The city of Rockford plays host to several festivals every year. In addition to the summer carnival and fireworks show around the Fourth of July, there are multiple themed annual festivals. These festivals and their events and activities are geared toward multiple age groups.
The Rockford Celtic Festival begins the second Saturday of August every year. The festival offers Celtic music including traditional bagpipes, fiddles, and drums. Street vendors have all kinds of Celtic goods from carved wooden necklaces to traditional food. There is also a Celtic beer tent for the adults while the kids can enjoy face painting, storytelling, a petting zoo, and a variety of historic demonstrations and reenactments.
Harvest Fest celebrates, what else--the harvest. The three-week-long festival is divided into themed weeks: Family Fun Week, Heritage Week and Children's Weekend. Activities for all who attend from the toddler to great-great grandma include potato sack racing, necklace and bracelet beading, balloon animals and tricycle races. Family Fun Week consists of an antique tractor parade, scarecrow making and hayrides. Heritage Week has a car show, fiddle fest and the annual chili cook-off. Children's Weekend features trick or treating, clowns, face painting and the popular kid pedal tractor pull.
The Rockford Ice Festival is a one-day event with its inception in 2010. A professional ice-carving company carves several pieces that line the main street. Amateur carvers compete for "Best of Show," which is voted on by the festival goers. Other activities on the boardwalk include a miniature golf course, winter-themed contests and prizes, a snowman photo booth and other kid activities.
In mid-November, when the holiday shopping rush is in full swing, Rockford hosts its annual Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair. More than 100 crafters bring their handcrafted items and place them up for sale. Everything from traditional American folk art to high-quality blown glass items are available. It is one of the largest indoor craft shows in western Michigan.
The Rockford Health and Fitness Festival kicks Rockford's year off with a bang. The early-January festival includes both informational and educational seminars, healthy-cooking demonstrations and fitness training. Community leaders offer several healthy-living suggestions as well as pointing out healthy activities that are offered in the community like the monthly art gallery walk.
