FREEPORT/STEPHENSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS EVENTS
OCTOBER 25 THRU 30, 2011: October 25-31, HAUNTED HAPPENINGS EXPO. Freeport/Stephenson County Visitors Center, 4596 US Highway 20 East, Freeport. 8 am to 6 pm. Tour the Visitors Center's Haunted House and get information about the many fall and Halloween activities in Stephenson County. (815-233-1357)
October 25-31, PRETZELS ON PARADE. Downtown Freeport. Hours Vary by Store. Fifteen artists have created a special work of art based on the theme "pretzels" in honor of Freeport being Pretzel City. The works will be on display through the month of October at various stores in historic downtown Freeport. Patrons will have a change to vote on their favorite. The works will be auctioned at the Pretzels on Parade auction at Freeport Country Club on November 10. (815-232-6527)
October 25-November 8, FREEPORT BAND FRUIT FUNDRAISER. Freeport High School, 701 W. Moseley, Freeport. Annual fundraiser organized by the Band Parents offering a variety of fruits (apples, pears, oranges, pineapples, grapefruit and tangelos) plus premium sausage and cheese combos. $19 to $42. (815-232-2032)
October 25-November 12, STUDENT ART EXHIBITION: "INNOVATE, INSPIRE, CREATE". Freeport Art Museum, 121 N. Harlem Avenue, Freeport. Tuesday thru Friday: 10 am to 5 pm; Saturday: Noon to 5 pm. An eclectic and diverse body of work including painting, drawing, collage, and pottery from 15 students ages 7 to 13. Reception on November 12, 3 pm to 5 pm. (815-235-9755)
October 25-November 15, "PEACE TOGETHER: THE IMPORTANCE OF WOMEN'S SOCIAL GROUPS CREATED THROUGH QUILTING". Lena Area Historical Museum, 427 W. Grove Street, Lena. By appointment only. This exhibit explores the social aspects of quilting during the late 19th Century and early 20th Century. It features selected quilts from various decades and explains how current events, local traditions, and communication among women influenced the quilts they designed and produced. Adults: $4; Children 6 to 12: $2; Historical Society Members: Free. (815-369-2212)
October 25-November 12, ART OF DEVOTION. Freeport Art Museum, 121 N. Harlem Avenue, Freeport. Tuesday thru Friday: 10 am to 5 pm; Saturday: Noon to 5 pm. The expressive power of visual art to communicate important religious values as well as complicated spiritual beliefs accounts for the multitude of works of art created for devotional and religious purpose. From beautifully carved sculptures and other devotional objects from the Museum's collections, to painted icons by artist Athena Mosxona, this exhibition explores the historical and cultural significance of these devotional traditions in visual art from a diverse array of cultures and time periods. (815-235-9755)
October 25-January 10, 2012, FREEPORT ART MUSEUM HOLIDAY GIFT SHOP. Freeport Art Museum, 121 N. Harlem Avenue, Freeport. Tuesday thru Friday: 10 am to 5 pm; Saturday: Noon to 5 pm. Shop the unique gifts at this museum store offering items from local artists. (815-235-9755)
October 26, FUND RAISER SPAGHETTI DINNER XIV. The 4 Seasons Banquet Rooms, 1100 W. Galena Avenue, Freeport. 4:30 pm to 7 pm. Enjoy this special dinner. Carryouts available. Door prizes, desserts. Sponsored by Freeport Township Human Services Fund. Adults: $6; Children 10 and Under: $3. (815-235-8012)
October 26, November 9, December 7, SCREWBALL COMEDY: CLASSIC FILM SERIES. Lindo Theatre, 115 S. Chicago Avenue, Freeport. 1 pm and 7 pm. Highland Community College and the Stephenson County Historical Society co-sponsor this film series featuring classic examples of the screwball comedy. The Great Depression influenced Hollywood as the traditional romantic comedy was temporarily replaced by a genre of film known as the screwball comedy. The Depression Era twist was that the romantic leads had to come from different economic classes as an added complication to their "living happily ever after". There will be a brief introduction before each movie and a discussion led by Ed Finch, Director of the Historical Society, and Alan Wenzel, Speech and Communications Instructor at the College, following the movie. The featured movies are: October 26, "Sullivan's Travels" with Joel McCrea and Veronica Lake; November 9: "The Philadelphia Story" with Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn. As a bonus feature for buying a series ticket for the series, the classic musical, "Meet Me in St. Louis" starring Judy Garland and Margaret O'Brien will be presented on December 7. Per Movie: $5; Entire Series plus Musical: $20. (815-233-0025 or 815-232-8419)
October 26-December 30, QUILTS OF STEPHENSON COUNTY. Stephenson County Historical Society Museum, 1440 S. Carroll Avenue, Freeport. Wednesday thru Sunday: Noon to 4 pm. As part of the Northern Illinois Quilt Fest, over twenty vintage quilts are on display at the museum. The quilts were made during the period from 1840 to 1915 and are displayed in various locations around the Oscar Taylor Home, an 1857 Italianate Victorian mansion. The collection of quilts may be seen as part of a regular tour of the museum. Historical Society Members: Free. Non-Members: Adults: $4; Children 6 to 12: $2. (815-232-8419)
October 26-December 30, STRUCTO TOY EXHIBIT. Stephenson County Historical Society Museum, 1440 S. Carroll Avenue, Freeport. Wednesday thru Sunday: Noon to 4 pm. Over 250 vintage Structo Toys, which were manufactured in Freeport from 1914 to 1973, from the private collections of Randy Prasse and Rodney Sager, are on display in this exhibit. Historical Society Members: Free. Non-Members: Adults: $4; Children 6 to 12: $2. (815-232-8419)
October 27, KING COMMUNITY CAMPUS FALL FESTIVAL. King Community Campus, 511 S. Liberty, Freeport. 6 pm to 8 pm. enjoy this community family event with a five and under game room, trunk-or-treat, cake walk, face painting, arts and crafts, bingo, ooey-gooey room, computer lab, musical chairs, silent auction and inflatable jumpers. Plus food including hot dogs, nachos, hamburgers, chips, cookies and beverages. (815-233-0015)
October 27, FALL LECTURE SERIES: PHILIP B. DEDRICK. Freeport Public Library, 100 E. Douglas Street, Freeport. 7 pm. Jessica J. Caddell, Collections Manager at the Freeport Art Museum, will present a lecture on Philip B. Dedrick, a Freeport native who taught art at Rockford College and was responsible for making significant contributions to the collection of the Art Museum. The lecture series is co-sponsored by the Stephenson County Museum and the Freeport Public Library Foundation. (815-232-8419)
October 28, AMITY'S ATTIC CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE. Amity's Attic, 22 W. Main Street, Freeport. 4 pm to 6 pm. Shop for specials. (815-232-8581)
October 28-29, LENA HAUNTED BARNS. Lions Park, 609 S. Schuyler, Lena. 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Enter the dark world of 2 large haunted barns. Brace yourself for spine tingling fear, fright and illusion as you make your way through 7 levels of creature crawling darkness. Barns are connected by a 170' long slide. Hearse rides available - avoid the long wait and go to the front of the line for an additional fee. Rated #1 in Illinois. Not recommended for children 8 and under. $10 or bring a non-perishable food item and receive $2 off the ticket price. (815-369-5328 or 815-369-4780)
October 28-29, THE OLD HAUNTED MILL. Fire Station, 306 W. High Street, Orangeville. 7 pm to 10 pm. Thrill seekers will embark from the fire station on their ghoulish adventure to the Haunted Mill. 7 levels of scares, big slides, 3-D room, Pirates of the Caribbean, Killer Great White Shark and more. There's a hint of madness complete with monsters, mayhem and blood curdling scares. Not for the feint of heart. Children under 8 must be escorted by parents. $8. (815-789-9229)
October 29, LENA FARMERS MARKET. 100 W. Main, Lena. 8 am to 11 am. Locally grown fruits and vegetables, locally made food, locally grown plants, and firewood. (815-235-4125)
October 29, BOOTIFUL SATURDAY: "CASPER THE GHOST". Lindo Theatre, 115 S. Chicago Avenue, Freeport. 10 am. Enjoy the movie and special surprises. $1. (815-233-0413)
October 29, DOWNTOWN FREEPORT TRICK OR TREAT. Downtown Freeport. 11 am to 1 pm. Bring the kids to trick or treat at participating stores in historic downtown Freeport. (815-232-9000)
October 29, TRICK-OR-TREAT TRAIL AND HAUNTED BANDSHELL. Krape Park, 1799 S. Park Boulevard, Freeport. 3 pm to 5 pm. This is a great alternative to neighborhood trick-or-treating where kids can get plenty of treats and enjoy fun entertainment. The trail begins at the carousel. There will also be a Haunted Bandshell for children 10 and under to tour at a cost of $1. Or enjoy a hayride for $2. (815-235-6114)
October 29, FAMILY FRIGHT FEST. Family YMCA of Northwest Illinois, 2998 W. Pearl City Road, Freeport. 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Bring the whole family. Games, prizes, open swim, crafts, snacks and a costume contest at 6 pm. All children must be accompanied by an adult. YMCA Members: Free; Non-Members: $5. (815-235-9622)
October 30, HARVEST FESTIVAL AND COSTUME CONTEST. Skate Station, 7016 US 20 West, Lena. Skating: 1:30 to 4 pm; Costume Contest Registration: 3 pm; Judging: 4:30 pm. Come in costume and get free admission to skate; just pay the skate rental. There will be four age divisions ranging from infant through adult for the costume contest. Games, prizes, goodie bags and a candy scramble. Co-sponsors are Serendipity Candy and Huron Farm Market. (815-232-7344)
View the entire Freeport/Stephenson County Calendar of Events at
www.stephenson-county-il.org