IT Picks

DANCING | Salsa nights This New Year’s Eve shake your hips to the mambo, move your booty to the rumba and get spicy with salsa at the National Image Inc. Central Illinois Chapter New Year’s Eve Salsa Night. The event benefits the organization’s scholarship funds, but like most parties is has a ripple effect. After […]

Concert | Holiday magic When The Roxy Group decided to put on a holiday show they wanted to give Springfield an unforgettable experience of Christmas splendor and joy. The result is “Christmas Wishes,” a musical revue of American carols and tap dancing that is sure to entertain crowds. Hard work went into building beautiful scenery […]

Concert | Prairieland Voices Holiday Concert Celebrate Christmas with music from the French Renaissance at the annual PrairieLand Voices Holiday Concert. The concert, titled Joyeux Noël, features Messe de Minuit pour Noël, is a 40-minute mass composed by Marc-Antoine Chapentier. The piece is based on Christmas carols from the 16th century that are set to […]

Christmas parade The Springfield Jaycees and Ansar Shrine are celebrating this holiday season with the return of the annual Christmas Parade. The parade was canceled last year because of the weather, but the show will go on this year, rain or shine. This year’s theme is “Holiday Scenes from the Big Screen” and the committee […]

Winter bells Ring in the holiday season with the sound of Bells in Motion. This Saturday, the progressive handbell ensemble will play classic holiday melodies like The Nutcracker, Carol of Bells and Silent Night. The Springfield-based Bells in Motion is known for jazz-inspired performances, and for bringing originality to every performance. The 17-member group combines […]

Winter garden Volunteers and local designers spent countless hours hanging Christmas lights and ornaments to create Memorial’s Festival of Trees. The festival, a Springfield tradition since 1990, is put on by the Memorial Medical Center Foundation. The theme of the festival is “A Winter Garden” and it features more than 100 decorated trees and wreaths […]

Small world Taste the sweet meat of northern Africa and admire the traditional kimonos of Japan at the 31st annual International Festival. As a part of International Week at UIS, the International Student Association and Office of International Student Services host the annual festival to embrace various traditions and cultures. This year’s theme is Harvest […]

African rites Musicians from Togo, Senegal, Guinea, Ghana, Benin, The Ivory Coast and Mauritania have come together to preserve the arts of West Africa. In an exciting display of ethnic pride, The Song and Dance Ensemble of West Africa will perform oral and musical ritesunique to its people. The sound is a combination of Congolese […]

Alien invasion Before there was TV there was radio and when reports of aliens landing were sent across the airwaves the nation went into chaos. In 1938, when Orson Welles broadcast War of the Worlds, thousands were frightened as they listened to reports of an alien attack. Descriptions of a meteorite landing in Grover’s Mill, […]

Halloween debut Dress the kids to win as they debut their costumes during “Halloween at the Market.” Springfield Moms is holding a costume contest complete with prizes. First place in each category receives a $40 gift card, second-place winners receive a $20 gift card and third-place winners receive a $15 gift card. Categories are ages […]

Rock fiends A cult following and hardcore lyrics are all The Misfits need to rock a show. Performing hits like “American Psycho” and “Monster Mash,” the classic three-chord progression of The Misfits is sure to set Springfield on fire. The band was formed in Lodi, N.J., in 1977. They resurrected from a 10-year breakup to […]

Political circus It’s politics as usual in Washington, D.C., until two brothers decide to change the game. Lincolnesque, a political satire written by John Strand, takes a poignant look at politics and what happens when delusion meets ambition. Leo writes speeches for a mediocre candidate and needs inspiration. Things get interesting when he begins to […]