IT Picks

Springfield Ballet Company presents Rockballet featuring the music of the 1970s – including Queen, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Electric Light Orchestra, Sly and the Family Stone, Heart, Wild Cherry and many more. Since its 1994 debut, SBC’s annual production of Rockballet continues to be daringly different. The brainchild of SBC Artistic Director Julie Ratz Rockballet […]

For two nights only on the outdoor stage, hear the story of New Salem through the words of Lincoln’s contemporaries, traditional music of the era, and original songs composed by Mark Mathewson of Athens. Mathewson, a composer and musician with national credits, has also assembled bluegrass performers: Erich Schroeder, one of the best clawhammer banjo […]

The not-for-profit Prairie Grapevine opens their season with traditional music musician Bryan Bowers, a master of the autoharp, storyteller, singer/songwriter and performing artist. People magazine wrote, “Bowers is widely regarded as the leading virtuoso on the autoharp…. Bowers also has distinct gifts as a singer and songwriter.” The Washington Times said, “…This man makes more […]

Here’s your chance to savor food from around the world and listen to the music of other countries at the annual Ethnic Festival. Located in the southeastern edge of the fairgrounds, don’t miss this three-day world party. Ethnic FestivalFriday, Sep 3, 5-11pmSat-Sun, Sep 4-5, 12-11pmIllinois State Fairgrounds629-7871

American Originals is the theme to this year’s history festival under the big tent in Jacksonville. Each night opens with music, followed by historical re-enactments, dinner, music, storytelling, dance and more. Don’t miss reenactments by citizens from around the Midwest acting as your favorite historical figures: Edgar Allen Poe, Daniel Boone, Walt Whitman, Charles Fuller, […]

Double your pleasure, this festival hosts two sites – downtown Lincoln and Logan County Airport. The airport boasts a carnival, food and drink, and hot air balloons amassing for Friday and Saturday morning and evening flights with a glow at dusk. Fine art, craft and children’s art fairs, flea market, entertainment, Illinois wine tasting, parade, […]

A new Kid’s Zone near Sixth and Washington streets kicks up the Old Capitol Blues and BBQs a notch. Free kids entertainment and activities from 12-5 p.m. include: a juggler; a magician, a clown, a karaoke stage and more, including free juice, cookies and tote bags from County Market while supplies last. A baby-back rib […]

A Springfield Art Association reception Aug. 27 from 5-7 p.m. opens another volume on one of Springfield’s most unusual and interesting exhibitions as 36 artists from all over the United States show their unique handmade paper pieces. Don’t be fooled. This art doesn’t just sit flat like a sheet of paper. Paper and pulp was […]

The Hoogland’s production of the musical Chicago, directed by Doug Hahn and Gary Shull, and starring Anna Bussing as Roxie Hart, Mary Jo Curry as Velma Kelly and Gus Gordon as Billy Flynn, kicks off with a Gala on Aug. 27 at 6 p.m., where guests are encouraged to attend in formal wear or 1920s […]

Do you recall your dreams in the morning? In this POV documentary, Scottish science filmmaker Amy Hardie researches the world of subconsciousness and dreaming. The film follows her the year after she dreams her horse dies and in the morning the horse is dead, and later, dreams that she dies and then falls sick with […]

Twelve new juried artists’ works are featured at the Prairie Art Alliance Gallery II through August. Artists include: Steven Burkhart, Jennifer Davis, Toni Freeson, Marsha Gebhardt, Duane Judd, Ted Keylon, Mike Manning, Carolyn Owen-Sommer, Ken Pease, Michelle Smith, Karl Warma and Catherine Williams. Pictured is Ted Keylon (in his Francis B. Carpenter costume that he […]

Theatre in the Park presents five indoor performances of the Horton Foote Broadway comedy, Dividing the Estate. The two-act play involves three generations of a Texas family as they struggle over the family estate. The cast includes Nancy Cole, Felicia Coulter, Michael Coulter, Robert Davis, Toshianna Gorens, Patricia James-Davis, Marian Levin, Harvey Mack, Ed MacMurdo, Cassie […]