Experience the glowing artistry of 2,000 hand-carved, illuminated jack-o-lanterns featuring the carving talents of area residents, artists and District 186 students. The hollow pumpkin lanterns decorate the carillon and botanical garden areas Friday and Saturday night, hosted by the Springfield Park District, Rees Carillon Society and Rees Memorial Carillon. Food vendors will be available. Free […]
IT Picks
Posted inArts & Culture
Glowing characters
Electroluminescent crayon-like creatures light up the stage in a blackout setting. Described as children’s ballet or opera, this theater experience crosses dance, song and light show with a sort-of-full-body puppetry. The story begins with Professor Henslow, a famous scientist with magic powers who brings to life his newest creation and dinosaur friend, Darwin.The tale tells […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Tale telling
This weekend’s coming up stories and tales. Saturday at the Old State Capitol, storytellers include Anne Shimojima of Morton, who delights youth and adult audiences of all sizes with her graceful and spirited tellings of folktales from her Asian heritage and around the world; Linda Gorham, who inspires audiences by using movement, humor and sometimes […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Family party
The Springfield YMCA offers free, fun activities and entertainment to the community Friday evening. Don’t miss the carnival games, DJ, prizes, face painting, giveaways, family swim, hotdogs, nachos, popcorn and more. Concessions are available for a small fee. St. John’s Children’s Hospital sponsors this family festival. YMCA Fall Family Festival Friday, Oct. 165:30-8:30pm YMCA701 S. […]
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Great gourds
Here’s a festival that grows bigger each year. Girard harvested 400 pumpkins for this Saturday’s fest held on the town square. Go on a hay or pony ride, enter the pumpkin painting or carving contest, smash a car, see the winning pet or child costume and so much more. The air/human/mechanical powered pumpkin chunkin contest […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Fall revelry
Welcome autumn this weekend at Lincoln Memorial Garden’s Indian Summer Festival. The ambience starts as you tuck your car between two trees in the woods. Then stroll out of the forest into the clearing where musicians, food, craft vendors and activities galore immerse you in the sights, sounds and smells of harvest time. The kids […]
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Pumpkin play
Illinois is the pumpkin capital of the world. Come and learn about it. Is it a fruit or a vegetable? Are pumpkins always orange? What can you do with a pumpkin besides eat it? Recommended for ages 4-8, this Saturday program features ongoing activities that take 30 to 45 minutes to complete and feature take-home […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Independent living
Two Springfield women star in this touching and informative documentary airing Friday on public television station WILL-TV. The show takes a rare look at the unusual relationship between Diana Braun, who has Down syndrome, and Kathy Conour, who had cerebral palsy and died Sept. 19. Some would call these two women profoundly disabled, but they […]
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Fossil bonanza
Shark Attack, featuring shark fossils, is the 2009 theme of Springfield’s Lincoln Orbit Earth Science Society’s rock, gem, fossil and mineral show this weekend. Expert, collector and lapidary exhibitions, demonstrations and activities span the Illinois Building. This is a fun and informative family-oriented exposition. LOESS Rock, Gem & Fossil Show Saturday, October 310am-6pmSunday, October 410am-5pmIllinois […]
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Sharp-edged humor
Jerry Seinfeld bursts upon Sangamon Auditorium stage Friday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. Hailed as “the best comedian of our time” in a Washington Post article, the comic revisits his first love — stand-up comedy — after a successful television career in the late 80s and 90s on the popular show “Seinfeld.” Running for nine […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Traditional folk
Sangamon Auditorium, UIS comes to life Wednesday night as the Virsky Ukrainian National Dance Company highlights the beauty of its native Ukraine presenting a diverse concert program stocked with bright-colored costumes, a wealth of traditions and energetic, fast-paced and elevated dance moves. Young and old alike will find this choreographed folk dancing fascinating and exciting. […]
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Angelic harmony
International Irish music phenomenon, Celtic Woman, graces Sangamon Auditorium for the second leg of the “Isle of Hope” tour. Named number one top world music artist by Billboard Magazine, the multi-platinum group consisting of four vocalists — Chlo, Lisa, Lynn, and Alex — perform, along with Celtic violinist Máiréad, their heavenly renditions of Irish standards, […]
