Summerguide

The 2.25-mile-long River Trail at Rock Springs Conservation Area and Nature Center features a variety of habitats including woodland forest, river bottoms, meadows, hills and more. PHOTO BY NAN BULLI You don’t have to leave central Illinois to have an enjoyable, authentic hiking experience. This summer, get close to nature and have fun with friends […]

The Farewell Ride, black and aluminum glass-sided coach Harley-Davidson Road King Trike conversion, offered to avid bikers by Butler Funeral Homes in Springfield. PHOTO COURTESY OF BUTLER FUNERAL HOMES & CREMATION TRIBUTE CENTER For bikers like Phil Cornell, longtime motorcyclist, a fun summer is a safe summer. “I do this because I love to ride,” […]

The classic recipe calls for dark rum, but amber works fine for a Dark and Stormy. PHOTOS BY PATRICK YEAGLE Ahhhh – the summer cocktail. Both refreshing and teasing, the perfect elixir for summer’s dog days evokes a happier time of spring, with cherry blossoms bursting and everyone’s team with a chance to win the […]

Dave Hupke (left) and Andy Look paddle a canoe Hupke built. The pair won the Wooden Boat category in the 2015 Abe’s River Race. PHOTO BY DAN WILLIAMS There’s something timeless and pure about pushing the limits of our bodies while surrounded by the majesty of nature. It satisfies that primeval urge to test our […]

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee appears at The Hoogland Center for the Arts May 20-22 and May 27-29. Central Illinois is the place to be for family-friendly summer shows. New Salem’s Theatre in the Park The Dixie Swim Club June 3-5, 9-11. A comedy about a reunion of five lifelong female friends who […]

Grunge fans might want to take a trip to The Peoria Civic Center for a show by Soundgarden vocalist Chris Cornell on July 11. Photo by Jeff Lipsky COUTRESY OF THE ARTIST To paraphrase Martha and the Vandellas, summer’s almost here and the time is almost right for dancing in the streets. Here’s a handy guide […]

Thursday, June 25, 5-11pm • Friday, June 26. 5pm-12:30am Saturday, June 27, 11am-12:30am The only assumption you can safely make about Assumption Fest is that a great time will be had by all. This huge festival has been going and growing for more than 80 years. Festival organizers are proud to offer “big-city entertainment in […]

From cheap canned swill to fancy suds made from fruit, there’s nothing like a cold beer to make a perfect summer day even more perfect. Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summerThose days of soda and pretzels and beer. –N. King Cole Summer without beer? That would be like ice cream without a cone, […]

Lydia Loveless play at Homespun Republic July 25. That sibilant sizzling in the air is the sound of a spectacularly sultry summer concert season. In town and throughout the region, it’s clear that if you don’t manage to see any great gigs this season, it’s only because you didn’t try hard enough. Below is just […]

Friday Aug. 7, 5:30pm-12am • Saturday, Aug. 8, 2pm-12am Local is the theme of this multiday all-ages festival that combines art, beer and original music to two stages at the intersection of Seventh and Washington streets in downtown Springfield. The Downhome Music Festival was created by musicians for music lovers, as festival co-founders Josh Catalano […]