The following is a list of current events and upcoming activities going on in the Sauk Valley. Don’t forget to check out 5 Things To Do for other opportunities.
Do you have information on an upcoming event or attraction? Be sure to let us know. Submit information for Sauk Valley Media’s weekly calendar to news@saukvalley.com. Include a contact person and phone number.
This Week
“A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” opens 7:30 p.m. Friday at Festival 56 in Princeton. The show is a musical romp through Edwardian England.
The Jack of All Trades barn sale will be 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Sunday at the barn at 1194 Mud Creek Road in Oregon. Hard-to-find items for the handyman, collector, decorator and DIYer will be available. The event benefits Serenity Hospice and Home in Oregon.
Rockland Road will perform a free concert 6 p.m. Saturday at the BeanBlossom Parking Lot in downtown Dixon as part of the River Country 101.7 and Dixon Chamber and Main Street Summer Bash.
Pegasus Special Riders Therapeutic Horseback Riding will have a family picnic fundraiser 5 p.m. Saturday at the riding center, 6668 S. Carthage Road in Oregon. Tickets are $15 each, $50 for a family of four. Pork chop sandwich dinner and live music by Jim Kanas.
Masquerade at Stronghold Camp and Retreat Center in Oregon. Ticket sales closed July 13.
Live music: Lojo Russo 5:30 p.m. Friday at John Dixon Park in Dixon; Jonny Lyons and the Pride 7 p.m. Friday at Mt. Morris Jamboree; Fast Lane 5 p.m. Friday Eclipse Square in Prophetstown; Higher Power, 6 p.m., Sunday at Spring Valley Reformed Church in Fulton; Spontaneous Combustion and Sterling Municipal Band’s A Kidz Koncert 6:15 p.m. Wednesday at Central Memorial Park’s Grandon Civic Center in Sterling.
Stephenson County Fair, Tuesday through July 30 in Freeport. Tractor pulls on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Legally Blonde, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Timber Lake Playhouse, 8215 Black Oak Road, Mount Carroll. Tickets $25 to $35.
Upcoming
Music
Music at the Square, John Dixon Park, Dixon
Leo Fron, 5:30 p.m., July 29
Shaylyn O’Laughlin, 5:30 p.m., Aug. 5
New Shoes, 5:30 p.m., Aug. 12
Backlash, 5:30 p.m., Aug. 19
Mark Hobbs, 5:30 p.m., Aug. 26
The Belle Rangers, 5:30 p.m., Sept. 2
Sterling Municipal Band
Music Under the Stars, Central Memorial Park’s Grandon Civic Center.
All the concerts start at 7:30 p.m. Opening acts start at 6:15 p.m.
Wednesday night performances are (with opening acts):
Aug. 3 “An Evening of Frank Sinatra Hits” featuring solist Jason Richards and the Josh Duffee Quintet. (Lobotomite)
Summer Nights and Pop-Up Markets
Dale Park, Sterling
To be announced, 5 p.m., July 28
Bobbi White and Co., 5 p.m. Aug. 11
Lojo Russo, 5 p.m., Aug. 25
Dixon Municipal Band
Summer Sounds, Page Park Band Shell, 7:30 p.m.
Upcoming performances: July 21, July 28, Aug. 4.
Christmas Concert, 7 p.m., tba.
Jammin on the Rock
RB&W Park, 201 E. Second St., Rock Falls
To be announced, Aug. 4, 6 p.m.
Food truck Fridays
RB&W Park, 201 E. Second St., Rock Falls, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Outpatience, 7 p.m. Aug. 12
Mt. Morris Jamboree, Campus Band Shell
Harman Family Bluegrass Band, 7 p.m. July 29
The Jimmys, 7 p.m., Aug. 5
Howard and the White Boys, 7 p.m., Aug. 12
Dirty Fishnet Stockings, 7 p.m., Aug. 19
Chicago Tribute Anthology, 7 p.m., Aug. 26
Winning Wheels Summer Concert Series, Eclipse Square, Prophetstown
Jim Ryan, 5 p.m., July 29
3 On The Tree, 5 p.m., Aug. 26
To be announced, 5 p.m., Sept. 23
To be announced, 5 p.m., Oct. 28
Books on First, 202 W. First St., Dixon.
Ryan Hoffman, 6:30 p.m., Aug. 6
Mark Dvorak, 6:30 p.m., Aug. 20
Rosbrook Studio Second Saturday Open Mic, signup at 6 p.m., performances 7 to 11 p.m., 107 S. Peoria Ave., Dixon. $3 suggested donation.
American Legion Post 902, 712 Fourth Ave., Rock Falls.
Jam Session, 7 p.m. every Thursday.
The First Fridays Open Mic, K’s Sports Bar, 408 East Washington (Route 64) in Oregon. Next performance is July 1. Admission is free, although a jar is available for donations. Sign-up for performers is at 6:45. For information, call 815-449-2660.
Spring Valley Reformed Church, 10960 Spring Valley Road, Fulton.
Higher Power, 6 p.m., July 24
Mission IV, 6 p.m., July 31
Riven Quartet, 6 p.m., Aug. 7
Theater productions
Historic Dixon Theatre
Tickets are on sale for the following shows at Historic Dixon Theatre, 114 S. Galena Ave. Go to dixontheatre.com/events/ for tickets or more information.
Double Vision: The Foreigner Experience, Aug. 19
Menopause the Musical, Sept. 28-29.
Forever Young, Oct. 7.
ABBA Mania, Oct. 16.
Paul Childers, Oct. 22.
Yesterday: A Beatles Tribute Endorsed by Sir Paul McCartney, Nov. 5.
Annie Jr., Nov. 18-19.
Cinderella (A community theater production), Dec. 9-11.
The Prophecy Show: The Music of Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Dec. 30.
Motor City: the Motown Revue, Jan. 14.
Still Collins, Jan. 28.
Shanghai Circus, Feb. 24.
Doug Allen Nash, March 11.
Comedian Yakov Smirnoff, March 24.
Head East, April 7.
Adventures of Tortoise and the Hair Next Generation, April 23, 2023
The Machine: The Music of Pink Floyd, April 28, 2023
Under the Street Lamp, May 13, 2023
Illusionist Mike Super, May 27, 2023
Dixon Stage Left, 306 W First St, Dixon
Agatha Christie’s Mousetrap, 7:30 p.m. July 21, 22, 23; 3 p.m. July 24
Peter and the Starcatcher, September 23-24, 29-30, Oct, 1, 6-7-8.
Timber Lake Playhouse, 8215 Black Oak Road, Mount Carroll.
Legally Blonde, July 14-24
Nunsense, July 28-Aug. 7
We Will Rock You, Aug. 11-31
Hank Williams: Lost Highway, Sept. 8-18
Forever Plaid: Plaid Tidings, Dec. 1-11
Clinton Area Showboat Theatre, 303 Riverview Drive, Clinton, Iowa.
The Wedding Singer, July 21-31.
The World Goes ‘Round, Aug. 4, Aug. 6-14.
White Pines Dinner Theatre, 6712 W. Pines Road, Mount Morris
Lionel Richie starring Gregory James, July 27-28
Garth and Tricia Tribute Show, Aug 9-11
Salute to the Music of Roy Orbison, Aug. 23
Rick Lindy and the Wild Ones, Aug. 24-25
Dave and Daphne Show, Sept. 7-8
Getting Better with Age, Sept. 13-15
The Rock n Roll Crooner Quenton Flagg, Sept. 21
Quentin Flagg’s Inspirational Gospel and Country, Sept. 22
I Gotta Be Me starring Denny Diamond, Oct. 5-6
Rod Stewart Tribute, Oct. 18
Mirror of Mathis, Oct. 19-20
Down to the Funny Bones, Nov. 2-3
Andrew and His Sisters: A WWII Musical Tribute, Nov. 9-10
Branson on the Road, Christmas Style, Nov. 29-Dec. 1
Scrooge the Comedy, Dec. 3-17
Polo Community Theater
Romeo and Juliet, Sept. 23-25, Sept. 30-Oct. 1, Polo Town Hall, 115 S. Franklin Ave., Polo
Art exhibits
The Next Picture Show, 113 W. First St., Dixon.
Black and White exhibit through Sept. 30, KSB Hospital’s Commerce Towers.
Absolutely Abstract, Saturday through Sept. 3, opening reception 6 p.m. July 29.
Woodland Arts Academy, 117 W. Second St., Rock Falls
Christmas in July: Sights and Sounds of the Sauk Valley, through Aug. 17
First Avenue Bridge exhibition, tba
Markets
Twin City Farmers Market, 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays, year-round indoors and out; 106 Avenue A in Sterling, 815-626-8610, twincitycarmersmarket.com and Facebook.
Food truck Fridays, RB&W Par, 201 E. Second St., Rock Falls, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Aug. 12
Dixon Park District Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to noon Wednesdays through Oct. 26 and 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays through Oct. 29, Haymarket Square, 513 W. Second St., Dixon.
Dixon City Market, 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Aug. 31, Heritage Crossing, Dixon.
Rock Falls Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday and Saturday, 400 W Second St., Rock Falls, through October.
Pop-Up Markets, 5 p.m., second and fourth Thursday, Dale Park, Sterling.
Chana Route 64 Auction Barn Inc. auction, 10 a.m. (first and third) Sunday; flea market, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (second and fourth) Saturday and Sunday at 620 S. Stone Hill Road. Find Chana Auction Barn on Facebook or call 815-830-3898 for more information. Contact Market Manager Robin at 815-973-0728 for details.
Mount Carroll Farmer’s Market, 8 a.m. to noon, each Saturday through Oct. 29.
BASIC Market, 514 13th Ave., Fulton, 9 a.m. to noon, Saturdays through October.
Museums, exhibits and attractions
Loveland History Museum, 9 a.m. -2 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Loveland Community House, 513 W. Second St., Dixon; free.
Ingersoll Wetlands Learning Center at Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. Open 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7071 Riverview Road, Thomson. Call 815-273-2732.
Reagan Boyhood Home, 810 S Hennepin Ave, Dixon, March 29 to Dec. 17, is open for tours Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with the last tour leaving at 3 p.m.
Northwest Territory Historic Center, 205 West Fifth St. Dixon, open 9 a.m - 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The Ronald Reagan Birthplace/Museum, 111 Main Street, Tampico., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday (Except Easter Sunday and Mother’s Day). 815-622-8705.
Byron Museum of History, Wednesday-Saturday 10:00 to 3:00, located at 110 North Union Street, Byron.
Special interest
Riverfront Yoga, 7 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., Fridays through July 29 at Dixon Riverfront.
Dixon Coin Club, 7 p.m., first Tuesday, American Legion, 1120 W. First St., Dixon.
Library programs
Sterling Public Library. Summer reading: Preschool on Monday, 10 a.m., K-2, Tuesday, 10 a.m., 3-5, Tuesday, 2 p.m., 6-8, Tuesday, 4 p.m.
Hoo Haven, 10 a.m., July 23
Summer Reading closeout, July 30
Dixon Public Library. Summer reading: Monday family programs, Tuesday activity stations, Wednesday drop-in crafts, Thursday family storytimes, middle school and high school book clubs.
Rock Falls Public Library. Summer Reading. Program 2 10 a.m., July 12-28, Tuesday (ages 3-5), Wednesday (grades K-3), Thursday (ages 3-5). Registration required.
Information on events and attractions for Sauk Valley Media’s weekly calendar should be submitted to news@saukvalley.com. Include a contact person and phone number.