THIS IS A FREE DRIVE THROUGH EVENT*
*donations accepted and appreciated to continue sustaining this event

2020 Presenting Sponsors

Donate Today to help us continue this Rockford Holiday Tradition!

31 Years Lighting Up the Holidays!

This FREE event has become a state-line family tradition since 1989. Founded by Mr. Fourth of July, Joe Marino, and The Rockford Park Districts John Peterson, FOL began with just 11 displays and has now grown to over 70 displays! 
​Displays seen are either rented from the Festival of Lights Committee or built and installed by local individuals, community organizations or businesses.  List of participating businesses can be found at the bottom of the page.  As of late 2017, FOL began to repair, replace and reorganize it's holiday displays.  Our committee is dedicated and committed to bringing the people of this community a wonderful, drive through light display.
For 2020, we have purchased more new displays and restrung some older displays with BRIGHTER lights...make sure you take a look and let us know what you liked about this year's Festival of Lights!

This event is completely funded by donations and sponsorships.  Click here to > DONATE today to help us continue this family tradition!

**We are not affiliated with The Rockford Park District or The City of Rockford.  Your public taxes do not pay for this event.  The 4th of July Committee raise all the funds, install all the displays and maintain the event every year.**
Picture
A lighted Motif dedicated to one of our event founders, Mr. Fourth of July, Joe Marino.

2020 Showing Schedule

Festival of Lights 2020 Schedule

​Opening Night - November 27th, 5pm - 11pm
Friday 11/27 - Sunday 11/29, 5pm - 11pm
Friday 12/4 - Sunday 12/6, 5pm - 11pm
Friday 12/11 - Sunday 12/13, 5pm - 11pm
Friday 12/18 - Wednesday 12/23, 5pm - 11pm

Christmas Eve 12/24, 24 Hours
Christmas Day 12/25, 24 Hours (shuts off at Midnight)
Saturday 12/26 - Sunday 12/27, 5pm - 11pm

Thursday 12/31, 5pm - 12am (FINAL NIGHT / New Years Eve)
​
​Hours are subject to change. 
​There is NO CHARGE to drive through the displays.  Donations accepted and appreciated!

Santa & Christmas Letters

​Santa's Festival of Lights Schedule:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Friday 11/27 - Sunday 11/29
Friday 12/4 - Sunday 12/6
Friday 12/11 - Sunday 12/13
Friday 12/18 - Sunday 12/20

Santa Claus will be in the center of Sinnissippi Park to wave and say hello to your family as they roll through this years Festival of Lights.  Santa is Sponsored by WHEELS BY R.T.!

Right before you get to Santa, there will be a red mail box where you can put your letters to Santa in.  We have a special delivery courier that will deliver them to the North Pole.  Make sure to include your return address so Santa and his elves can write you back! 
​Postage not required...the spirit of Christmas is all the postage you need.
Make sure to get those letters put in the special mailbox by December 19th so that your child will receive a response!

How to Become a FOL Vendor

Underwriting costs for the displays are:

Build and Install your own display: 
$75 for Schools, Non-profits and Churches 
$125 for Social Clubs
$175 for Businesses
All monies collected help us sustain this event and the 4th of July Fireworks
​
Rental of a Committee-furnished display:
from $175 to $375*
*If you don’t have the time to build, put up and tear down a display, let the FOL committee do it for you with one of their rentals.  Please contact us with questions.  Rentals are based on a first come first served basis*
CLICK HERE TO BE TAKEN TO THE RENTAL INVENTORY PAGE
All monies collected help us sustain this event and the 4th of July Fireworks. 

Sponsorship's Are Also Available, But Limited!

GUIDELINES
​Guidelines For a Self-Installed Display
1.  All displays must relate to - "The Holiday Season & Spirit of Christmas"
2.  Please use LED C7 or C9 light bulbs or LED string lights.  This will make your display much brighter and conserve energy.
3.  All maintenance of the display is the sole responsibility of the participant.
4.  Displays must be durable and built to withstand the weather such as high winds, ice, rain and heavy snow.
5.  Participants furnish all materials for the design and construction of their displays.
6.  To allow for snow plowing, each display must be constructed twelve (12) or more feet away from the road and at least off the ground by 6”.
7.  Advertising for your company name will be limited to the 2' x 4' sign provided by the Festival of Lights Committee.  No other recognition signage will be allowed as part of your display.  The sign will read "Display Courtesy of Your Company Name"
8.  A maximum of four 75-watt (LED) spotlights per display are allowed and they must be mounted at a minimum of 12" off the ground to avoid moisture damage.
9.  Each display will have a minimum lighting requirement of 500 light bulbs.  If string lights are used, we recommend using strings that do not go out completely when one light fails.
10.  All monies collected help us sustain this event AND the 4th of July Fireworks.
11.  Once approved by the FOL Committee, you will receive an email from 4thandlights@gmail.com, you can start setting up your display beginning November 1st.  All Displays must be setup no later than November 17th.
12.  All displays MUST be torn down no later than January 10, 2021.  There will be a $300 fine for anyone that leaves their displays up after the tear down time forcing the FOL committee to remove it.
​13.  No Inflatables.

FOL Official Entry Form

Download the Entry Form below and return with your payment to:
728 N Prospect St, Suite 107
​Rockford, IL 61107
2020 FOL Official Entry Form
File Size: 261 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
2020 Participating Businesses
Click on their names to direct you to their websites!
Rockford 4th of July Committee
Chicago Rockford International Airport
Campbell Science
MEIJER
BMO Harris Bank
Wheels By R.T.
B103 The Christmas Radio Station
WTVO 17 / FOX 39
Johnny Pamcakes
​​​​Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
Laura M Hunt & Associates
Eckburg Insurance Group​
Envoy Mortgage
Key Realty
Midwest Pest Control
Caraotta Chiropractic Orthopedics
Lantern Therapy Services
Swedish American Health Systems
HAAS Towing​​
Comfort 1st Insulation & Energy Solutions
Radon Reduction Technologies
Luxury Kitchen & Bath Design Studio
United Brotherhood of Carpenters
City of Loves Park
​JAMS Restored Furniture
Rock House Kids
Rock River Anything That Floats Race
United Brotherhood of Carpenters, Local 792
St. Angel Real Estate & Insurance
Believers Bible Chapel
Northern Illinois Masonic Lodge
Westminster Presbyterian Church
Our Saviors Lutheran Church
Holy Family Catholic Church
Key Realty - Eckburg Team
Allen Much Appliance Repair
Alderman Frank Beach & Family
 Steve's Custom Cut-Outs
Screw City Jeeps 815 
​The Family of Joe Marino
​2019 Participating Businesses
Click on their names to direct you to their websites!
Rockford 4th of July Committee
The Family of Joe Marino
Waterside Financial Advisors
Laura M Hunt & Associates
Eckburg Insurance Group
Envoy Mortgage
Prairie Street Brewing Company
Ingersoll Cutting Tools
Midwest Pest Control
United Brotherhood of Carpenters
Wheels By R.T.
HAAS Towing
University of Illinois - Extension
Winnebago County Republicans Central Committee
Northern Illinois Masonic Lodge
Allen Much Appliance Repair
Comfort 1st Insulation & Energy Solutions
Rock House Kids
Holy Family Catholic Church
Our Saviors Lutheran Church
Westminster Presbyterian Church
Key Realty
Rock River Anything That Floats Race
DeMarco & Co. Hair Productions
St. Angel Real Estate & Insurance
Believers Bible Chapel
Painters Local Union 607
Junior League of Rockford
Special-T Engraving
Radon Reduction Technologies
Luxury Kitchen & Bath Design Studio
City of Loves Park
Mike the Magician
Transform Rockford
Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
Caraotta Chiropractic Orthopedics
GE Aviation Air Management Systems
JAMS Restored Furniture
Key Realty - Eckburg Team
Alderman Frank Beach & Family
 Steve's Custom Cut-Outs 
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