AUGUST
1-2 Summer Festival of Films
Free weekly children’s film series. Illinois
State Museum, Mondays and Tuesdays, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. (217-782-5993,
www.museum.state.il.us)
2 Springfield Municipal Band Concert
Marches, classical, jazz, contemporary. Douglas Park,
7:30-9 p.m.
2-6 Children of Eden
Lincoln Community Theatre, Johnston Center for the
Performing Arts, Lincoln College
2-7 Logan County Fair
Lincoln (217-732-3311, logancountyfair.ccaonline.com)
3 AmerenCILCO Summer Serenades
Sally Weisenburg and the Famous Sidemen. Washington
Street between Fifth and Sixth streets (217-535-5111, www.ameren.com)
3 Wild About Reading
Henson Robinson Zoo. 1100 East Lake Drive
(217-753-6217, www.hensonrobinsonzoo.org)
3 Old Capitol Farmers’ Market
(217-544-1723, www.downtownspringfield.org)
PICK OF THE SEASON
Old Capitol Farmers’ Market
For those who don’t have a big backyard
garden, the next best thing is shopping at the Old Capitol
Farmers’ Market. And it’s much more fun — no
tilling, weeding, or watering involved. From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every
Wednesday and Saturday all summer long, downtown Springfield is
overflowing with fresh produce. The market, located on Adams Street
between Third and Fifth streets, just west of the Old State
Capitol, features more than 50 vendors offering everything from
flowers and honey to fruit, vegetables, and baked goods. You can
browse tables loaded with freshly picked mixed greens, mounds of
sweet melons, and boxes of ripe strawberries.
The market is not only a way to do your weekly
grocery shopping in the fresh air but also an entertaining,
educational social event. People walk their dogs or ride bicycles
with their kids through the streets. Local chefs conduct
demonstrations, using food found at the market, and offer free
samples.
The market, which began with 12 vendors and a
few tables, now encompasses two city blocks and showcases local
growers throughout the season. It’s a great way to meet the
people who are growing your food, ask questions, and get the
inspiration to begin that healthy diet you’ve been talking
about starting. For more information, call 217-544-1723 or visit
www.downtownspringfield.org.
3 Pied Piper Downtown Architectural Walking Tour
(217-544-1723, www.downtownspringfield.org)
3-14 Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat
Little Theatre on the Square, Sullivan (217-728-7375)
4 Springfield Municipal Band Concert
Marches, classical, jazz. Douglas Park, 7:30-9 p.m.
4-7 Oliver!
Jacksonville Theatre Guild, Sophie Leschin Theatre,
Jacksonville (217-245-1402)
5-6 Luther Allen Memorial Blues Fest
Fishbone Willie and Friends, Bobby Rush, Renee
Austin, Blueskillet, Backyard Tire Fire, John Lee Hooker Jr., Robin Crowe,
Dave Chastain Legacy Tour Band, Nick Boettcher & Co., Kilborn Alley
Blues Band, and others. Riverfront Park, East Peoria
(www.rivercityblues.com)
5-6 Fanfare
Kittie Moller, one of the top vocalists in St. Louis.
New Salem’s Theatre in the Park, Petersburg (800-710-9290,
217-632-5440, www.theatreinthepark.net)
5-7 Strassenfest
German music, car show, arts and crafts, rides, food.
Memorial Park, St. Louis, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. (314-771-8368)
5-7 Decatur Celebration
Arts and crafts vendors, multiples stages, carnival,
attractions. Decatur (217-423-4222)
5-7 Beauty & the Beast
Springfield Muni Opera, 815 East Lake Dr., $10
reserved, $6 adults, $5 seniors ($4 Thursdays), $5 students, $3 children 12
and under. (217-793-6864, www.themuni.org)
6 Clinton Bluegrass Festival
Heartbreak Mountain, Kara Sutherland and friends,
Diamond Hill Station, Blue River Canyon, Whippoorwill, and Rosa String
Works Band. DeWitt County Museum, Clinton, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. (217-935-6066)
6 Midstate Kart Club Arrive and Drive
First 60 who arrive, age 8 and over, can drive. $10
for five minutes. (www.midstatekartclub.com)
6 Summer’s End Dance Showcase
Troupe Zahava! Hoogland Center for the Arts, 7:30
p.m. $10 advance; $12 door (se05.zahava.org)
6 Old Capitol Farmers’ Market
(217-544-1723, www.downtownspringfield.org)
6-7 Springfield Men’s City Golf Tournament
Bunn Golf Course, Lincoln Greens
6-7 Prairie Tales at New Salem
Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site, New
Salem. (217-632-4000, www.lincolnsnewsalem.com)
7 Music in the Park
Modern Celtic Party with Stone Ring Circle, Bogside
Zukes, Central Illinois elks Pipe and Drums. Washington Park, 4-7 p.m.
Order picnic food from Conn’s Catering by noon Aug. 5 by calling
217-523-4466 (www.springfieldparksfoundation.org)
7 First Sunday Antique Marketplace
The Warehouse (217-467-2866, www.thewarehouse.us.com)
7 Teddy Bear Clinic
Henson Robinson Zoo, 1100 East Lake Dr.
(217-753-6217, www.hensonrobinsonzoo.org)
8-9 Summer Festival of Films
Free weekly children’s film series. Illinois
State Museum, Mondays and Tuesdays, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. (217-782-5993,
www.museum.state.il.us)
9 Springfield Municipal Band Concert
Marches, classical, jazz, contemporary. Douglas Park,
7:30-9 p.m.
10-14 Beauty & the Beast
Springfield Muni Opera, 815 East Lake Dr., $10
reserved, $6 adults, $5 seniors ($4 Thursdays), $5 students, $3 children 12
and under. (217-793-6864, www.themuni.org)
10 Old Capitol Farmers’ Market
(217-544-1723, www.downtownspringfield.org)
11 Visit Alpacas
Take a trolley ride at Apple Tree Acres Alpaca Farm
and Fiber, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at Starved Rock Lodge, Utica (800-868-7625)
12-14 Pippin
New Salem’s Theatre in the Park, Petersburg
(800-710-9290, 217-632-5440, www.theatreinthepark.net)
12-21 Illinois State Fair
Illinois State Fairgrounds (217-782-6661,
www.illinoisstatefair.info)
PICK OF THE SEASON
Illinois State Fair
To say that the Illinois State Fair offers
something for everyone is an understatement. If decorated-diaper
contests and tractor pulls aren’t your thing, on any given
night you can also sip wine, eat a steak dinner, or listen to the
soft sounds of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra. Or you can learn
about the state’s natural resources, bet on the horses at
nightly harness racing, or pet pygmy goats. You can partake of the
carnival rides, horse shows, farm animals, entertainment, and the
beloved butter cow (on display in the Dairy Building) and still not have
seen everything.
Springfield has been home to the state fair
for more than 100 years. The fair was first held in 1853 on the
city’s west side, and admission was 25 cents. The fair moved
to 12 cities before returning to Springfield in 1894.
The fair also offers a variety of free
entertainment, from roving characters to ballroom dancing, and
themed areas, including Key West and My Kind of Town Chicago, which
brings blues music and barbecue to the fairgrounds. Of course,
there’s lots of food. More than 200 vendors sell everything from traditional
corn dogs and lemonade shake-ups to such unique offerings as fresh
mango juice, cheese curds, giant turkey legs, and plenty of fried
things on sticks — from Key-lime pie to shrimp. You can enjoy
tastes from around the world at the Ethnic Village, which is also a
great place to listen to free daily entertainment, from Irish to
reggae. Once you’ve indulged your appetite, there’s plenty
of time to walk off the calories by strolling around the
fairgrounds’ 366 acres.
This year’s grandstand lineup includes
Brad Paisley with SheDaisy; Rascal Flatts with Blake Shelton;
Lynyrd Skynyrd with Cross Canadian Ragweed; REO, Cheap Trick, and
Head East; Velvet Revolver; and the Illinois Symphony Orchestra.
Five nights of music will be offered in the outdoor arena,
including a show by Blue Oyster Cult with Foghat and another by George Thorogood and the Destroyers, in addition
to three free nights of music and high-school-rodeo events. Arena and
grandstand tickets may be purchased at all Ticketmaster locations, as
well as by phone and online. To order tickets by phone, call
800-827-8927 or 800-359-2525 (TTY).
The ticket office opens June 4. For more
information, call 217-782-6661 or visit www.illinoisstatefair.info.
12-Sept. 23 Key Ingredients: America by Food
Traveling Smithsonian Institution exhibit, Christian
County Historical Society and Museum Grounds, Routes 48 and 29, Taylorville
(217-824-6922)
13 Adult Art Classes
Acrylics, portraits. Horsefeathers, Elkhart, 10
a.m.-2 p.m., $30 (217-947-2100)
13 Super Saturday
For kids 4-8. Illinois State Museum (217-782-6044,
www.museum.state.il.us)
13 Old Capitol Farmers’ Market
(217-544-1723, www.downtownspringfield.org)
13-14 Viva Voce!
1830s elections, Lincoln’s New Salem State
Historic Site, New Salem (217-632-4000, www.lincolnsnewsalem.com)
14 Ken Carlyle
Solo performer, Hill Prairie Winery, Oakford
(217-635-9900, www.hillprairiewinery.com)
15-16 Summer Festival of Films
Free weekly children’s film series. Illinois
State Museum, Mondays and Tuesdays, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. (217-782-5993,
www.museum.state.il.us)
17 Old Capitol Farmers’ Market
(217-544-1723, www.downtownspringfield.org)
18 Agronomy Day 2005
Tent displays, tours of agricultural research
facilities, Crop Sciences Research and Education Center, University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Tours begin every half hour from 7 a.m. until
noon. (217-333-4256, www.cropsci.uiuc.edu/agronomyday)
18-20 New Windsor Fair & Rodeo
Nationally ranked contestants, horse shows, parades,
rodeo run. Rodeo Park, 805 Washington St., New Windsor (309-667-2613)
18-20 Beauty & the Beast
Springfield Muni Opera, 815 East Lake Dr., $10
reserved, $6 adults, $5 seniors ($4 Thursdays), $5 students, $3 children 12
and under. (217-793-6864, www.themuni.org)
18-21 Pippin
New Salem’s Theatre in the Park, Petersburg
(800-710-9290, 217-632-5440, www.theatreinthepark.net)
20 Old Capitol Farmers’ Market
(217-544-1723, www.downtownspringfield.org)
20-21 Women’s Work is Never Done
Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site, New
Salem (217-632-4000, www.lincolnsnewsalem.com)
21 ARCA RE/MAX 100
100-mile stock car race. Illinois State Fairgrounds
(217-764-3200, www.arcaracing.com)
23 Adult Art Classes
Acrylics, painting a still life with sunflowers.
Horsefeathers, Elkhart, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., $25 (217-947-2100)
23-27 I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change!
Musical comedy at Marcia’s Waterfront
Restaurant, Decatur (217-422-7202)
24 Old Capitol Farmers’ Market
(217-544-1723, www.downtownspringfield.org)
26 Men in Tights
New men, new tights. Proceeds benefit Springfield
Ballet Company’s education and outreach programs. Hoogland Center for
the Arts, 7:30 p.m., $10 (217-523-2787)
26 Murder Mystery Dinner Theater
Hill Prairie Winery, Oakford (217-635-9900,
www.hillprairiewinery.com)
26 Tomatoes: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Taste tomato varieties, get tomato advice from an
expert, Cantigny Park, Winfield Road, Wheaton (630/668-5161)
26-27 Mennonite Relief Sale
Amish-crafted quilts, furniture, food and crafts.
Otto Center, Arthur (217-543-2242, www.prairienet.org/arthurreliefsale/)
26-27 The Dean Church Variety Music Show
From Branson, New Salem’s Theatre in the Park,
Petersburg (800-710-9290, 217-632-5440, www.theatreinthepark.net)
26-28 Hot Rod Super Nationals
More than 3,000 cars. Illinois State Fairgrounds
(317-236-6522, www.familyevents.com)
PICK OF THE SEASON
Pied Piper Downtown Architectural Walking Tour
Put on your walking shoes and take a closer
look at some of Springfield’s most interesting buildings from
a different perspective. On the first Wednesday of each month this
summer, local architecture expert Anthony Rubano of the Illinois
Historic Preservation Agency leads a walking tour around the
downtown area. This is the second year Rubano has donated his time
and expertise to the unique and popular tour, sponsored by Downtown
Springfield Inc.
Rubano, who takes a different route each month
and focuses on different buildings, says that many different
architectural styles, from Greek Revival to corporate modernism,
are found in downtown Springfield, and he explains how these brick-and-mortar examples connect to the larger
framework of the architectural history of America. He covers such basic
topics as architectural styles and building materials but also notes
minute details, such as intricate grillwork above a doorway, and less
obvious treasures, such as the Firestone Building on Sixth Street. Each
building has a unique story, and Rubano tells it in an interesting,
amusing way.
The free tours, which last one to two hours,
begin at 5 p.m. downtown in front of the Lincoln Herndon Law Office. In
July, the tour will begin at the Capitol Complex, in front of the
Lincoln statute.
Pied Piper tours are held July 6, Aug. 3, and
Sept. 7. For more information, call 217-544-1723 or visit
www.downtownspringfield.org.
26-28 Lincoln Art and Balloon Festival
Hot-air balloon launches, art fair, flea market,
carnival, and more. (217-735-2385)
27 Torchlight Auction
Fundraiser, silent and live auctions, dinner,
entertainment. Henson Robinson Zoo, 1100 East Lake Dr. (217-753-6217,
www.hensonrobinsonzoo.org)
27 Old Capitol Farmers’ Market
(217-544-1723, www.downtownspringfield.org)
27 Old Capitol Blues & BBQs
Local and national blues bands, baby-back rib
cook-off. Washington Street downtown (217-544-1723,
www.downtownspringfield.org)
27-28 Centerline Classic Dressage Show
Illinois State Fairgrounds, Coliseum (217-836-7317)
29-Sept. 4 LPGA State Farm Classic
Thirtieth anniversary of the LPGA tournament. The
Rail Golf Course, Sherman (217-787-5742, www.lpgastatefarmclassic.com)
29 1800s Craft Fair
Blacksmiths, woodcarvers, broom makers, and more.
Postville Courthouse and law, Lincoln, noon-5 p.m. (217-732-8930)
31 Old Capitol Farmers’ Market
(217-544-1723, www.downtownspringfield.org)
31-Sept. 3 Jubilee Regional Morgan Horse Show
Illinois State Fairgrounds (417-864-5310)
31-Sept. 5 Pana Tri-County Fair
Truck and tractor pulls, mud drags, demo derby,
harness racing, barrel racing, team roping, etc. Fairgrounds, south of West
Route 16 in Pana, $1 per person, 12 and under free
PICK OF THE SEASON
Henson Robinson zoo
African wild hunting dogs are stunningly
gorgeous, charismatic, and endangered — and they may be seen
for the first time in Springfield at Henson Robinson Zoo, located
along the southwestern edge of Lake Springfield. The wild dogs will
be highlighted all summer long at the zoo, which is also home to
spider monkeys, river otters, cougars, lemurs, penguins, and more.
Be sure to check out the female wolverine, which has shed its
shyness since coming to the zoo last year.
The zoo offers a full
slate of events that are fun for the entire family. On the first
Wednesday of June, July, and August, the theme is “Wild About Reading.” Each
event, set for 6:30 p.m., will feature stories and crafts centering on
a different zoo animal.
“Stand for Children
Day” brings together several organizations concerned with
child safety and offers child-related games and activities. And be
sure visit on Dr. Dolittle Day (May 7) and Zoofari (July 9), when
admission is free.
Located at 1100 East Lake Dr.,
the zoo is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $3.25 for adults, $1.75 for
seniors, $1.50 for children ages 3-12, and free for children 2 and
younger. For more information, call 217-753-6217.
SEPTEMBER
1-5 Central States Threshermen’s Reunion
Steam engines, two trains, hay bailing, saw mill, and
tractor-, horse- and semi-pulls. Threshermen Reunion Park, Route 23,
Pontiac (800-835-2055, www.pontiac.org)
2-4 Ethnic Festival
Springfield non-profit ethnic groups provide food,
music, and cultural activities. Illinois State Fairgrounds, Ethnic Village
(217-629-7871)
3 Old Capitol Farmers’ Market
(217-544-1723, www.downtownspringfield.org)
3-4 Springfield Mile Grand National Championship
Motorcycle Race
Illinois State Fairgrounds (217-753-8866,
www.illinoismda.com)
3-4 Sangamon Valley Woodcarvers Show
Illinois State Fairgrounds, Illinois Building main
floor (217-546-8792)
3-5 Mari-Mann Herb Fest
Cooking demonstrations, and reflexologists,
herbalists, physicians, 1405 Mari Mann Lane, Decatur (217-429-5400)
3-5 The Amish Country Cheese Festival
Free cheese and ice-cream giveaways, cheese-curling
contest, cheese-eating championships, Arthur (217-543-2242,
www.IllinoisAmishCountry.com)
4 First Sunday Antique Marketplace
The Warehouse (217-467-2866, www.thewarehouse.us.com)
4 Fall Carnival
Henson Robinson Zoo, 1100 East Lake Dr.
(217-753-6217, www.hensonrobinsonzoo.org)
4 Springfield Mile Motorcycle Races
Illinois State Fairgrounds
4-5 Capitol Canine Training Club Agility Trial
Illinois State Fairgrounds, Coliseum
5-7 Beauty and the Beast
Springfield Muni Opera, 815 East Lake Dr. $10
reserved; $6 adults; $5 seniors ($4 Thursdays), $5 students, $3 children 12
and under (217-793-6864, www.themuni.org)
PICK OF THE SEASON
Knight’s Action Park Route 66 Drive-in
Cool off on the hot summer days ahead at
Knight’s Action Park and Caribbean Water Adventure, 1700
Recreation Dr. The 62-acre park offers water slides, bumper boats,
paddle boats, go-karts, minigolf, batting cages, and laser tag. If
that sounds like a blast, wait until you see the park’s free
Fourth of July fireworks display.
Adjacent to the park is the Route 66 Drive-In,
which screens double features nightly starting at dusk and offers
an old-timey concession stand with pizza, hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, and cotton candy. New films
arrive weekly, and the cult classic Rocky
Horror Picture Show concludes the
season on Sept. 23 and 24.
Admission to the drive-in is $5 for adults, $3
for children ages 3-12, and free for children younger than 3.
General admission to Knight’s Action Park and Caribbean Water
Adventure is $19.95. Prices are lower for children and seniors, and
$4 discounts are offered after 3:30 p.m. Call 217-546-8881 for more
details or visit www.knightsactionpark.com or
www.route66-drivein.com.
This article appears in Jun 2-8, 2005.
