Nan Kording

On Friday, Nov. 2, join Sonya Jones, a speaker, author and a finalist on NBC’s hit weight-loss reality show “The Biggest Loser,” for a party celebrating the launch of her book, 44 Lessons from a Loser. The book includes stories from Sonya’s life on and off the “Biggest Loser” ranch, where in 2015 she came […]

On Friday and Saturday nights in October, experience the horror of the Extreme Haunted Hayrides and Zombie Paintball Rides, located in Riverside Park, just two blocks north of Dirksen Parkway at 4700 N. Peoria Road. During the Extreme Haunted Hayrides, hearse-pulled thrill-seekers will travel along the Sangamon River and through the woods. During the Zombie […]

Don’t miss the performance that kicks off the Illinois Symphony Orchestra’s 2018-2019 season on Saturday, Oct. 20, at 7:30 p.m. in Sangamon Auditorium. The ISO’s Bicentennial Celebration concert features pieces that celebrate the Illinois Bicentennial, such as Joan Tower’s first “Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman,” an adventurous piece that pays tribute to female risk-takers; Aaron […]

On Friday and Saturday evenings in October and the first Friday and Saturday nights of November, see why the Boo Crew Haunted House and Trail of Lost Souls are rated as one of the top five haunted house attractions in Illinois. This high-tech theatrical haunt, owned and operated by the Rochester Lions Club, is no […]

Explore Springfield’s burgeoning craft beer scene during the Drinkin’ Lincoln Craft Beer Walk. These three-hour tours, hosted by Springfield Walks, are open to participants ages 21 and up and feature three stops in Springfield’s historic downtown Levy District. At each stop, brewers will explain the tasting notes and backgrounds of their beers and provide insight […]

On Saturday, Oct. 6, enjoy 90 minutes of hilarious improvised comedy and song by Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Jeff B. Davis and Joel Murray, four of improv’s biggest names and the current cast members of the Emmy-nominated television show titled “Whose Line is it Anyways?”. Following a similar format to the long-running television program, audience […]

Gather the family and spend a gorgeous day (or two) in Cawley Meadow at Lincoln Memorial Garden for the annual Indian Summer Festival. This seasonal festival, a favorite among locals, features craft vendors, a fairy woodland, opportunities to create a fairy house or tree troll, pumpkin painting, crafts and face painting for children, family photo […]

On Thursday, Sept. 27, attend the opening reception for “Let the fancy,” the new exhibition at the UIS Visual Arts Gallery that is inspired by the John Keats poem of the same name. The exhibition features mixed-media artworks by regional and national artists that assert the richness of “fancy” materials and designs juxtaposed in a […]

Take in three days of family fun during the Prairie Land Heritage Museum Fall Festival and Steam Show. This seasonal festival features bandstand performances, daily demonstrations and displays, as well as the opportunity to tour attractions such as a general store, one-room schoolhouse, sawmill, blacksmith shop, museums and Liberty Church. Additionally, there are many opportunities […]

Celebrate the fall harvest during the annual Apple ‘n Pork Festival at the C.H. Moore Homestead DeWitt County Museum in Clinton. The family-friendly event, which began 50 years ago with a pot of soup and a stack of sandwiches, has expanded to become one of the most popular festivals in downstate Illinois. The festivities include more […]

Visit the Illinois State Museum on Saturday, Sept. 22 for a fun family event that celebrates the plants and animals of Illinois via games, activities and crafts. Children ages 5 and up are invited to learn about famous women scientists, plant their own native plants, and take in two live animal presentations by Wildlife Prairie […]

On Tuesday, Sept. 25, take in a panel discussion regarding the Displaced Persons Act of 1948, an act that directly impacted the ethnic composition of Illinois with the influx of a large Lithuanian population in Chicago and Springfield. The panel features Robert Vitas, Sandy Baksys, Devin Hunter and Heather Bailey, and will examine the ways […]