IT Picks

On Tuesday, July 18, enjoy a presentation and book signing by New York Times reporter Peter Baker in honor of his new book, an Obama biography titled Obama: The Call of History. Baker was hired by the New York Times in 2008 as chief White House correspondent. Baker covered the entirety of the Obama presidency […]

Central Illinois theater lovers are in for a treat this July, as Springfield’s Legacy Theatre has been selected as one of 12 regional theater groups across the United States to receive licensing rights for Disney’s hit Broadway musical titled Newsies: The Musical. The show, based on the real-life newsboy strike of summer 1899, follows charismatic […]

Join the Illinois State Museum and the Organization for Bat Conservation on Saturday, July 8, for the Illinois Bat Festival, a division of the Great Lakes Bat Festival, which celebrates bats and their unique role as insect-eaters in ecosystems. The festival is geared towards children, families, educators and ecology professionals, and will feature presentations, speakers, […]

Agriculture is at the forefront of the 2017 Assumption Fest, the annual small town festival hosted by the Assumption Fest committee that grows bigger and better every year. One new feature at this year’s Fest is the Farm Extravaganza, which showcases agricultural-related machinery and educational and informational displays created by the farming community along with […]

The fun begins bright and early this Fourth of July in Jacksonville. Nichols Park will once again be the site of the annual Fourth of July Blast, a family-friendly celebration featuring fitness activities, live entertainment, kids’ attractions, fireworks and much more. The kids’ fishing tournament will kick off the festivities at 7 a.m., followed by […]

As part of their mission to offer programs and spaces where teens and children can explore and engage with history in a fun way, the Springfield and Central Illinois African-American History Museum’s education committee is hosting a Teen Poetry Slam Friday, June 23, from 6-10 p.m. All area teens are encouraged to compose and perform […]

On Friday, June 23, the Elijah Iles House kicks off its annual “Summer Porch Chat” series with a roundtable discussion centering on Abraham Lincoln’s father, Thomas Lincoln. Two conflicting schools of thought regarding Thomas Lincoln’s character have been laid out by scholars since the first Abraham Lincoln biography was penned in 1865. The first describes […]

Don’t miss War Games, a one-day event organized by Lizzie Roehrs, a junior communication major at the University of Illinois at Springfield and current intern at the Illinois State Military Museum. War Games is an interactive event where attendees can talk with reenactors and historians, examine historical equipment popularized in video games such as “Call […]

Step back in time on Saturday, June 17, and take in an afternoon of America’s pastime in accordance with 1860s rules and uniforms. The Vintage Baseball Festival will begin at noon and features three old-school baseball games played by three local teams. Game one begins at noon and features the Springfield Long Nine versus the […]

The Sangamon County Fair has made some exciting pricing changes for the 2017 season. General fair admission has been lowered, and will cost $10 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and $5 on Sunday. Admission is free to patrons ages 3 and under every day. Sunday is military day, which grants free admission to active duty […]

Experience the golden age of aviation by flying on the Ford Tri-Motor, the plane that revolutionized luxury commercial airline travel. The Ford 4-AT-E aircraft, nicknamed the “Tin Goose,” is available for rides Thursday from 2-5 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. After its first flight on Aug. 21, 1929, […]

On Saturday, June 10, join Our Vibrant Community in Enos Park for a free bike parade designed to increase visibility for cycling as participants inventively decorate their bikes into art bikes for a group ride. From 1-3 p.m., participants will undergo bicycle safety training and decorate their bikes creatively for the parade, led by Andrew […]