IT Picks

Boo Bark Party and more Sat., Oct. 14, 11am-2pm Stuart Park, 1800 Winch Lane 217-544-7387 apl-shelter.org FUNDRAISERS AND SHOWS | “Howling good” times set this weekend for dogs, owners Humankind’s best friend takes center stage this weekend at three events happening in the capital city. Springfield’s “only Halloween Party” for dogs once again takes place […]

Get ready, Springfield. Hundreds of street machines, muscle cars and hot rods will rumble into the heart of the capital city starting Friday. They will be followed by thousands of spectators for a weekend of family fun, live music and entertainment. The festival, in its 22nd year, starts Friday with the Route 66 City Nights […]

Local playwright George A.M. Heroux’ musical tells the story of a widow and widower who meet while visiting the graves of their deceased spouses and what happens next. You can imagine the conflicts as adult children raise objections and the widower struggles over whether seeing another woman is “cheating.” Heroux originally wrote the play – […]

OK, oyster lovers, it’s time for that annual rite of summer – the Springfield Oyster and Beer Festival at the Inn at 835. Festival organizers are preparing a whopping 6,000 oysters for the event. Now that’s a whole lot of oyster shucking and char-grilling. Not into oysters? Not a problem. The event will feature 150 […]

This two-day, outdoor blues music festival offers something for everyone, from awesome blues tunes to mouthwatering barbecue delights such as ribs, pulled pork, brisket, wings and more. A dozen food vendors will be present. Don’t forget the craft brews and other thirst-quenching drinks to beat the heat. This year is the event’s 19th, and organizer […]

The Pillsbury Mills plant has been closed since 2001, but “office hours” are continuing there every Tuesday morning through Sept. 26. Former Pillsbury employees, neighbors, retirees and families are invited to spend some time with site owner Moving Pillsbury Forward in a shaded, indoor sitting area on the south loading dock. It’s all a part […]

Chatham’s big summer event featuring that delicious, golden food staple is almost here. Yes, we’re talking about none other than the long-running, annual Sweet Corn Festival by the Chatham Jaycees. Things start at 5 p.m. Friday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Little Miss Sweet Corn pageant, games for children, more than 70 vendors and, of course, […]

A show that chronicles Black history in America is heading to the capital city, thanks to the Springfield and Central Illinois African American History Museum. Chicago playwright and producer Ted Williams III’s 1619: The Journey of a People features three modern characters who lead the audience on a trip through time with performances set during […]

Imagine you and a sibling are actors in a traveling acting troupe. One day the group deserts you both at a dilapidated “state theater in a state unknown.” What happens next? That’s the scene for the partly autobiographical The Two Character Play by the great Tennessee Williams, who wrote it late in his career. The […]