IT Picks

Lincoln Home National Historic Site invites the community to attend a special performance of A Message at Midnight, a one-act play set on Christmas Eve of 1864. Celebration is far away from the mind of President Abraham Lincoln as he awaits the news from General Sherman as the general marches towards Savannah, Georgia. A victory […]

The winter solstice occurs when one of the earth’s poles has its maximum tilt away from the sun thus creating the longest night of the year in the Western hemisphere. Since ancient times, people all over the world have recognized this astronomical occurrence and celebrated the subsequent return of the sun in a variety of ways. […]

Volunteers have decked the halls of one of Springfield’s oldest homes, the Elijah Iles House, to help show how Christmas was celebrated in the 19th century and how it evolved from the 1840s through the 1890s. The open house will feature live readings of an 1866 Christmas story with Thomas Nast illustrations, live music by […]

After being closed since early October for renovations, the Illinois Governor’s Mansion will be reopened just in time for the holidays. Built in 1855, the Illinois Governor’s Mansion is one of the oldest and most historic governor’s mansions in the United States. The mansion serves as the official residence of the governor of Illinois, a […]

Individuals of all ages are invited to sing holiday carols accompanied by the carillon bells during the 38th annual Caroling at the Carillon event at the Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon. Seasonal interludes will be provided by the Trinity Wind Ensemble while guests enjoy a roaring bonfire plus complimentary cookies and hot cocoa. Santa will visit […]

After a five-year hiatus, Design Ideas is bringing back its holiday store to Springfield. All the merchandise is sold at a loss and Design Ideas covers the overhead to operate the store so that all proceeds can be donated to local charities. The four nonprofit organizations splitting this year’s sales are The Animal Protective League, […]

Soprano Awet Andemicael will debut with the Illinois Symphony Chamber Orchestra to perform Alleluias written by Vivaldi and Mozart, and paired with the sounds of Corelli’s Concerto Grosso and Haydn’s Thirtieth Symphony “Alleluia.” Andemicael has sung across the United States, as well as in Europe, Asia and Africa. The Illinois Symphony Orchestra is central Illinois’ […]

Each month, the Illinois State Museum hosts the Paul Mickey Learning Series which features a variety of topics and expert speakers. This month Duane Esarey, director of the Illinois State Museum at Dickson Mounds, will discuss the Mississippian history of central Illinois during the 11th through 14th centuries. The history of the Mississippian people of […]

Memorial Medical Center’s Festival of Trees is celebrating its 30th season as a central Illinois holiday highlight. In addition to bringing holiday cheer to all ages, the annual festival also raises money for health-related projects and programs at Memorial Health System and in the Springfield community. Since 1989, the festival has raised more than $5.3 […]

In Greek mythology, Daphne is a nymph who is transformed into a tree to save her from the god Apollo’s unwanted advances. That moment of Daphne’s transformation from a woman into a tree has been repeated throughout art history. Eleanor Spiess-Ferris’s figures often are depicted as hybrid creature – part human and part natural form. […]