Springfield, get ready for a circus like no other. Cirque Italia’s “Water Circus” is in town, featuring an international cast and crew of aerialists, jugglers, clowns, acrobats, contortionists and others performing a high-energy show with a custom-designed, traveling stage holding 35,000 gallons of water. The first show is 7:30 p.m. Friday. “We are not like […]
Arts & Culture
Posted inArts & Culture
Astronomer
A tribute to Charles Schweighauser, a University of Illinois professor emeritus of astronomy and physics who died July 14 at the age of 88. We audited Charlie’s classes from Mercury to the Oort Cloud and beyond; we helped burn his prairie so that new prairie could prosper. We kept secret where his telescope, (state-of-the-art) was […]
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WWII Illiopolis ordnance plants
Thelma L. Ball, compiler, Illinois Munitions: A News Journal of the Oak & Sangamon Ordnance Plants, 1942-1950, Illiopolis, Illinois. Self-published, 2025. 350 pp., illustrations, newspaper list, index. Illiopolis today considers itself a village, with a population of 846 recorded in the 2020 census. It was even smaller in 1942 – about 700 people – when […]
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UIS launches $42.5M Library Commons project
Excitement is growing at the University of Illinois Springfield as construction is underway on the new Library Commons building. The publicly funded project was made possible by a $42.5 million investment from the state of Illinois. The three-story, 52,000-square-foot building is being built next to the Student Union and is expected to open in 2027. […]
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Springfield boy places first in statewide photography contest
Ten-year-old Jerry Feng of Springfield took home top honors in the 2025 Cream of the Crop Photo contest, which encourages young photographers to share their vision of agriculture in the state. State Treasurer Michael Frerichs hosted a reception Aug. 8 in the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s tent at the Illinois State Fairgrounds to honor the first-place winners. […]
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When beer was banned at the Illinois State Fair
Acting on complaints from church groups and parents, the administration of Gov. William G. Stratton prohibited the sale of beer at the 1953 Illinois State Fair. The ban on beer, as well as on any other alcoholic beverage, remained in effect for the next 21 years. “People don’t want a state fair that smells like the […]
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Where to see the Budweiser Clydesdales
Springfield-area residents will have numerous opportunities to see the iconic Budweiser Clydesdales, both at the Illinois State Fair and several special appearances. Springfield is one of the stops on a cross-country tour to celebrate 15 years of partnership between Budweiser and Folds of Honor, a nonprofit organization that provides families of fallen or disabled U.S. […]
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Take the kids to see Shrek: The Musical
Opening night for Shrek: The Musical at The Muni, directed by LaDonna Wilson, had the Muni parking lot filled for the first time this summer. More than 1,400 tickets were sold, and it’s not surprising as to why – in an otherwise adult-themed show lineup, Shrek: The Musical stands out as a wholesome but funny […]
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Sketch unexpectedly dark, Pickup too ridiculous, Naked Gun a worthy successor
Sketch effectively colors outside the lines With its stable of inspirational movies, religious animated features and overt sports-as-life metaphor movies, Angel Films has gained a foothold in the entertainment industry as the source of faith-based films. Obvious in their marketing and intent, the studio has found great success in appealing to church groups to promote their […]
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Found Poem
I was a counselor (girls period) at Phantom Lake Y Camp I took my goat, still a kid. The campers all joined the “Rocky Club” to keep Rocky out of trouble. They could not keep her from skidding out onto the dock during swimming, sometimes even falling in! The last night of camp when all the […]
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Take the family to the fair for a fair price
A trip to the Illinois State Fair can be an expensive endeavor, especially with family in tow. Thankfully, there are a multitude of ways to maximize value and get the most out of your fair experience. “We offer over 160 hours of free entertainment each day,” Illinois State Fair Manager Rebecca Clark explained. With so […]
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Three days of events commemorate 1908 Springfield Race Riot
The city of Springfield will honor the legacy of the 1908 Springfield Race Riot with a three-day observance next week at various locations. The event will feature presentations, walking tours, a film screening and ceremonies as city residents “reflect, reclaim and remember history.” The first day, Thursday, Aug. 14, begins at 9:30 a m. with […]
