better—learn some science while we're doing it! We're kicking off our 2026 Family Fun Science programs with some scrumptious science. We'll be popping popcorn and figuring out what makes it pop, launching candy with catapults, and shaking it up and making homemade butter. Bring your curiosity and get ready to fling, shake, and pop.

The program is limited to the first 30 children to arrive. Sign-up will begin at the children’s desk 1 hour before the event.

For additional information, please email Laura at lauraw@dkpl.org or call (815) 756-9568 ext. 3350.

Bring a blanket and a friend to enjoy a romantic, family-friendly afternoon of music with the message of Love in all its forms!

Broadway star Sean Doherty will perform romantic songs with an ensemble from the Elgin Symphony Orchestra at an exclusive Valentine’s Day dinner on Saturday, Feb. 14, at Dunham Woods Riding Club, 33w333 Army Trail Road in Wayne, Illinois.

Seating is limited for this elegant event featuring curated cocktails and a prix fixe, chef-designed gourmet dinner, followed by the performance.

The evening begins at 6 p.m. with cocktails.

Tickets for this special evening are $200/person and are available at ElginSymphony.org or through the Elgin Symphony Orchestra Box Office, 847-888-4000. The ESO Box Office is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

With a career spanning decades and a dozen albums with Lowen & Navarro, Dan Navarro is currently on tour in support of his album, "Horizon Line" produced by multiple Grammy®-winner Jim Scott (Tom Petty, Wilco, Dixie Chicks, & the first five Lowen&Navarro albums).

Rich in sound, deft in its execution, deep in emotions worth singing about, Dan is focused on where he is going – to the next connection, the next stage, the next town, the next feeling, just beyond the “Horizon Line.”

Opening: Jessica Willis Fisher’s new album “BLOOMING” heralds a new season of thriving for Jessica Willis Fisher. The record – produced by Ben Fowler – is high-spirited and wide-ranging, folk made fresh through Fisher’s signature fiddle and motive voice.

8 of the 9 songs are self-penned, rich with nature imagery, and rooted in themes of growth and continued healing. BLOOMING is both a wanderlust-fueled soundtrack to adventure and a heartfelt work of art.

Homecoming: In Color celebrates the reopening of Rockford Art Museum after a year-long renovation closure. This exhibition features a selection of popular pieces and hidden gems, showcasing the rich diversity of our revered collection. Come witness the power of art and community as we welcome you back to a vibrant space of creativity!

Today Was Tomorrow - a solo show by Kari McDonald will kick off our 2026 exhibition season. Lemuette is the artistic moniker of Rockford-based printmaker Kari McDonald. Her meditative, nature-inspired work invites viewers to slow down and find moments of calm. Her intricate designs in woodblock often feature native prairie plants, whimsical flowers, and playful critters, capturing the beauty and wonder of the natural world.

FAM is open Tuesday - Friday 10 AM to 5 PM, Saturday 12 to 5 PM.

The Lightbeam Players present Conversations at a Dead Man’s Grave, a 1-hour play for ages 10 and up.

While visiting her brother’s grave on the one-year anniversary of his disappearance, May Thompson meets a strange girl named Sage who claims to be her half-sister. But May has never met her before! Sage has proof pointing to her story being true. But something isn't adding up.

Stories aren't aligning, and May can't shake the feeling that something's wrong. As May begins to unravel the mystery of what happened to her brother, things begin to take a turn, and it soon seems you might not be able to trust the things that go on in your very own head.

With this production, Lightbeam Players, a theatre company run by kids, for kids, is debuting its first teen-led production. Best of all, it’s entirely free and requires no registration.

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

Kaia String Quartet + Fareed Haque

This Valentine’s week, we are turning up the romance with a concert that feels like a love letter in sound. The Kaia String Quartet joins forces with the brilliant guitarist Fareed Haque for an evening that blends passion, virtuosity, and pure joy.

At the heart of the program is Haque’s own Quintet for Guitar and Strings, Op. 60, a piece that showcases his signature blend of lyricism and fire. The journey continues with music by Latin American icons Ricardo Lorenz and Astor Piazzolla, whose tangos are equal parts smoldering and tender. Eduardo Angulo’s El Alevín (The Minnow) adds playful sparkle to the mix, proof that even the smallest notes can carry big emotion.

Margie Criner
Sculptor

The night’s visual counterpart is sculptor Margie Criner. From a distance, her works appear sleek and abstract, but each piece hides a lens portal that reveals an entire miniature world inside. These tiny universes explore themes of waiting, traveling, commuting, and dreaming—moments we all share yet rarely stop to notice. Criner’s art bridges design, play, and discovery, inviting viewers to pause, peer closer, and uncover stories hidden in plain sight.

Music that speaks in thousands of notes. Art that asks you to look twice and see more. It’s the kind of Valentine you’ll remember long after the last chord fades. 💖