New Summer Events at Midway Village

New Summer Events at Midway Village

By Peggy Werner

Whether you’re interested in history, education, gardening, volunteering or just having fun with others, there’s something for you this summer at Midway Village Museum, 6799 Guilford Road, Rockford.

The summer lineup features new events including Lamplight Evening Tours, The Oregon Trail: IRL (in Real Life), Yoga in the Village and Rockford’s Culture Crawl.

“Summer is a busy time at the museum and the focus is on new and interesting events to attract people of all ages and encourage them to visit and learn about Rockford history,” says Lonna Converso, director of marketing and social media. “The experiences are immersive and interactive, so visitors can learn about their community and what history means to all of us.”

Victorian Tea The deadline to register for the popular Victorian Summer Tea event is May 22. This year’s tea will be from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 2, in the historic Chamberlain Hotel. The menu will include a three-course meal and endless pots of summer teas. After the meal, make your own Victorian hat with guidance from an expert. Admission is $35 for adults, $30 for members, $20 for 17 years and under.

Costumed interpreters in Midway Village’s Junior Program will be helping out. Participants are encouraged, but not required, to wear historically appropriate dress.

Lamplight Evening

Tours The new Lamplight Evening Tours will be at 7 p.m. every Wednesday, June through August, led by history interpreters dressed in 1900s clothing.

Alyssa McGhghy, special events coordinator, says the evening tours will help people to experience Midway Village in another “ambiance,” and will be useful to people who can’t attend daytime events.

Yoga in the Village

Yoga in the Village will be led by certified yoga instructor Amanda Stivers at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 13. The class is open to all levels. Bring a yoga mat and water bottle. Cost is $12 per person, $10 for members. Those under 13 are admitted for free. Registration deadline is July 11.

If the day is successful, more yoga events will be added next year.

The Oregon Trail: IRL

Learn how to treat a snakebite, ford a river, fix a wagon wheel and sharpen your other pioneer skills to see if you have what it takes to successfully travel the

Oregon Trail: IR, when the classic game comes alive Saturday, June 8. The first session, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., is geared for people of all ages and will focus on family-friendly activities and non-competitive games. Admission is $8/adults, $6/members, free to those 2 and younger.

A later session, from 5 to 7 p.m., is for those 21 years and older who want to compete in teams. Early registration is required for teams of no more than six people, with no limit to the number of teams wanting to complete 10 stations within two hours. It will take place rain or shine.

“Both groups will definitely learn about pioneer life and what it was like to take to the trail, anticipate hazards, know what plants are edible, and handle other struggles pioneers faced, in all kinds of weather,” McGhghy says.

Rockford Culture Crawl 2019

Rockford Culture Crawl 2019, presented by ComEd, will feature free creative and educational activities for children and families from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 20, at seven locations throughout the city. Among them are Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St.; Burpee Museum of Natural History, 737 N. Main St.; Anderson Japanese Gardens, 318 Spring Creek Road; and Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens, 1354 N. 2nd St.

Admission will be free that day at Midway Village Museum; Rockford Art Museum and Rockford Dance Company, 711 N. Main St.; and Ethnic Heritage Museum, 1129 S. Main St. Get a stamp at each location and, when finished touring, turn in stamps at any of the locations to be eligible to win a prize.

An After Hours event for those 21 and older will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. at Midway Village. Taboo Blah Blah will open for headliner Miles Nielsen and the Rusted Hearts. St. Stanislaus Church of Rockford will serve Polish fare; Prairie Street Brewing Company and Lucha Cantina will provide food and drinks; and participating organizations will host activities. Bring blankets and chairs for outdoor entertainment. Admission/$10.

“Our community has so many really great cultural organizations and institutions and we just want everyone to get acquainted with them or have another reason to go through the doors to see what they have to offer,” McGhghy says.

To pre-register for the Victorian Tea, Yoga, or Oregon Trail evening event, call McGhghy at (815) 397-9112, ext. 104 or email specialevents@midwayvillage. com. Payment is due at registration. Purchase tickets online or at the door for Oregon Trail day event and Culture Crawl. ❚