Alvin and The Chipmunks – The Musical
Nov 19, 7pm Thu. Tickets: $25, $35, $45, $65. peoriaciviccenter.com. Peoria Civic Center, 201 SW Jefferson Ave., Peoria, 309-673-8900.
Schoolhouse Rock Live! JR
Nov 20-22, 7pm Fri-Sat, 2pm Sun. Family-friendly revival of Emmy Award-winning 1970s Saturday morning educational cartoon. Featuring songs such as “Just A Bill,” “Interplanet Janet” and “Conjunction Junction.” A Springfield Theatre Centre White Rabbit production. $12. hcfta.org. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St., 523-2787.
2015 Thanksgiving 5K
Nov 21, 9am Sat. Run in support of SCMSA Community Health Grants. $25 adults, $10 kids 12 and under. getmeregistered.com. 546-0684. Washington Park, 1501 S. Grand Ave. W.
Holiday Farmers Markets
Nov 21, Dec 19, 9am-1pm Sat. Shop local meat, eggs, wine, beer, vegetables, fruit, honey, more. Plus kids’ activities, lunch, gifts, vendors. ilstewards.org. Illinois State Fairgrounds, Illinois Building, 801 Sangamon Ave.
An American Ice Princess and Her Doll
Nov 22, 12-2pm Sun. Fall skating event and tea party. Manicure station, doll hair station, more. Sponsored by Springfield Figure Skating Club. $15. angiresch@hotmail.com. Nelson Center Ice Arena, Lincoln Park, 1601 N. Fifth St., 525-2589.
Live Reindeer
Nov 27, Dec 19, 20, 10am-5pm Fri-Sun. Meet reindeer, write letter to Santa. Free, photos for purchase. scheels.com/events. Scheels, 3801 S. MacArthur, 726-6330.
The Polar Express Pajama Party
Nov 27-29, 5:30pm Fri, 1pm, 5:30pm Sat, 3pm Sun. Five hours of crafts and cocoa, followed by screening of The Polar Express, with a special guest from the North Pole afterward. Sensory-friendly showing Nov 28, 2pm. $15 advance, $20 day of. AtTheLegacy.com. The Legacy Theatre, 101 E. Lawrence, 800-838-3006.
Holiday Lights at the Zoo
Dec 4-6, 10-13, 16-23, 5-8pm. $3.50 adults, $2.25 children. hensonrobinsonzoo.org. Henson Robinson Zoo, 1100 E. Lake Shore Dr., 585-1821.
Pancakes, Paws and Santa Claus
Dec 5, 8:30-10:30am Sat. Residents: $11 adults, $9 children. Non-residents: $13 adults, $11 children. hensonrobinsonzoo.org. Henson Robinson Zoo, 1100 E. Lake Shore Dr., 585-1821.
Animal Tracks Program
Dec 5, 9am-12pm and 1-4pm Sat. Junior naturalists (ages 5-8) in the morning; senior naturalists (ages 9-12) in the afternoon. Look for and identify animal tracks along the Lincoln Memorial Garden trails. $15 members, $18 nonmembers. Preregistration required. lincolnmemorialgarden.org. Lincoln Memorial Garden, 2301 E. Lake Shore Dr., 529-1111.
Hy-Vee Kids’ Club
Dec 5, 10am-12pm Sat. “Eat Real and Move More” activities for children. First Saturday of each month. Hosted by genHkids. Free. Hy-Vee, 2115 S. MacArthur Blvd, 726-1001.
Springfield Jaycees Christmas Parade
Dec 5, 7:30-8:30pm Sat. Annual parade of lights. Starts and ends at Horace Mann Parking lot. Free. 210-1660. Old State Capitol, 1 Old State Capitol Plaza, 785-9363.
Meet Santa and Mrs. Claus
Dec 5, 11am-4pm Sat. Bring your camera for photo ops. Free. scheels.com/events. Scheels, 3801 S. MacArthur, 726-6330.
Winter Vegetable Gardening
Dec 7, 14, 10:30am-12pm Mon. Learn about winter vegetable production from experienced genHkids farmer Andy Heck. Hands-on planting, demonstrations, more. genh.org. 786-4993. Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Road, 786-2200.
Create an Ornament
Dec 7, 6-7pm Mon. Make two ornaments: one for Scheels’ tree, one for your own. Hosted by Scheels Kids Klub. Free.scheels.com/events. Scheels, 3801 S. MacArthur, 726-6330.
Christmas Caroling at the Carillon
Dec 13, 4:30-5pm Sun. Community singalong around bonfire. Souvenir songbooks, cookies and hot cocoa, visit with Santa, more. Free. Carillon-rees.org. Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon, 1740 W. Fayette Ave., 546-3853.
Make a Cookie with Mrs. Claus
Dec 21, 6-7pm Mon. Decorate Christmas cookie for Santa, listen to Christmas story read by Mrs. Claus herself. Hosted by Scheels Kids Klub. Free. scheels.com/events. Scheels, 3801 S. MacArthur, 726-6330.
First Night Kids
Dec 31, 1-4pm Thu. Children’s hands-on entertainment and activities such as face-painting, clay sculptures, harmonica playing and more. Free. springfieldartsco.org. Springfield High School, 101 S. Lewis St., 525-3100.
Annie
Feb 13, 3pm Sat. The world’s best-loved musical featuring book and score by Tony Award-winners Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin. Admission. sangamonauditorium.org. Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, 1 University Plaza, 206-6160.
Three Little Birds
Feb 16, 7pm Mon. Modern-day fairytale about the unexpected adventures of 11-year-old Ziggy. Based on a story for children by Cedella Marley. Music, lyrics by Bob Marley. $19 adults, $11 youth. Free pre-show activities at 6pm in lobby. sangamonauditorium.org. Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, 1 University Plaza, 206-6160.
This article appears in Capital City Parent November 2015.
