ONGOING
Illinois Prairie Pastel Society “Pastel Play” member show
Through Oct. 7, 10am-5pm. Presented by the Illinois Prairie Pastel Society. An opening reception will be held from 3 to 5pm Sep. 21. Free. Athens Public Library, Athens, 410 E. Hargrove, 217-636-8047.
Free Community Breakfast
Sundays, 7:30-8:30am. Through Dec. 28. Enjoy a breakfast and friendly fellowship. The mission of the F.I.R.M. Family Foundation is to serve underrepresented communities by providing much needed services and resources to aid in the upliftment of the family unit. Free. The F.I.R.M. Family Foundation, 520 S. Livingston St., 217-707-8850.
Bird Hike
Sat., Sep. 20, 8am, Sat., Sep. 27, 8am, Sat., Oct. 4, 8am, Sat., Oct. 11, 8am and Sat., Oct. 18, 8am. Join local birder Kevin Veara as he leads the group in search of migrating birds. Hikes start at the Nature Center. All levels of birders welcome. lincolnmemorialgarden.org. Free. Lincoln Memorial Garden, 2301 East Lake Shore Dr., 217-529-1111.
Old Capitol Farmers Market
Wednesdays, Saturdays, 8:30am-12:30pm. Through Oct. 26. Springfield’s longest-running and most popular Farmers Market in beautiful #downtown Springfield. Largest producer-only market in Illinois outside of Chicago. Old Capitol Farmers Market, Fourth and Adams streets, market@downtownspringfield.org.
Heritage Exposed
Mondays-Fridays, 9am-5pm and Saturdays, 10am-3pm. Through Oct. 4. Heritage Exposed utilizes the artifacts dug from the grounds of Edwards Place to tell the story of the Edwards Family. Their trash offers great insights into their daily lives, habits and preferences. Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St., 217-523-2631.
Good Trouble Alliance Meeting
Every fourth Saturday, 12-1pm. The Good Trouble Alliance strategizes bold, creative, nonviolent initiatives to challenge local institutions that weaken democracy. Join the fight against authoritarianism. Bring ideas. Snacks provided. Lincoln Library, 326 S. Seventh St., 217-801-0209.
SEPTEMBER
Jacksonville Car Show and Cruise Night
Sat., Sep. 20, 9am-9pm. Celebrating classic cars with some family fun. Car show 9am to 3pm followed by cruise from 5 to 9pm. Includes special vendors and event T-shirts. For more info, contact Mike McKean at 217-883-3097 or visit Morton Ave Misfits on Facebook. Jacksonville Community Park, Jacksonville, 1201 S. Main, 217-883-3097.
Main Street Mingle
Sat., Sep. 20, 9am-3pm. Event brings together families, businesses, schools, non-profits and artisans for a day of shopping, entertainment and community spirit. Free. Virden Square, Virden, Downtown, 217-370-3596.
Clayville Fall Festival
Sat., Sep. 20, 9am-4pm and Sun., Sep. 21, 9am-4pm. A local favorite! Event includes blacksmith demonstrations, live music, living history and a Civil War re-enactment, food, crafts, children’s activities and historic buildings to tour. Free. Clayville Historic Site, Pleasant Plains, Route 125, 217-481-4430.
Forest Therapy
Sat., Sep. 20, 9:30-11am. Cassandra Claman, a certified guide, will lead this session. design to deepen a sense of connection with nature through a 1.5-2-hour wander through nature. $20. Lincoln Memorial Garden, 2301 E. Lake Shore Dr., 2175291111.
Capital City Car Show
Sat., Sep. 20, 10am-5pm. Judged show with $15 show registration fee. Trophies to be awarded for cars and motorcycles. Event includes raffle prizes, food trucks, craft market vendors, pet adoption and more. Free to spectators. South Side Christian Church, 2600 S. MacArthur, 217-899-7293.
Edwards Place Fine Art Fair
Sat., Sep. 20, 10am-5pm and Sun., Sep. 21, 10am-4pm. Artwork from artists across the country gather to show their work. Support them, as well as the SAA, by coming out to shop at the best fall art fair in Springfield. Free admission. Edwards Place, Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St., 217-523-2631.
SAA Annual Book Sale
Sat., Sep. 20, 10am-5pm and Sun., Sep. 21, 10am-4pm. Art-related books and other great titles for adults and youth sold at discounted prices in support of SAA’s Michael Victor Art Library. The sale will be inside the Condell Studio at the Springfield Art Association. springfieldart.org. Free admission. Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St., 217-523-2631.
Jubilee Farm’s 25th Anniversary
Sat., Sep. 20, 11am-2pm. Celebrate the farm’s anniversary by checking out various demonstrations and activities such as permaculture gardening, an outdoor loom/spinning demonstration and discussion about llamas and alpacas. Event includes tables of information on various subjects, a video presentation, light refreshments, bird banding and more. Visitors can bring picnic lunches. Free, donations accepted. Jubilee Farm, 6760 Old Jacksonville Road, 217-787-6927.
Enos Park Historic Home Tours
Sat., Sep. 20, 1-5pm. Tour historic homes in various stages of renovation. Tickets available on day of tour. Includes tour guide magazine. $10 donation. Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St., 217-553-4629.
UIS Alumni Gala
Sat., Sep. 20, 5:30pm. Written in the Stars. Enjoy good conversation, dinner, music, dancing and more. Evening also will feature alumni awards and program. Register by Sept. 7. $100 per person, $750 table. UIS Student Union, One William Maxwell Lane, 217-206-6600.
Barnyard Boogie
Sat., Sep. 20, 7-10pm. Event sponsored by St Aloysius Ladies Auxiliary as a fundraiser. $5 cover charge. Light snacks provided. Cash bar. Knights of Columbus Hall Council 4175, 2801 West St., 217-528-5740.
The Fashion Show
Sat., Sep. 20, 7-9pm. Showcase those creative designs at the Pharmacy Gallery and Art Space’s Sept. 20, 2025, fashion show. Deadline to register is Aug. 31st. Contact the gallery to register. The Pharmacy Gallery and Art Space, 623 E. Adams St., 801-810-9278.
The “Maine” Event
Sat., Sep. 20, 7pm. A casual New England-style lobster bake prepared by Robert’s Seafood Market. Dinner and dessert, plus live music by Suns of Beaches. Cocktail hour at 6pm. Proceeds benefit Sparc. $125 individual. Bunn-O-Matic Corporation, 1400 Stevenson Dr., 217-793-2100.
A Night on Broadway
Sat., Sep. 20, 7:30pm. Help the Hoogland Center for the Arts celebrate 21 years of outstanding entertainment at this annual gala. The event features a silent auction, dinner and performance by Broadway star Susan Egan. Proceeds from this event help pay for the day-to-day operations of center. hcfta.org. $61. Hoogland Center for the Arts LRS Theatre 1, 420 S. Sixth St., 217-523-2787.
LLCC Honey Harvest
Wed., Sep. 24, 10am-2pm. Participate in the annual honey harvest in which honey supers will be removed from the apiary at West Lake Nature Grove at 10am. The supers will be taken to A. Lincoln Commons for a demonstration at noon on how to extract the honey from the frames. Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirt. A limited amount of bee suits and veils will be available. Participants can help with the extraction process and sample raw honey. Free. LLCC West Lake Nature Grove, 2321 West Lake Shore Dr., 217-786-2200.
A Legacy and A Vision: 50 Years of Illinois Times
Thu., Sep. 25, 11am-1pm. Join Illinois Times for lunch as we reflect on where we’ve been – and where we’re going. Welcome and remarks titled “Publish or Perish: A Serious call for Celebration and Preservation of Press Freedom,” at 11am by Fletcher Farrar, Illinois Times editor and owner. Lunch at 11:30am. Announcements and closing remarks at 12:15pm by Michelle Ownbey, Illinois Times publisher. $50, Table sponsorships available by calling James at 217-679-7814. Pole Barn Chic, 4491 Old Chatham Road.
100+ Who Care in Springfield Fall Giving Event
Thu., Sep. 25, 5:30-7pm. In this fundraising event, participants nominate non-profit organizations. Three organizations are then selected at random for a chance to receive the ticket proceeds from the event. Presentations are made and event participants vote. The organization with the most support is awarded the donation check. givebutter.com/spfldfall2025. $100 per individual, $150 for couples. Papa Frank’s Restaurant, 4111 Wabash Ave., 217-679-8700.
Adams Street Family Reunion Fundraiser
Thu., Sep. 25, 5:30pm. Reserve a place for the first Adams Street Family Reunion Fundraiser, celebrating Kidzeum and raising funds needed to serve children who are a part of the Springfield family. Includes a silent auction, trivia games and surprises based on the original Addams Family characters and goodie bags for all. $75. Kidzeum of Health and Science, 412 E. Adams St., 217-679-2123.
Friends of the Farmers Market Street Dinner
Thu., Sep. 25, 6-9pm. Celebrate the Old Capitol Farmers Market under the stars with drinks and a farm-to-table dinner. This is the event’s 10th year. Presented by Downtown Springfield Inc. and the market. $110. Old State Capitol Plaza, between Fifth and Sixth streets at Adams, 217-544-1723.
This article appears in REGEN Fall 2025.
