Capital City Parent

Back to schoolAug 10, 1-4pm. Resource fair and kids learn-and-play event featuring giveaways of children’s backpacks, shoes and haircuts. Pre-registration required. Free. contactministries.com. Contact Ministries, 1100 E. Adams St., 753-3939.   Illinois State FairAug 10-20. So much to do we can’t list everything. Food, entertainment, midway with carnival and games, exhibitions and more. Admission. illinois.gov/statefair. […]

While Springfield has struggled for years to get a children’s museum up and running, Peoria has found the right formula for fun. At the Peoria PlayHouse, kids can splash away at a massive water table, send colorful balls whooshing through tubes and create music merely by crossing a bridge. It being Peoria, they also can […]

As children grow, their wardrobes constantly need to be replenished. If you’re on a budget, you’ll likely appreciate some tips for saving money on their clothes. Shop secondhand Hitting up garage sales, scrolling through online swap sites and browsing through thrift stores can rack up some big savings. Garage sales are perennial favorites for frugal […]

James Aikman was surprised more people didn’t think he was crazy when he announced plans to build a wildlife park. Located between Arthur and Arcola, the 40-acre park opened in March 2016 on the former Rockome Gardens property. Since opening, Aikman Wildlife Adventure has drawn more than 32,000 visitors. “I’m pleased with the reception we’ve […]

There are many opportunities in the Springfield area for enriching, educational and fun activities for kids this summer. From art to science to history, horseback riding, babysitting, sports, nature, cooking, technology, swimming, skating, theater, special needs, ecology and more, there is something for children of all ages. Boy Scouts of America – Camp Bunn and […]

Camp, road trips and family visits do a great job of keeping everyone engaged throughout summer. But what about those lazy days when nothing is planned? Every parent wants to enjoy kicking back when school is out, but too much lollygagging can lead to listlessness and squabbling. Staying engaged this summer does not have to […]

Sangamon Valley Civic OrchestraMay 19, 7:30pm. Concert features the Sangamon Valley Civic Orchestra. $10 adults, $5 students, free to ages 12 and under. hcfta.org. Hoogland Center for the Arts, Theatre 3, 420 S. 6th St., 523-2787. The Three MusketeersMay 19-21, 25-27, 8pm. From the novel by Alexandre Dumas. In collaboration with Lincoln Land Community College. […]

At our bicycle shop, we fix flat tires constantly that could have been avoided with just a little maintenance. A flat bike tire is something that can definitely ruin your day if you don’t know how to fix it. Here are some steps to take in order to avoid at least some of those annoying […]

Mike Lockenour talked about politics a lot when he was young. He remembers Walter Cronkite’s voice explaining Vietnam, Watergate, Iran-Contra. He learned about current events once a day, in black and white, on the nightly news. “It’s totally different today,” says Mike, a CWLP maintenance planner and father to three daughters. Social media, he says, […]

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. According to the Brain Injury Network, acquired brain injury (ABI) can result from medical conditions like strokes, meningitis, aneurisms, brain tumors or loss of oxygen to the brain (anoxia or hypoxia). Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a condition resulting from an external force, such as a jolt or blow […]

Five years ago, Springfield resident Macie Rolf decided to figure skate. Since then, she has won Upper Great Lakes Region gold medals two years in a row, placed fourth at sectionals, and qualified through United States Figure Skating Association eliminations to be one of just a dozen athletes out of more than 500 skaters to […]

Yes, cold season is upon us. But fear not. While you may want to keep your child in a bubble to avoid germs altogether, it wouldn’t do much for anyone’s sanity. There are plenty of more effective measures you can take instead to strengthen your child’s immune system and keep bugs at bay. Colds are […]