Family & Supporters Weekend

Join us for a special behind-the-scenes look at the creative process behind Forgottonia – An Intimate Portrait of Rural Illinois. In this educational session, award-winning rural photographer Tim Schroll will share the inspiration, research, and artistry that brought this unique multimedia performance to life.

Blending historically grounded narratives, personal storytelling, and evocative black-and-white photography, Forgottonia captures the spirit and slow transformation of rural Illinois. This session will explore how Schroll's images and lived experiences were translated into a compelling live production featuring music and visuals that honor the often-overlooked heart of the Midwest.

Attendees will gain insight into rural documentation as both an art form and an act of cultural preservation. Whether you're a fan of photography, music, history, or storytelling, this educational component invites you to engage more deeply with the themes of memory, place, and belonging at the center of Forgottonia. This event is free and open to the public.

Start the semester off right at Game Night. Briggs Library will have over a hundred really fun board games available to play like Ticket To Ride, Settlers of Catan, Carcassonne, Risk, Pandemic, Throw Throw Burrito, and Telestrations. A giant Jenga tower and Twister mats will also on-hand.

A Magic the Gathering Commander draft tournament will be held starting at 6:30 p.m. This event is co-sponsored with the Magic the Gathering Club.

There will be a free Magic the Gathering Commander Tournament. Informal registration begins at 6:00 p.m. Play starts at 6:30 p.m. Prizes awarded for the top 2 finishers as well as one random drawing winner.

HOME GAME — Women's Soccer vs University of Wisconsin – Superior

HOME GAME — Men's Soccer vs University of Wisconsin – Superior

Chris Vallillo presents: Forgottonia — A Theatrical Multi-Media Portrait of Rural Illinois

Join award-winning singer-songwriter, folklorist, and former archaeologist Chris Vallillo for Forgottonia—a powerful and poignant theatrical journey into the heart of rural Illinois. This multi-media production weaves together 35 years of Vallillo’s original music with vivid storytelling and striking black-and-white photography by renowned rural photographer Tim Schroll, creating a compelling and intimate portrait of West Central Illinois.

Named after the tongue-in-cheek 1972 protest in which sixteen counties declared themselves the independent nation of "Forgottonia" to draw attention to regional neglect, this show explores the culture, history, and resilience of a place both overlooked and deeply loved. “The plan was to secede, declare war on the U.S., surrender immediately, and apply for foreign aid,” Vallillo recounts. “It was nothing but political theater—but it worked.”

With masterful fingerstyle and slide guitar, Vallillo’s performance is steeped in authenticity and deep respect for rural traditions, yet never feels confined by the past. Accompanied by mandolinist Don Steirnberg and bassist Marc Edelstein, Forgottonia brings to life the voices and stories of a vanishing era, offering a soulful celebration of community, identity, and the land that shaped them. Whether you’re a native Midwesterner or simply curious about the spirit of America’s heartland, Forgottonia is a must-see tribute to the power of place and the people who call it home.

This event is brought to you by the Campus Activities Council Performing Arts Series.