Outdoor music on a Midwestern summer day or night is always worth the winter’s wait. Any self-respecting community festival will have live music, and almost every day, bars and restaurants open their patios for local musicians to showcase their talents. Of course, music festivals are the powerhouse entertainment sources around here, and the perennial local […]
Stacie Lewis
Posted inArts & Culture
Liturgical Arts Festival returns to Springfield
The study of religion is fascinating because it is inherently the study of all the social sciences. But it is the many living, breathing faith traditions that show us the beauty of belief and our shared commonalities in life. These vibrant faith traditions help us to understand the relationship between human life and the natural […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Something for everyone to enjoy
Romance, drama, nostalgia or a few good laughs – be it a musical or dramatic stage production, our local theater scene has all the feels covered. Running March 22-24 at the Hoogland Center for the Arts, Nightmare at the Hot Mess Hair Salon takes you on a nostalgic jaunt through the early 2000s pop culture […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Downtown holiday happenings
The excitement of the holiday season returns with a whirlwind of holiday activities and shopping when the much-anticipated Old Capitol Holiday Walks kicks off on Nov. 25 for Small Business Saturday. You’ll find downtown storefronts of locally owned businesses, restaurants and bars beautifully decorated in traditional and contemporary Kwanza, Hanukkah and Christmas decorations. Inside each […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Lots to do at Lake Springfield
In the 1930s, the city of Springfield got busy building a lake. From the time that John Kelly settled in the area in 1818 through the next 115 years or so, it had been a struggle to provide a safe and adequate water supply for the city’s growing citizenry. So, the city built a lake, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Ways to celebrate Juneteenth citywide
Illinois’ newest state holiday is a 158-year-old celebration of freedom. Although Juneteenth has been celebrated in Springfield for over 20 years, it did not become an official state holiday until 2021 when Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill to commemorate June 19, 1865, the date when the last enslaved Black people in the U.S. learned […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Ways to celebrate Juneteenth citywide
Illinois’ newest state holiday is a 158-year-old celebration of freedom. Although Juneteenth has been celebrated in Springfield for over 20 years, it did not become an official state holiday until 2021 when Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill to commemorate June 19, 1865, the date when the last enslaved Black people in the U.S. learned […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Summerguide 2023 calendar
ONGOING Farmers Market Sundays, June 25, July 2, 16, and 30, Aug. 6 and 20, 10am-2pm. Farmers market plus a flea market, crafts and food trucks. Call for more info. Knights of Columbus, Riverton, 335 S. Fourth St., 217-494-3366. Extended Summer Sensory-Friendly Visit Times Tuesdays, 9am-12pm, through Aug. 29. Reduced lights and sounds on exhibits to create a […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Summer stage offerings
It is always interesting to see what is on the horizon in the theater world. In the summer, theaters sometimes lighten their fare with comedies and musicals, which tend to draw a different type of audience, filling the seats with more families and people who do not usually attend. Springfield’s summer theater scene reflects that […]
Posted inArts & Culture
The jewel of the Midwest (plus a gay day)
Every booth is a gallery in itself; each one showcasing a different medium, a different form of expression and a different intent of artistic output. The artists within those individual galleries come together each year for the Old Capitol Art Fair, one of the most popular juried art shows in the country. Whether you are […]
Posted inArts & Culture
A new way to explore Illinois’ capital city
Springfield is an historic place with interesting people of the past who helped shape not only the physical city around us, but also our culture as it has evolved since the early 1800s, and our response to and participation in national events. We don’t have to look far to find the places that are keeping […]
Posted inArts & Culture
On stage this spring
It’s not going to take long for the theater and music scene to warm up this spring, but in a bit of a twist, the first theater production of the season is on ice. The Springfield Figure Skating Club’s Spotlight on Ice Show takes place on March 18 and 19 at the Nelson Center Ice […]
