Looking to streamline your holiday shopping? Here are 10 upcoming Rockford-area events

With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, the holiday shopping season is about to begin.

While more and more people are opting to get their shopping done online, the Rockford area is chock-full of holiday shopping events.

The events help make shopping seamless while showcasing local businesses, Rockford-themed gifts and locally sourced products.

Here are a few to get on the calendar.

Holiday Blitz

What: The Holiday Blitz arts and craft show features more than 60 crafters and vendors under one roof inside the Stateline Sports Center in Machesney Park.

Date: Nov. 18-19

Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Address: 7939 Burden Road, Machesney Park

Cost: $1 per person

Last-Minute Market

What: The Last-Minute Market is a pop-up shopping experience that features local gifts, arts and crafts inside Edgebrook shopping center. Features items include gift baskets, Rockford City Tins, jewelry, dolls, Amish pastries and skincare products.

Date: Saturday, Dec. 9

Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Address: 1639 N. Alpine Road, Rockford

Cost: Free

Stroll on State

What: Regarded as the state’s best holiday festival, Stroll on State also falls on Small Business Saturday. That means strollers have an opportunity to visit downtown Rockford’s local merchants for an array of holiday specials to get a jump start on their holiday shopping.

Date: Nov. 25

Time: 2 to 9 p.m.

Address: Downtown Rockford

Cost: Free

Mistletoe Walk

What: The Mistletoe Walk in downtown Freeport showcases local businesses and their selection of holiday gifts. Downtown will be filled with holiday decorations and music while a tree-lighting ceremony will take place at noon at the Stephenson County Courthouse.

Date: Nov. 18-19

Time: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Address: Downtown Freeport

Cost: Free

Rockton Christmas Walk

What: In addition to the holiday light display, annual Hot Cocoa Crawl and parade, local businesses come together during the Rockton Christmas Walk to provide one-of-a-kind shopping events and exclusive experiences.

Date: Dec. 1-3

Time: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday; 7 a.m. to End of Lighted Parade, Saturday; 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday

Address: Downtown Rockton

Cost: Free

Rockford Christmas Market

What: The Rockford Christmas Market is a pop-up holiday shopping event in the parking lot of Redeemer Church in Loves Park. This event features items made by artisans from around the world, including leather goods, soaps, candles, ornaments, pottery, purses, apparel and jewelry.

Date: Nov. 11

Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Addres: 5501 Windsor Road, Loves Park

Cost: Free

Holiday Merry Market

What: Holiday Merry Market is a pop-up holiday shopping event inside the Rockford City Market building. The event features two floors of local vendors, seasonal drinks and live music.

Date: Nov. 25 (Stroll on State), Dec. 9

Time: 2 to 9 p.m.

Address: 116 N. Madison St., Rockford

Snømarket 2023

What: Snømarket is an annual holiday party that transforms the alley behind The Norwegian restaurant into a Nordic fishing village. There are vendors, horse-drawn carriage rides, games and an array of Nordic food.

Date: Dec. 15

Time: 3 to 9 p.m.

Address: 1402 N. Main St., Rockford

Yule Market

What: Wolf Hollow's Yule Market features a visit from Father Christmas and 11 local vendors: The Herbal Oracle, Three Moon Brooms, Reverent Henna, Sacred Stones Rune Readings, Phantom Nagini Creations, Tazo Gallery, How Meta, Witchy Adornments, The Art of Dena Tullis, Clandestine Crystals and Oddities of Jade Rose.

Date: Dec. 3

Time: Noon to 4 p.m.

Address: 3800 E. State St., Rockford

Handmade Market

Handmade Market brings more than 50 vendors together at downtown Rockford's Prairie Street Brewing Co. for a day of holiday shopping. There will be live music, food, free family photos and a visit from Santa Claus.

Date: Dec. 10

Time: Noon to 5 p.m.

Address: 200 Prairie St., Rockford

Jim Hagerty covers business and other general news topics for the Rockford Register Star. Email him at jhagerty@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Check out these 10 Rockford-area holiday shopping events