5 Things to Do: Dixon Historic Theatre’s ‘It Had to Be You’ begins this weekend in the Sauk Valley

Looking for some fun activities? Here is our list of five events happening over the next few weeks in the Sauk Valley:

United Way of Lee County’s “Through The Decades Trivia Night”: Sponsored by the Lee County Bar Association, get ready to relive the iconic moments, music, movies and pop culture from the 1970s, ‘80s, ‘90s and 2000s in a night filled with laughter, competition and community spirit. The event will be Thursday, Jan. 23, at Post House Ballroom, 100 W. Second St., Dixon. Doors open at 5 p.m.; trivia begins at 5:30 p.m. Cost is $150 per team (up to six people). Participants can enjoy a 50/50 raffle, a cash bar, and pizza while vying for exciting prizes in categories such as Best Dressed Team, Best Team Name, First Place Team, and even Lowest Team Score. Whether you’re a disco enthusiast, a ‘90s kid, or just love a good challenge, this event has something for everyone. Sign up online at www.unitedwayofleecounty.org. Spots are limited, so don’t miss your chance to be part of this fun-filled evening that supports the mission of United Way of Lee County. For more information, contact Ashley Richter at 815-284-3339 or arichter@uwleeco.org.
Rock River Theater Company’s production of “It Had to Be You”: The Rock River Theater Company, in association with The Dixon: Historic Theatre, is producing the two-act play “It Had to Be You!” It’s a hilarious romantic comedy about an actress who kidnaps a commercial director on Christmas Eve to convince him that she’s talented. Opening night is Jan. 17, and the show runs through Jan. 26. It will be performed at the Jerry Mathis Theatre at Sauk Valley Community College, 173 Route 2, Dixon. For more information, go to dixontheatre.com.
Learn stand-up, comedy sketch writing: If you have ever wanted to try your hand at stand-up comedy or write and act in a comedy sketch like those seen on “Saturday Night Live,” then The Dixon: Historic Theatre has you covered in 2025. The theater will offer a new stand-up comedy and sketch-writing class that will run from 5:30 to 7 p.m. every Wednesday beginning Feb. 5 in the space above the theater known as the “Dixon Lounge.” The class costs $50 and is for anyone ages 18 and older. It will run through the end of May, at which point writers will have the option to showcase their material in front of a live audience. For more information, call 815-508-6324.
The Stupor Bowl: The Dixon Public Schools Foundation is gearing up for its annual Stupor Bowl, a competitive community trivia contest supporting local education. The event will begin with morning rounds taking place at 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, in the Reagan Middle School cafeteria, 620 Division St., Dixon. The top four teams will continue to the playoffs at 1:30 p.m. The event costs $150 per team for nonprofits and families and $300 per team for businesses. All proceeds will go to support the Dixon Public Schools Foundation, which already has donated more than $50,000 in classroom grants to area schools. The event also will feature a silent auction, with bidding on a variety of items throughout the day. To compete, participants must submit an online entry form, which is available at www.dps170.org. The deadline to submit the entry form is Tuesday, Feb. 4.
Flock to the Rock: The fifth annual Flock to the Rock will be Feb. 8 in Rock Falls. Head down to the Lower Dam, 300 W. First St., Rock Falls, any time before 10 a.m. to view eagles soaring around the Rock River, and don’t forget your cameras and binoculars! Then, go over to Rock Falls American Legion Post 902, 712 Fourth Ave., (note the location change from previous years) at 10 a.m., when there will be two educational speakers. The first, from Northern Illinois Raptor Rehab & Education, will give an hourlong presentation about birds of prey and will bring birds such as owls and hawks. The second speaker will present a 45-minute program about Native American storytelling. Robert Storm, an ice carver, will entertain with his skills of live ice sculpting outside the American Legion. This event is free and welcomes all ages.

• Would you like your event listed in this weekly feature? Submit your events to Sauk Valley Media’s community calendar at shawlocal.com/sauk-valley/local-events.