Party on the Rock Downtown

How many times have heard someone say, "There's nothing to do in downtown Rockford?" Maybe you have even uttered that phrase yourself. I can't stand hearing that. There's usually great music to be heard, comedy at Kryptonite on Tuesdays, City Market is good way to kick off the weekend on Friday nights during the summer, great restaurants, and the mighty Rock River among other things.

Join us Thursday night (7/24) at the Verdi Club for the Party on the Rock. This is a fundraiser for the Winnebago County 9/11 Emergency Responder's Memorial. Ground was broken in the past week on the memorial that is set to open on September 11, 2016. The site is at W. State Street and Kilburn, near the Winnebago Country Justice Center.

There are three sculptures that were commissioned. A firefighter, policeman and an emergency responder. The memorial will pay tribute to local responders who have lost their lives, along with those who died as they saved lives during the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The memorial will include steel from the World Trade Center.

This process has taken some time, but ground has been broken, sculptures started, and an end date has been set.

The Party on the Rock begins at 5 p.m. at the Verdi Club, 782 N. Madison St. downtown Rockford.

• Miles Nielsen and the Rusted Hearts
• Gaelic Fury Irish Pub Band featuring REACT helicopter pilot Danny McDade
• Food, eats, beer tasting
• Raffles and Silent Auction
• Grand Finale Fireworks over the Rock River

Tickets are $25 and go directly to helping build the Winnebago County 9/11 Emergency Responder's Memorial.

You can win one of five pairs of tickets to the Party on the Rock just by liking for commenting on our Facebook post.