Winter garden Volunteers and local designers spent countless hours hanging Christmas lights
and ornaments to create Memorial’s Festival of Trees. The festival, a Springfield tradition since 1990, is put on
by the Memorial Medical Center Foundation. The theme of the festival is “A Winter Garden” and it features more than 100 decorated trees and wreaths sprawled amid
snowflakes and poinsettias. The winter dreamscape comes complete with a village
made of gingerbread houses, a tower of teddy bears and the rich smell of iced
gingerbread cookies. Live music by local musicians will be the soundtrack for
the holiday magic.
SaturdayNov 22-30
Memorial’s Festival of Trees
Orr Building
Illinois State Fairgrounds
217-788-4301
www.MemorialsFestivalofTrees.com
10am-8pm, Thanksgiving Day 4-8pm
$5 adults, $2 children
Dancing starz Local movers and shakers are doing the salsa (among other dances) to raise money
for the Prairie Art Alliance at ‘Dancing with the Starz’. The event titled an “Evening of Art, Dance and Fun,” brings together nine local celebrities including Cecilia Tumulty, Springfield
city clerk, Victoria Clemons, director of Downtown Springfield, Inc., Bruce
Beeman of Wolter, Beeman and Lynch law firm, and others to show off their dance
moves. Voting jars are placed around the stage, and the audience gives money to
the celebrity and dance coach they want to win. The top three dance teams with
the most cash go on to the final dance-off. The competition features music by
the Kevin Turner Trio.
SaturdayNov. 22
Dancing with the Starz
Hoogland Center for the Arts
420 S. Sixth St.
217-544-1787
www.scfta.org 7-11:30 p.m.
$65 floor seating, $50 balcony
Rick Springfield Some know him as Dr. Noah Drake on General Hospital, but music lovers know him as Rick Springfield, the guy who made the song Jessie’s Girl a cult classic. On tour to promote Venus in Overdrive, his latest CD, Rick Springfield is stopping in the Land of Lincoln to perform
singles off the new album. Venus in Overdrive hit the 28th spot on the Billboard charts, Springfield’s highest album debut in 20 years. The ranking has given him momentum as he
declares his celebrity status with appearances on Chelsea Lately,Entertainment Tonight, and The Early Show performing his hit song What’s Victoria’s Secret. The rocker that is known for his 80s hits is setting out to prove that he can
make a mark on the new millennium.
Sunday Nov. 23
Rick Springfield
Sangamon Auditorium
UIS
217-206-6160
www.sangamonauditorium.org
8 p.m.
$52-$57
Cherryholmes Christmas The Cherryholmes bluegrass band has had an outstanding year and wants to share
holiday joy with fans at Cherryholmes Christmas. Their latest album,
CherryHolmes II Black and White, debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top Bluegrass chart, making the group the cream of the bluegrass crop. Before
the Cherryholmes were created many of the members never played an instrument,
but they were determined to have success. Their determination paid off, because
in 2005 they were named IBMA’s Entertainers of the Year and nominated for a Grammy in 2006. Now, they are
taking time out to enjoy the holidays as they put a little bluegrass in
traditional Christmas songs.
SaturdayNov. 22
Cherryholmes Christmas
Sangamon Auditorium
UIS
217-206-6160
www.sangamonauditorium.org
8 p.m.
$37 adults, $35 seniors, $20 children
This article appears in Nov 20-26, 2008.
