R O R
Fun Summer Events at Midway Village By Peggy Werner
T
he 1970s, particularly the bicentennial of the United States of America, is the theme of this year’s fourth annual ‘The Rockford Plate’ event, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, June 27, at Midway Village Museum, 6799 Guilford Road. The event will focus on remembering the 1976 observance of the 200th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, Sunday, July 4, 1976, says Lonna Converso, director of marketing and social media. “When we remember the bicentennial, we’re remembering the origin of the United States and what it means to be a citizen,” she says. “We want people to learn about the 1970s at the event and to come away excited about supporting history education. We want them to see the importance of history by visiting the village and seeing what we do.”
16
Smart Living Weekly
The event is the museum’s largest fundraiser for history education. Highlights will include exploring the Victorian Village grounds, sampling foods from different parts of the world, having your picture taken in a restored 1970s Volkswagen bus and listening to music performed by “That Gurl,” a local 1970s cover band. Guests can also make a tie-dyed T-shirt, adopt a pet rock to take home, bid on culinary and cultural items during a silent auction and participate in a 50/50 raffle. A welcome program will be hosted by WTVO channel 17 TV news anchor Mimi Murphy at 6 p.m. in the village’s 1905 Red Barn. Dr. Karl Jacobs and his wife, Carol, will be the honorary “mayors” of Midway Village that evening. Carol will wear the pantsuit she purchased and wore for her husband’s inauguration at Rock Valley
June 19 To advertise call 815-316-2300
College, when he was sworn in as president in October, 1969. Karl will borrow the ’70s-style polyester jacket and pants he donated to the college’s Starlight Theater, a program that began under his leadership as president. Jacobs was president of Rock Valley College from 1969-1997 and is currently a museum board member and long-time supporter of the museum’s mission of history preservation and education. A progressive-style meal will take visitors from one historic building to another to sample cuisines from various cultures. The Coalition of Latino Leaders, Swedish Historical Society, Prairie Street Brewing Company and Midway Village Museum will provide food along with Nothing Bundt Cakes of Rockford. Tickets for Rockford Plate are $55 per person and can be purchased at
