Fall Guide

The first golden leaves of autumn are just beginning to turn, but don’t put away those gardening tools just yet. There are still plenty of growing days left in the season. Indeed, late summer is the perfect time to plant quick-growing veggies that thrive in cooler weather. Spinach, radishes (especially vibrant pink and green watermelon […]

Growing up, my family were car camping people. Both my brother and I were involved with scouting, and my parents kept an up-to-date Kampgrounds of America (KOA) directory in the sideboard in the living room. I vividly remember one trip to the Outer Banks where it rained so much that the tent flooded and I […]

Art is a small word that belies the huge impact it has on a community. Art is a language that can connect diverse groups and individuals through both shared experiences and differences. It helps build community pride with cultural identity while introducing new ideas and perspectives. Art even has a role in economic development as […]

This theater season, you will find a variety of theatrical performances on our local stages keeping you entertained with plenty of drama, horror and comedy. These stage productions and improv shows are a great way to enjoy local talent, whether in a classic play or a modern musical. Hoogland Center for the Arts The Hoogland […]

Less than an hour from Springfield, Decatur offers a wide variety of ever-changing wonders for families with children in search of indoor and outdoor play. From the constructive playthings of the Children’s Museum of Illinois to the animals at the Scovill Zoo and woodland experiences of Rock Springs Conservation Area and Nature Center, discover Decatur […]

The set list is kept secret to heighten the anticipation. But if you like live music and dance with some art thrown in, you won’t be disappointed. Company dancers from the Springfield Youth Performance Group (SYPG), along with professional rock musicians, present the rousing “Rock the Conservatory” on Saturday, Sept. 13 at 8 p.m. The […]

Vendors, food, music, interpreters, pies and even a bike ride will be part of the Historic Marbold Farmstead Association’s annual heritage festival Sept. 7 and 8. The association’s goal has been to restore the Marbold mansion located at the edge of Greenview, Illinois. A little more than a decade ago, the mansion was a rundown, […]

After a great summer of outdoor music fests, it’s time to bring the most of the shows indoors for the autumn and winter season. And, when indoor concerts take place on the grand curtained stage of the oldest theater in town, in a Greek Revival cathedral, under a sea of lights of a modern stage […]

An NPR Morning Edition cohost and a California professor will be at University of Illinois Springfield to examine how Abraham Lincoln navigated political conflict and to apply those lessons to today’s America. They will make their case in presenting the popular Lincoln Legacy Lecture at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 12 in the UIS Student Union. Steve […]