Summerguide

Just two hours east of Springfield with plenty of highlights that can be enjoyed in a few hours, Danville is a pleasant daytrip – and a city claiming a progressive new status. A strong foundationDanville considers itself at the corner of progress and history. Its water tower says so. That history is based on hard […]

Iced is an engaging novel. It’s set in a fictionalized but recognizable central Illinois town that is known for the strong odor of its grain-processing facilities that some optimistically call “the smell of money.” The events of the novel are set against a backdrop of a town struggling with a protracted union strike, vanishing industry, […]

Springfield is home to gorgeous stained glass installations in churches, historic sites and other public spaces. Architect Ralls Melotte, co-founder of Melotte Morse Stained Glass and Melotte Morse Leonatti Parker, Ltd. Architects, spent 21 years restoring, repairing and fabricating much of it. Here, Melotte presents several examples of Springfield’s wide range of transcendent light. “For […]

Fittingly for a theater situated within a village once called home by the future 16th U.S. president, New Salem’s Theatre in the Park kicks off its summer season with The Last of Mrs. Lincoln (June 7-10), taking a dramatic look at the former Mary Todd’s life in the years following her husband’s 1865 assassination. As […]

So many summer concerts, so little time. From big festivals to tiny venues and from hard rock to bro-country and from new wave to hardcore to hip-hop, here’s an overview of some of the best music heading for the area. SpringfieldThe award-winning Boondocks continues its winning streak this summer with rising Delaware-bred, African-American country star […]

  May Illinois Products Farmers MarketMay 25, Jun 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, Jul 6, 13, 20, 27, Aug 3, 10, 17, 24, 4-7pm. Every Thursday. Shopping, health and wellness information, special focuses and more in a street party atmosphere. SNAP cards accepted. Free. agr.state.il.us/nightmarket. Illinois State Fairgrounds, The Shed, 801 Sangamon Ave. The Three […]

The Sangamon County Fair has made some exciting changes in time for the 2017 season, which runs June 13-18. General admission pricing has been reduced and a new concert ticket price has been introduced in order to allow fans to customize their fair experience by paying for only the events and facilities they’ll attend or […]

This June, cruise 20 minutes south down I-55 and enjoy a small-town festival among the cornfields in picturesque Pawnee. This year’s Pawnee Prairie Days will be observed June 22-24. The three-day celebration features traditional festival fare, events and activities in a tight-knit community setting. A carnival, courtesy of Connor Amusements, will be offered all three […]

The SOHO (Service Organization for Humanitarian Opportunity) Music Festival was a highlight among the central Illinois summer festival scene for 12 years. But earlier this year SOHO’s founder and director Eric Welch announced his plans to step back from the festival, effective immediately. After more than a decade of working year-round to organize, book and […]

The health benefits to riding a bike are numerous and include strengthening your hips, thighs and rear end. Because cycling is a low-impact activity, it is gentle on joints, making it an excellent activity for individuals of varied ages and activity levels. But most importantly, bike riding is fun and a great way to bring […]

Although the name “Amaranth Apple Festival” (Downtown Springfield Inc.’s revision of 2016’s Bacon Throwdown) may sound like a celebration of the late summer and early autumn deciduous fruit, the midsummer festival, occurring July 14-15, actually celebrates Springfield’s signature restaurant dishes paired with live music, courtesy of the Bedrock 66 Live! Concert Series. The name of […]

The Powerlight Abraham Lincoln Super Cruise and Car Show Spectacular is one of the most anticipated car show weekends for automotive enthusiasts in central Illinois. Powerlight weekend presents opportunities to showcase your classic car, meet fellow car lovers, enjoy drive-in movies along historic Route 66, and take in unique air and ground displays. Celebrate the […]