By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Get ready to send the city back to the 1940s.
That was when the Rockford Peaches made their debut in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, where the team competed from 1943-1954.
Next weekend, in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the July 1, 1992, release of the movie “A League of Their Own,” Rockford is turning back time.
There will be a Suds Bucket Bash modeled after the 1940s bar and dance hall in the movie, a street fair with music and cars from the era, a showing of the movie in Davis Park, youth baseball activities, a celebrity softball game and the premier of the new Amazon Prime series at the historic Coronado Performing Arts Center. You can see a full list of events below.
“This show will take us back to the 1940s and reintroduce us to the Peaches,” said John Groh, president and CEO of the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We hope that this new series is wildly successful (and) that it can run for years to come. That would be a great way to continue to shine a positive light back on the community.”
Related: ‘I think Rockford will be proud’: New Amazon series shows different side of Rockford Peaches
Mayor Tom McNamara on Tuesday proclaimed July 1 and 2 “A League of Their Own 30th Anniversary Celebration Days” in the city.
“‘A League of Their Own’ really put the city of Rockford on the map in a whole lot of ways,” McNamara said Wednesday. He hopes the events help remind people of “the impact the city of Rockford had and the wonderful women of the Peaches had in really helping uplift our entire country at a really difficult time.”
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Groh said the city hopes to have writers, producers or other talent from the show at the premier on July 2 at the Coronado, but no names have been confirmed yet.
For now, they’re focused on filling the 2,309 seats in the historic theater for the show’s local debut, which comes more than a month before it hits Amazon Prime on Aug. 12. You can get free tickets to the premier at coronadopac.org/events after 3 p.m. today.
Groh said the visitors bureau also continues to invite Amazon to film future portions of the show in Rockford.
“I know they had some interest in doing so, but it is also a business and we understand that,” Groh said.
Related: See it before it hits Amazon: ‘A League of Their Own’ to premier at Coronado in Rockford
The first season was filmed largely in Pittsburgh. Groh said Illinois lawmakers’ action to extend film tax credits and make changes to make those credits more competitive with other states could bode well for future filming here.
“In this case Pennsylvania had very strong tax credits,” he said. “Now the tax credits that have been put in place in Illinois will be equal to if not better than those in Georgia and in Pennsylvania.”
The visitors bureau is also working on a website that will help visitors to Rockford find places of historical significance to the Peaches.
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The full slate of events July 1 and 2 kick off a busy weekend before the Fourth of July. Cathy Headley, an associate professor at Rockford University who serves on the International Women’s Baseball Center Board, said it’s fitting to kick-off Fourth of July weekend with events celebrating America’s pastime.
“Rest on the third and go back out on the Fourth,” she said. “That’s why it’s a great weekend for baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and whatever you want to drive.”
That will make Sunday, July 3, a day of rest before Ted O’Donnell, Tom Luepkes and their crew take over on Monday for Fourth of July festivities.
“We get through all this and we still have the Fourth of July to celebrate on top of it,” said Jim Keeling, who is part of the organizing committee for the 30th anniversary celebrations. “It’s going to be just awesome.”
Celebrating the Rockford Peaches
There are multiple activities centered around the 30th anniversary of the movie “A League of Their Own,” which brought the Rockford Peaches to the silver screen in 1992, and the new Amazon Prime series with the same name. Here’s a look at what’s planned:
Celebration night at Rockford City Market
When: 4 p.m .to 8:30 p.m. Friday, July 1
Where: Rockford City Market pavilion and indoor market, 116 N. Madison St., Rockford
Cost: Free
The Suds Bucket Bash
When: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, July 1
Where: The Standard, 214 E. State St., Rockford
Cost: $100 per person (400 person capacity)
About: Join Megan Cavanaugh, who played Marla Hooch in the 1992 film, for a special 1940s-themed event named after the dancing at the Suds Bucket scene in “A League of Their Own.”
Tickets: Get tickets on Eventbrite here
Friday Night Flix | “A League of Their Own”
When: Doors open 7 p.m., movie starts at dusk Friday, July 1
Where: Davis Park, 320 S. Wyman St., Rockford
Cost: Free
Major League Baseball Play Ball
When: 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, July 2
Where: Beyer Stadium, 245 15th Ave., Rockford
Cost: Free for kids ages 5-12
Tickets: Register online at playball.org/events
About: Join Major League Baseball and the International Women’s Baseball Center at historic Beyer Stadium for a free introductory baseball and softball event.
IWBC meet and greet
When: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, July 2
Where: Beyer Stadium, 245 15th Ave., Rockford
Cost: Free
About: Meet the people being the International Women’s Baseball Center, which is working to bring an activity center and museum to Beyer Stadium site.
Celebrity softball game
When: Noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 2
Where: Beyer Stadium, 245 15th Ave., Rockford
Cost: Free
Premier of “A League of Their Own” series
When: Street fest goes from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; show plays at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 2
Where: Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford
Cost: Free
Tickets: Get your free tickets at coronadopac.org/events
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas.