Posted inArts & Culture

A sailor meets the Tongan people

Sharon Graf, associate professor of ethnomusicology at University of Illinois Springfield, will speak on the culture of the little known geographic area of Tonga. Her presentation is based on participant observation data collected in Tonga and other Pacific islands in 2010-11 and follow-up fieldwork completed in 2017. Graf will examine the interactions between local artists, […]

Posted inArts & Culture

Al-Anon Family Groups

Alateen is a peer support group for teenagers who are struggling with the effects of someone else’s problem drinking or drug use. At Alateen meetings, teenagers meet to share their experiences and help find solutions to problems, learn effective ways to cope with difficult circumstances and to encourage one another. Al-Anon is a mutual support […]

Posted inArts & Culture

Poetry and Fiction

The Vachel Lindsay Association is offering a poetry and fiction writing camp for students aged 13 to 18. Students will study basic elements of poetry and experience a broad range of classic and contemporary poetry. They will use the study of those poems as a springboard for their own work.  The students will also learn […]

Posted inArts & Culture

243 Years and Counting

Where to begin?  It seems that the IT calendar is full of holiday happenings for this year’s Fourth of July.  You can choose to go big with live music, food galore, bustling crowds and spectacular fireworks displays at hot spots such as Knight’s Action Park, Rock the Dock at the marina or at the Levitt […]

Posted inArts & Culture

Community Block Party

The Springfield Art Association (SAA) is hosting a community block party where you can paint the streets of downtown. Each registrant will receive a 6×6 foot square to paint solo or with family, co-workers, clubs or sports teams – up to six painters can work on one square.  The painting will begin at 12 p.m. […]

Posted inArts & Culture

Shakespeare meets the Jazz Age�

This comedy, written by William Shakespeare in the 1590s, portrays the events surrounding the marriage of Theseus, the Duke of Athens, to Hippolyta, including the adventures of young Athenian lovers and a group of amateur actors who are controlled and manipulated by fairies who inhabit the forest. This particular adaptation of Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed […]

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Concert season

Municipal bands are a tradition in many towns and cities nationwide, and Springfield is fortunate to have one. In fact, for over 80 years the Springfield Municipal Band has been providing summer entertainment for devoted followers and fans. The band is managed by Ken Pratt who has a bachelor’s in music theory and jazz studies, […]

Posted inArts & Culture

History Comes Alive

The history of cricket goes back to 16th century England. It later made a successful leap across the Atlantic and eventually made its way to this area by the early 1800s. For a time, it was almost as popular as baseball. Visitors to Edwards Place can try their hand at this venerable English tradition with […]

Posted inSpecial Issues

Summer Celebrations

Want to escape the heat of the city and see what is going on in other parts of central Illinois? Some small towns put on big summer events and they are worth the extra miles to get to them. If you decide to venture beyond Springfield proper, check out these fairs, festivals and celebrations. Assumption […]

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