Pig out, ride high, be amazed throughout the streets, stalls and building halls of the Illinois State Fair as it opens its gates daily from Friday, Aug. 12 to Sunday, Aug. 21 with concerts, concessions, carnival rides, competitions, cows and so much more! Purchase concert tickets at 800-745-3000 to hear 3 Doors Down, the Oak […]
Anita Stienstra
Posted inArts & Culture
Nuclear reactions
On the 66th anniversary of the bombing of Nagaski, three days after the Hiroshima bombing anniversary, view the feature-length documentary, The Forgotten Bomb, presented free at Lincoln Library hosted by Pax Christi of Springfield. From Japan to throughout the U.S., filmmaker Bud Ryan explored the world of nuclear weapons and sought answers through interviews with […]
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Musical glee
Theatre in the Park presents seven nights in the outdoor amphitheatre of its latest production, Disney’s spirited Camp Rock. Along the lines of the popular television show Glee, Camp Rock sings and dances its way through a storyline. Camp Rock now has competition from the newly opened Camp Star, located across the lake, so campers […]
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Bird in hand
Now is your chance to see a hummingbird in hand as Illinois Audubon Society board member and master permit bander Vernon Kleen, along with Mary Hedrick of the Sangamon Audubon Chapter, captures and bans birds to track their migration. You can help operate a trap, record data and help Vernon release a bird back into […]
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Entertainment and arts
Join 300,000 friends (yes, that’s five zeros) downtown at the ultimate street party, the Decatur Celebration, themed this year The Big Reunion. Whether you’re reuniting with your favorite fair food such as an elephant ear, or reconnecting with 80s metal band Night Ranger, Aug. 7, as they plug in some rock on one of the […]
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Electric jazz
Local five-piece Grammy-nominated band David Cain & Senses performs a free concert that includes video and animation at the Hoogland to raise money for the center through donations. Senses might be categorized as playing new wave, ambient, or contemporary jazz music. The concert is titled Soundadelic, but front man and vocalist/saxophonist David Cain always seems […]
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Springfield idol
As a child, Springfield’s own Elizabeth Eckert was a finalist on Ed McMahan’s television contest, “Next Big Star,” and later sang her way to the Hollywood rounds on “American Idol” season seven. If that doesn’t tell you how much talent she has, nothing will; she out-performed hundreds-of-thousands. Recently she collaborated with renowned Atlanta producer Brad […]
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Opposites attract
The classic Neil Simon romantic comedy finds a pair of newly married lovers, who embody Oscar and Felix-like traits, trying to live with each other’s idiosyncrasies. Six performances are slated at the Hoogland Center for the Arts for this Gordon Productions play sponsored by Staab Funeral Home and 970AM WMAY. Jenn Wellhausen and Matthew T. […]
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Big and beautiful
Set in the 1960s, the funny and upbeat musical Hairspray is the next Muni production in the outdoor amphitheater. With big hair, a big body and a large personality, teen Tracy Turnblad lands a spot as a dancer on her favorite television show by the graces of great dancing. She rises to stardom, tackles racially […]
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Next to godliness
Peter Sellars, renowned opera, theater and film director whose opera Hercules opened in Chicago to rave reviews, speaks to the Dominican Institute for the Arts, a group of artists from the United States, England, Argentina and South Africa, whose annual meeting is in Springfield this year. The DIA invites you to join them for two […]
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Socializing through the past
The public is invited to a 1800s party and book premiere on the Edwards Place grounds as the Springfield Art Association commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. The ice cream social features the Springfield International Folk Dancers, free ice cream, children’s activities and re-enactors. The SAA also debuts its newly published Eating with […]
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Thunder rock
These were the cats before the musical Cats became popular. With big hair and makeup reminiscent of mimes gone wild, KISS was the talk of the rock scene during the 70s and now, long tongue and all, Gene Simmons along with Paul Stanley, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer take to the Prairie Capital Convention Center […]
