Capital City Bicentennial CelebrationJuly 3-4 What happens when Abraham Lincoln meets the 21st century? The Capital City Bicentennial Celebration. The inaugural event fuses the Springfield Jaycees Capital City Celebration, Taste of Downtown and the Secretary of State’s Ice Cream Social in a two-day festival that also continues the celebration of Lincoln’s 200th birthday. The 16th […]
Special Issues
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Things will be great when you’re downtown . . . Chicago
Remember Petula Clark? She used to sing, “The lights are much brighter there, You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares. So go downtown, things’ll be great when you’re downtown — no finer place, for sure downtown — everything’s waiting for you.” It is fun to kick the dust off your shoes, grab […]
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The American game
Not a full year after the first organized baseball game was played in New Jersey’s Elysian Fields, in 1846, poet Walt Whitman is said to have written of the fledgling sport, “I see great things in baseball. It’s our game, the American game.” In the years since Whitman penned that line, baseball would indeed become […]
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Play in Peoria this summer
For some, a trip to the Peoria area is sheer Par-A-Dice, as they seek to fatten their pockets on the riverboat. While the riverboat is a popular spot, the river city, about 70 miles north of Springfield, has a variety of fairs, festivals and museums for the entire family. For example, you may bask in […]
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Visit Missouri’s Hermann and Hannibal for river lore
For a river adventure with a bit of history, fiction and mystery, take a weekend and hit two Missouri landmarks, Hermann and Hannibal. Start with the farthest point and head for Hermann, then catch Hannibal on the way back. The trip will take less than three hours and if you head for Pittsfield and over […]
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See Oliver and Abe outdoors this summer
Summer theater in our area gets better every year and this summer looks promising with a not-to-be-missed new production of an old favorite: Forever This Land at New Salem, Carly Shank’s take on Oliver! at the Muni and a top-notch cast in Into the Woods in Jacksonville. Muni Opera opens its season with Oliver! (June […]
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Bike and run, a pace for everyone
As the summer sun emerges and time-consumers like Lost and Dancing with the Stars end (just for the season!), the capital city’s trails and parks come alive with walkers, joggers and bikers. Some are veterans. They’ve been doing this for years, know their split times and don’t mind donning spandex. Others are more casual. They […]
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Autumn amusement
If you’re looking to get into the maze craze this fall, we have great news — Springfield will host its very own 10-acre corn creation. If that’s not enough, it’s even cut into the shape of Abraham Lincoln’s face to tie in the capital city’s Bicentennial celebration. Eric Hansen, pastor of the iWorshipCenter, came up […]
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Haunted hot spots
No kids allowed. It’s a strict requirement of Garret Moffett’s new October tour, “R-Rated Springfield.” “If you enjoy TV shows like ‘The Sopranos,’ then you will enjoy this,” says Moffett, the owner of Springfield Walks. “It’ll be fairly mature subject matter — we’ll be talking about murder and some rapes.” Moffett wanted something new for […]
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Fall classics
While there is no shortage of great prep gridiron action or NFL team spirit in Springfield, the capital city’s offering of college football leaves something to be desired. Sure, Urbana-Champaign and Memorial Stadium are a quick jaunt, but after last year’s trip to the Rose Bowl, Illini tickets are at a premium. If you’re ready […]
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Fall Guide Calendar
Determined to put an end to the rumor that there’s nothing to do in central Illinois, we reached out across the region to identify a bevy of fairs, festivals, concerts, art exhibits and historic events sure to entertain, enlighten and educate. We hope you enjoy our 2008 Fall Guide Calendar and the hundreds of listings […]
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Visit Postville, where Lincoln argued cases
Despite local opposition, in 1929 Henry Ford bought and dismantled the courthouse in Postville and had it set up again at his Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Mich. The courthouse became more valuable to the community when they learned they were going to lose it, says Shirley Bartelmay, coordinator of the Postville Courthouse State Historic Site […]
