How to Spend the Perfect Fall Weekend in Rockford

It's been a long week, you and the spouse deserve a night out because you  know the rest of the weekend will be spent entertaining the rest of the family. Call the babysitter and make plans to have dinner at one of Rockford's many fine restaurants like Prairie Street Brewhouse, Greenfire, Giovanni's, Franchesco's or JMK Nippon. There's so many to choose from; but whatever one you choose, make sure you treat yourself.

You could drive to Madison, Milwaukee or Chicago for fall festivals but why? There are so many fall activities happening right here in the Forest City. September kicked off with the Screw City Beer Festival and there's so much more coming. Spend a Saturday at the Greenwich Village Art Fair, celebrate Oktoberfest in style and sip on some cider at the Cider n' Cinnamon Arts and Crafts fair. Dates for all of Rockford's fall festivals and events can be found at GoRockford.com

Whether it's apples, pumpkins or both, Sundays are perfect for visiting the local apple orchards and pumpkin patches. While everyone's at home watching the Bears and Packers, you and the family can bring your bear of an appetite to the orchard for apple cider donuts and pack your bags full of apples and pumpkins for the kids. Corn mazes are fun too, check out All Seasons Orchard in Woodstock, Pearson's Farm in Lake Geneva or Richardson's Adventure Farm in Spring Grove. Find a full list of local apple orchards here.