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Ears a party

For 38 years the Chatham Jaycees have thrown a fun party made famous by scrumptious mouth-watering sweet corn and something else not so mouth-watering that gets thrown – cow chips. The Illinois Championship Cow Chip Throw starts at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday where you can fling two dried dodos for only $5. But food and […]

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Adventures of an American luminary

A dynamic look at Mark Twain portrayed by Cincinnati-based actor Bill Hartnett and directed by Eleanor Shepherd. Samuel Clemens lived a remarkable life—as a printer, riverboat pilot, silver miner in Nevada, gold miner in California, reporter, editor, foreign correspondent, lecturer and author. Take a further look inside Twain’s trials and tribulations, pride and glory from […]

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Local character

A play about real people and true events that happened in Sangamon and Menard counties such as Springfield’s phrenologist Madame Levante who diagnosed folk’s troubles by feeling the bumps on their skull. Written by local author and playwright Tara McClellan McAndrew, who brought us the book, Stories of Springfield: Life in Lincoln’s Town. McAndrew and […]

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Historical scribe

Visiting the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum July 11 is world-renowned author Amanda Foreman. Award-winning historian and New York Times best-selling author of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire and World on Fire: An Epic History of Two Nations Divided, Foreman signs copies of her book World on Fire about the American Civil War at 6:30 […]

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Chic hog roast

Awarded best new special event by Downtown Springfield, Inc., Pork and Cork returns Friday, July 1, for a second year and a night of scrumptious food, savory wine and ear-pleasing music outside in Union Square Park across from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum. Pork items prepared by Secret Recipes, desserts by Eli’s Cheesecake and Illinois […]

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Odd couples

The Muni kicks off their second production with multiple performances of the funny dance musical Guys and Dolls. Set in the Broadway theater district, the story is about the odd romance between habitual gambler, Sky Masterson, and straitlaced missionary girl, Sarah Brown, who are together after a bet by fellow gambler Nathan Detroit that Sky […]

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Dinner party

Elijah Iles House volunteers host Clara Irwin’s Strawberry Party Friday, July 1. In addition to strawberry shortcake, sundaes and daiquiris, other food available for purchase includes hot dogs, bratwurst and side dishes. Tour the house and garden, hear period music by Thistle and Thyme, listen to a storyteller and play 1800s children’s games. Clara and […]

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Immigrant intergration

Coalition to Promote Human Dignity and Diversity, Liberty Brew and View and Lincoln Land Community College present free screenings and discussions of the documentary Welcome to Shelbyville at LLCC on June 23 and Lincoln Library on June 27. Filmed for a year in 2008, the film explores attitudes and adjustments of a small Tennessee town […]

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Race to health

Kids 12 and under will enjoy a unique one-mile race toward health. With eight different activities along the route, kids can proceed at their own pace. After and before find healthy snacks, health screenings, activities, cooking demonstration, and everyone can help harvest the community garden. Every child receives a t-shirt, race medal, race bib, small […]

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Magical plot

The outdoor amphitheatre at New Salem houses Theatre in the Park’s second production of the season, The Secret Garden, directed by Kari Catton. The musical by composer Lucy Simon and Marsha Norman, a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, is about 11-year-old orphaned Mary Lennox who returns to England from India to live with her uncle and his […]

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Street picnic

A 64-year-old tradition continues as Chatham American Legion Post 759 hosts Homecoming, its “street picnic” on the Chatham square Thursday, June 23, through Saturday, June 25. Carnival rides are only $1 on Thursday night from 5 p.m. to close, and Saturday from 12-4 p.m. Food and drinks include walleye fish sandwiches, chicken strips, river fries, […]

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The perfect match

The touching Tony Award-winning musical about a working man and his wife raising their daughters in revolution-plagued 1905 Russia comes to Sangamon Auditorium June 20. The score includes unforgettable songs “Tradition,” “Matchmaker, Matchmaker” and “If I Were A Rich Man.” John Preece plays the lead, Tevye. Don’t miss this Broadway in Springfield production. Fiddler on […]

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