Summerguide

Photo BY DAVID HINE Farmers markets are festive community events and showcase the Land of Lincoln’s other local treasure – its food! Buying local produce not only supports Illinois farmers, but also physical health and the environment. They just may perk up your social life, too. Though not all vendors grow organic, many do, limiting […]

Saturday, Aug. 1, 8am-4pm The largest car show in central Illinois rolls into Springfield on Saturday, Aug. 1, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For the third year in a row, the show, which offers free admission to spectators, will take place at Knight’s Action Park. This year’s event will move to the southeast side […]

Thursday, Aug. 6, 7-11pm • Friday, Aug. 7, 5-11pm Saturday, Aug. 8, 11am-11pm • Sunday, Aug. 9, 11am-9:30pm This summer, hundreds of thousands of people will flock to downtown Decatur to attend one of the largest free street festivals in the Midwest. The “Midwest’s most exciting street festival,” the Decatur Celebration, runs Thursday, Aug. 6, […]

Capital City Biathlon 2014. PHOTOS COURTESY THE HARDY BREED Springfield is quickly becoming a hot spot for cool races. Whether you’re looking for a hardcore challenge or just something to keep you from languishing on the couch all summer, there’s likely a race in or near Springfield matching your intensity level. Pick a race from […]

Saturday, July 18, 2-10pm Make your literal mark on downtown Springfield at the Springfield Art Association’s Third Annual Paint the Street Festival. This all-ages community block party combines painting and live entertainment for a day of fun on Saturday, July 18. The festival will take place on Washington Street, between Fourth and Seventh streets, from […]

May Springfield Audubon Society Walk and ProgramMay 21, 5:30-6:30pm.Walk and identify invasive species around Adams Wildlife Sanctuary, plus program discussing the problems invasive species create and how to manage those threats. Free, open to public. illinoisaudubon.org. Adams Wildlife Sanctuary, 2315 East Clear Lake Ave., 544-2473. Grace Among the LeavingsMay 22-24, 8pm Fri-Sun. A play about […]

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 […]

PHOTO COURTESY CHAD MITCHELL PHOTOGRAPHY   Assumption Fest6-11 p.m. Thursday, June 26; 5 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Friday, June 27; 11 a.m.-12:30 a.m. Saturday, June 28 Here’s a festival that’s been going on and growing for more than 80 years. Originally called Assumption Homecoming, Assumption Fest continues to expand. This year there’s a new large carnival, more […]

The Bolduc House, circa 1792. It was a weekend getaway for me as I decided to make my way down to southwestern Illinois and southeastern Missouri to get a little French history lesson. I didn’t know what to expect as I started driving south toward my destinations along and near the Mississippi River. My stops […]