RAM Talks Art: Fun fall activities in Rockford

By Stacey Sauer, Education Coordinator, Rockford Art Museum

The fall season is a busy one for families. Beginning with Halloween at the end of October, and Thanksgiving in November, many families are continually on the move until well after the holidays. But in case you have some time in between trick-or-treating and holiday shopping, why not check out some activities that local organizations in Rockford have planned for kids and families in November?

On Halloween (Friday, Oct. 31), if you are between the ages of 13 and 18 and looking for something to do between 5 and 7 p.m., check out the Rockford Public Library's Haunted Rockford Tour. Meet at the Main Library, and take a bus ride to visit some local legendary sites. There will be telling of scary stories and historic tales, and you may just learn a little bit of ghostly lore about your own town. A spirit communicator and a psychic astrologer will also be there! Registration is required, so check out Rockford Public Library's Web site at www.rockfordpubliclibrary.org.

Are you looking for a hands-on activity for younger children to participate in? Consider bringing them down to Rockford Art Museum (RAM) Saturday, Nov. 1, to participate in a workshop led by local artist Norm Knott. The class, called Hands On (for ages 3 and older) will help children learn how to begin to express themselves through art—using only their hands. Norm will use finger-painting as a way to introduce children not only to the visual arts, but also how to tap in to their own natural creative energy. Registration is required. For more details, call RAM at (815) 972-2874.

Nov. 1-2 also marks the celebration of Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. To many in Latin America, death is not something to be feared, nor is it viewed as final. Instead, it is seen as part of the natural cycle of life, and something to be celebrated. On this day, many believe the souls of the departed come back to earth and join us for a short time. Saturday, Nov. 1, stop by the Montague Branch of Rockford Public Library at 1 p.m. to listen to a speaker explain the significance of the Day of the Dead and the altars that symbolize this cultural tradition. As well, there will be art activities for children.

Nov. 1-2, stop by Midway Village for their Model Train Show. A variety of train sizes and types will be on display, including American Flyer and Lionel, as well as antique model train collections. Learn model building techniques and get advice about setting up and maintaining model trains. Visit www.midwayvillage.com for more details.

Sunday, Nov. 2, don't let your rotting pumpkins go to waste. Instead, bring them to the Discovery Center for Smashing Pumpkins! This annual event is a family favorite. Your dead pumpkins will literally become projectiles when they are flung from an enormous trebuchet. You can also create your own catapult and learn the science behind these machines. RAM will also be on hand to do an art project with the kids. Admission to Smashing Pumpkins is included with regular admission to Discovery Center Museum.

Does your child have a passion for ancient civilizations? Do they enjoy digging in the dirt? You may want to check out Burpee Museum's class, Burpee Explorer: Explore Archeology at 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 8. Children will learn how archeologists uncover ancient civilizations. They will learn archeological techniques firsthand, and then reproduce an artifact from the Mississippian Culture, a civilization that once dominated the area. This 90-minute class is for ages 6 to 12, and children must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required, so be sure to call Burpee at (815) 965-3433.

Take a Victorian Holiday Cottage tour Nov. 28-30 at Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum. The museum is one of Rockford's treasures, and one of the only Swiss-style homes remaining in the U.S. from the 1800s. Visit www.tinkercottage.com for more details.

Saturday, Nov. 29, introduce your family to one of the most famous ballets, The Nutcracker. Rockford Dance Company (RDC) and Rockford Symphony Orchestra (RSO) bring this holiday tradition to life at the Coronado Performing Arts Center. Children will watch with wonder as armies of mice and toy soldiers do battle, a nutcracker comes to life, and what happens when a little girl is taken to the Land of the Sugar Plum Fairy. There will be a matinee performance at 2 p.m. and an evening performance at 7 p.m. For ticket information, check out the Web sites for RDC (www.rockforddancecompany.com) and RSO (www.rockfordsymphony.com).

Contact Rockford Art Museum Education Coordinator Stacey Sauer at ssauer@rockfordartmuseum.org.

from the Oct. 29-Nov 4, 2008, issue

 

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