

# Event Details

- **Event Name**: Dexter Patterson Meet & Greet, Book Signing and Program
- **Event Start and End Date**: Wed, 18 Feb, 2026 at 03:00 pm – Wed, 18 Feb, 2026 at 07:00 pm
- **Event Description**: A Call To Bird Joy!

Natural Land Institute is excited to celebrate Black History Month by bringing author Dexter Patterson to the Rockford community to share his passion and experiences of birding and writing his new book, Birds of the Great Lakes, published in October of 2025. 

Patterson will be on hand to meet and mingle with guests and sign his books before and after his program at 5:30 p.m. in the Sullivan Theatre at the RPL Nordlof Center. 

-Buy book: $17
-Get the author to sign your book
-Mingle with other nature and bird lovers
-Family and all ages friendly
-Learn about birding - birding is for everyone!
-Bird themed children's activities (4 - 5:30 pm)
-Cookies, Hot Cocoa and coffee available before the program
-Free or $50 VIP Tickets
-Please register in the tickets link before Feb. 18th

This delightful and compact field guide is Patterson’s personal call to bird joy! He says, “The sights and sounds of birds in their natural habitats awaken our senses and remind us of the beauty and diversity of life around us.” Check out his The Bird Joy Podcast that he co-hosts with Jason Hall.

Self titled “Bird Nerd” and co-founder of the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, Patterson, will share his enthusiasm for birding with the audience, inspiring them to look for and learn about birds while spending time in nature.

Event Timeline 
3:00 p.m. – VIP Reception: a priority meet and greet before the public with the author and book signing on stage. Receive a seat in the VIP section in the auditorium during the program and one copy of Birds of the Great Lakes with each $50 VIP ticket purchase. Limited tickets for this available.

4:00 p.m. – Lobby opens for information tables, refreshments, book sales, with kids activities on the second floor.

5:30 p.m. – Dexter Patterson begins his program on the stage of the Sullivan Theater

6:30 p.m. – Book sales and signing after the program in the lobby

COST: Free general admission and $50 VIP tickets.

More information and register here by Feb. 17th: 
https://www.naturalland.org/event/dexter-patterson-meet-greet-book-signing-and-program/

Thank you to all of our supporters for making this event happen:

Grant support received from Gemini Solar

PROGRAM Sponsors: Patrick Yarbrough and Sinnissippi Audubon Society, Rockford Park District

PARTNER Sponsor: Forest Preserves of Winnebago County

SUPPORTER Sponsor: Northwest Illinois Bird &amp; Nature Alliance

Coffee and Hot Cocoa Sponsored by Wired Cafe

Cookies Sponsored by Zammuto's Drive-In &amp; Carry-Out

Venue and Event Promotional Support Provided by Rockford Public Library

Kids Activities and Crafts by:
Nature at the Confluence
Natural Land Institute
Sinnissippi Audubon Society
- **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/rockford/dexter-patterson-meet-and-greet-book-signing-and-program/200029524901849
- **Event Categories**: art, kids, literary-art, theatre, black-history-month, meet-and-greet, meetups, drive-in
- **Interested Audience**: 
  - total_interested_count: 66

## Ticket Details

- **Ticket URL**: https://www.naturalland.org/event/dexter-patterson-meet-greet-book-signing-and-program/?utm_source=AllEvents.in&utm_medium=event-discovery-platform&utm_campaign=rockford-events

## Event venue details

- **city**: Rockford
- **state**: IL
- **country**: United States
- **location**: Nordlof Center
- **lat**: 42.271754628616
- **long**: -89.094387883973
- **full address**: Nordlof Center, 118 N Main St, Rockford, IL 61101-1102, United States

## Event Organizer details

- **affiliate_id**: 2
- **organizer**: Natural Land Institute (https://allevents.in/org/natural-land-institute/2882780)

## Event gallery

- **Alt text**: banner
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events9/banners/0e4ac19451900354eb36dccb1c3399f14a732abe4cd38a211d5763ed753066c1-rimg-w1200-h800-dcd9dad9-gmir?v=1771258979
- **Alt text**: thumbnail
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events9/banners/299616cd99166335a8e76a870a5c39a54594e7216d455710b8dd307e833dc1e3-rimg-w300-h300-dceae8e0-gmir?v=1771258979

## FAQs

- **Q**: When is the event happening?
  - **A:** Wed, 18 Feb, 2026 at 03:00 pm
- **Q**: Where is the event happening?
  - **A:** Nordlof Center, 118 N Main St, Rockford, IL 61101-1102, United States
- **Q**: Who is organizing the event?
  - **A:** Natural Land Institute
- **Q**: What type of event is this?
  - **A:** art, kids, literary-art, theatre, black-history-month, meet-and-greet, meetups, drive-in
- **Q**: Where can I find ticket details about Dexter Patterson Meet & Greet, Book Signing and Program ?
  - **A:** You can find ticket details about this event on AllEvents.

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