Rockford’s Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens celebrates one year Oct. 27-29

Online Staff Report

Happy anniversary! It has been one year since Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens, 1354 N. Second St., Rockford, opened to the public on Oct. 29, 2011. Since opening day, roughly 50,000 people have come through the doors.

“Thank you to everyone who has visited the Conservatory or attended a special event!” said Ruth Miller, Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens facility manager. “We experienced a lot of ‘firsts’ together, including weddings, birthday parties, anniversaries and special memorials. We love seeing the familiar faces come back again and again.”

Anniversary celebration events and activities

The conservatory will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 27, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 28. In honor of this special time, Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens will serve cake at 11 a.m. both days, and celebrate with a weekend filled with pumpkin-themed activities.

Watch Scott “The Pumpkin Gutter” Cummins make a simple pumpkin come to life. Cummins will also provide some inside scoop on how he turns this fall staple into a work of art.

Saturday, Oct. 27, schedule

The following events and activities are free with admission:

• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Live pumpkin carving with “Pumpkin Gutter” Scott Cummins

• 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — Make-It, Take-It: Pumpkin Painting

• 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. — @Nicholas; Nature crafts and activities

Sunday, Oct. 28, schedule

The following events and activities are free with admission:

• 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Live Pumpkin Carving with “Pumpkin Gutter” Scott Cummins

• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Make-It, Take-It: Pumpkin Painting

• 1 to 2 p.m. — Storyteller Richard Meeks

For information about events and programs, visit www.nicholasconservatory.com.

Posted Oct. 26, 2012