Cowboy camp is Rockome's newest event that will run each Saturday (March 1 - October 25) from 10 am to 4 pm. Pre-registration by 3 pm Friday is required with a minimum of 6 total participants and not more than 10. Individuals and families are welcome! A $65 fee is paid in advance and includes two simple Cowboy Campfire meals plus admission to Rockome Gardens. Applicants will be taught Cowboy basics like riding, roping, branding, and driving. There is an age limit of 8 years old for this activity. Are you a retiree looking for a fun weekend activity? Couples, love horses or watching cowboy movies? Come experience the adventure for yourself! Horses and gear provided. Contact our cowboys at cowboys@rockome.com.

March 29 the Ms. Arcola Pageant is at Rockome.  There are 4 age divisions: Little Ms., Junior Ms., Teen, and Ms. Arcola.  The show starts at seven and usually lasts three or more hours.  A plated chicken or ham dinner will be available in the Rockome restaurant before the show, from 3-7.  This event is sponsored by the Arcola Chamber of Commerce and Rockome.

April 19th, May 24th, August 9th and September 13th the doors open at 10 am for Rockome's Old-Fashioned Quilt Auction. Come view the quilts before the auction starts at one. An Amish auctioneer will be calling for the sale. They will be sold to the highest bidder.  A large selection of quilts will be available for auction.  Most of them will be hand-made items.

April 26 & 27 the Tri-County Flying Club will have a large display of remote control planes.  If the weather permits, they will also have flying demonstrations.

April 26th & 27th and October 25 & 26 Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday 10 am to 4 pm, come see the Makin' Tracks Model Railroad & Swap Meet. There will be dozens of vendors buying selling, swapping new and old model trains, items, supplies and memorabilia. Come see realistic operating layouts in many gauges.

April 26th & 27th is also Rockome Garden's Dog Days. You can adopt a dog from a No Kill Shelter, there is a dog show at 1 pm Saturday (sign-up from 11 am - 12:30 pm, bring your pup!), a police canine unit demonstration, and the famous Dave the Math Dog (as seen on the David Letterman Show) has an exhibit. Dogs get in free (includes Dog Show registration) with owner's paid admission. Activities will be held outdoors, weather permitting.

April 26th and September 27 at Rockome you can also take part in Horse Plowing Days. Many of the present day 'green farm techniques' are rooted in practices used in 'days gone by'. Learn how farming use to be done. Take part and try it out for yourself. Plowing is from 10am to 3pm.

May 3rd & June 7th Rockome will offer an event for those wishing to have some 'chicken fun' while helping support the Rockome Educational fund. Participants might walk away with winnings as well! Those interested will pay $1 to obtain one of twenty spaces, in the hope that the Rockome Chicken will pick their space to do its business on. All proceeds from this activity will go to support the Rockome Learning Foundation Inc. This helps fund educational/school groups and is tax deductable. Number of games each day is dependent upon the amount of available persons. You can pet and interact with our talented Rockome chicken before and after its performances in the Chicken Raffle.

May 4th is also the date of the first annual "Reflections of Dolls" Doll Show at Rockome. There will be an early bird opening May 3rd from 3-5 pm for those so inclined. The main show runs from 10 to 4 on Sunday with a special appearance by Joni Wannamaker from 10am to 1pm. Joni is the granddaughter of Johnny Gruelle (creator of Raggedy Ann and Andy) and will be signing licensed Raggedy Ann and Andy products. The show includes a vast array of dolls from antique (German and French bisque, china) to vintage (20's - 70's) to modern (Tonner, Essanbee, Lee Middleton, just to name a few). The show includes not only dolls, but doll accessories like furniture, clothing, and parts. Come remember with Rockome as you view these wonderful creations. There is a $5 fee to enter the show.

May 9-11, August 30-September 1, and July 11-20 is Rendezvous at Rockome. It features Mountain Man era reenactment from the early 1800's and the people who settled our country. Also available are hand-made items in the style of the times. There is free admission for mothers on Mother's Day, May 11. July 11 thru 20 is the Midwest Primitive Rendezvous. One of five national rendezvous held each year it covers the entire time line of 1750 through 1840. Daily events and competitions are scheduled throughout the week.  Listen to tale tales, clap your hands and stomp your feet to the music, enjoy some tasty treats, and make new friends. Learn More!

May 16-18, June 20-22, July 25-27, Aug 8-10, Sept 19-21, Oct 10-12 Flea Market composed of artisans, collectibles and antiques.  Call Larry at Rockome (217) 268-4106 to reserve a booth. If you are interested in setting up for the market the cost is $50 for 2 tables Saturday and Sunday.  Fridays are free.  Each additional table is $10.  We ask that you bring quality goods only please.

May 17 & 18 and June 21 & 22 bring the kids for a weekend of old fashioned fun. Try games and entertainments from times past. Spend time with the kids during a weekend of family fun at our Kidfest.

May 24th thru 26th is Indian Powwow at Rockome. The drums will be beating all weekend at the park. Come see the colorful dress of the dancers. Learn more!

May 30th thru June 1st is our 50th Anniversary Celebration. We have special entertainments planned that should be enjoyed by all, including a parade at 1pm. There will be free admission Sunday, June 1st. We plan to have a bit of cake and ice cream for everyone!

June 6-15 is a favorite time of Cross Stitch enthusiasts to come to Rockome. This year our National Counted Cross Stitch Show will be no exception. We've got a great Show planned for you with stitching seminars taught by nationally known instructors, stitching judged competition, NCCSS Marketplace, country evening stitching activities and much, much more! We have a whole booklet for it online here. See the list of 2008 winners here.

June 7th & 8th Rockome is hosting a Big Fish Contest. There will be divisions by age group. You can fish at Rockome whenever you like, but this time you have a chance to win! Our pond is out back of the Trading Post and free gear is available for use.

June 14th and 15th is Lincoln days at Rockome. You can hear stories about Lincoln and his life. You might even meet some members of Lincoln's family there for the occasion. Hear things you never knew about this fameous man.

June 21 - 22 and August 16 - 17 Holy Hands Ministries Puppets and Drama will be performing at 2:30pm in the Gardens.  Holy Hands Ministries reaches out to others with the “Good News” in their productions.  Their puppet show is based on Bible stories or principles.

June 28th & 29th is our WWII reenactment of the liberation of Caen. You can tour the occupied French town. Available for view will be Axis and Allied camps. There will be WWII vehicles on display that will be used in the battle. Public battles will be twice on Saturday and the final on Sunday, with skits all day in the town. Make sure to keep your French ID handy at all times. If you're curious, a reenactment enthusiast, or just like men in uniform, come to Rockome and see the event. There will also be a USO show Saturday night in the style of the 40’s, but it will only be open to those 21 and older as there will be a bar available. Learn More!

July 4th thru 13th is the 32nd Annual Quilt Celebration at Rockome. On display will be a variety of quilts, many hand made by local quilters. This week long event includes an East Central Illinois Shop Hop July 10-12. View the Quilt Celebration Booklet! View winners of the Quilt Celebration!

July 19th is Rockome's Horse Pull event. It gives visitors a chance to observe and learn about what horse power originally meant thru an ages old competition of horse pulling. There will be at least six groups of teamsters and their horses scheduled for the competition. Visitors are encouraged to ask questions about the various equipment. The event is planned to begin at 1pm.

July 23rd thru 27th Rockome hosts Wildlife Encounters. Due to its popularity last year, this event featuring exotic animals will return. Trained handlers will give detailed narratives about the animals and answer questions. Last year the event included a bear, hawks, snakes, and others.

August 1st thru 3rd is the Farm Toy Show at Rockome from 10 am to 5 pm. Come see a wide selection of toys both vintage and modern. They are available for trade or purchase. Also during the show is a Consignment Sale at 1 pm on August 2nd.

August 2 is the Volleyball Tournament.  Entry fee is $55 for a team, or $50 each if you enter 2.  It’s free to come watch the games.  The games start at 9am and we'd like to have the teams registered at least 2 days in advance. For more info call Duane at (217) 254-9184.

August 23 & 24th is the weekend for Bluegrass in the Gardens. Come listen to old country music from the hills. It'll get your toes tappin' and your head bobbin'. The Bluegrass Festival presents a great opportunity to enjoy national, regional, and local touring bands in a family friendly atmosphere. This is a chance to catch some impromptu jam sessions.   Our groups this year include Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike, The Wright Sisters, The Harmans, The Bankester Family, Common Ground, Diamond Hill Station, Tommy Brown & Country Line Grass and Cornfields & Crossroad.

August 30 & 31 the Coles County Regulators will be performing Cowboy skits and entertainments in Old Bagdad town at Rockome. They will also answer questions and display some cowboy horse riding equipment. It will be a fun time with black powder shooting and the Regulator's antics.

September 13 the Heartland Cloggers hit the stage. They go beyond toe tappin' to down right foot stompin' fun. Based in Peoria, this all female group has won many awards and always put on a good show.

September 13 is also the date for Rockome's 2^nd Annual Car & Truck Cruise-In.  The show runs from 10am – 5pm.  Music by DJ Todd Futz @ 12 & 2. A wide variety of cars will be on display.  Car registration starts at 10am with a $10 entry fee which includes admission for the day.  We’ll have Dash Plaques, Top 30 Awards, Best of Show, and Door Prizes.  You can remember the old days while viewing the examples of classic cars.

September 27 & 28 is the Wine & Cheese Festival. We will have an array of Illinois Wines to sample and cheese to go with it. You are welcome to come enjoy to day and see what the vines of Illinois have to offer.

Paired with the Wine & Cheese Festival is Rockome's Art on the Lawn September 27 & 28. This event features local and national artists.

October 10 & 11, 17 & 18, 23 - 25 and 29 - 31 it's time to get your spook on at Rockome. Sign on for the Graveyard Shift. Come join us!

In addition to the normal Graveyard Shift, we are also proud to be accepting forms for the Graveyard Shift Film Festival! GET YOUR FORMS HERE!