RECURRING EVENTS
Santa’s House
Dec 09-11, 16-18, 21-24, 4-6:30pm Thu-Fri, 2- 4pm Sat, Bring the kids to visit Santa. 243- 5678. Jacksonville square, 200 E. State, Jacksonville.
Holiday Hall Exhibition and Sale
Through Dec 18, 10am-5pm Mon-Fri, 10am- 3pm Sat, Unique exhibition featuring more than 50 regional and local artists. 523-2631. Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St.
Mini O’Beirne Crisis Nursery Children’s Holiday Store
Through Dec 23, 4-8pm Tue-Fri, 10am-6pm Sat, 12-5pm Sun, Kids shopping with the help of volunteers to benefit Crisis Nursery. Closed Mondays. 525-6800. The Yard Shopping Center, 1650 W. Wabash Ave, Suite F.
Winter Holiday Show
Through Dec 27, 12-4pm Mon-Fri, 12-5pm Sat- Sun, Conservatory filled with poinsettias amongst tropical collection for a stunning holiday display. Free. 753-6228. Washington Park Botanical Garden, 1740 W. Fayette Ave.
Dana-Thomas House Holiday Decorations and Sumac Shop
Through Dec 31, 9am-4pm Wed-Sun, Tours given about every 20 minutes. Last tour starts with video around 3:45 p.m. and ends just prior to 5 p.m. Suggested donation $5, $3 children, $13 families. 782-6776. Dana-Thomas House, 301 E. Lawrence.
Xmas ARTicles Gift Shop
Through Dec 30, 9am-4pm Mon-Wed and Fri, 9am-7pm Thur and hours on Sat. and Sun.
Original art and fine crafts from over 50 artists. Anne Lloyd Gallery of the Madden Arts Center, 125 N. Water, Decatur. 423-3189.
Historic Christmas at the Mansion
Through Jan 08, 9:30-11am and 2-3:30pm Tue and Thu; 9:30-11am Sat, Tour the Governor’s mansion decorated for the holidays by employees from the state’s historic sites. (Also:
Governor Pat Quinn welcomes visitors during the Executive Mansion Open House on Saturday, Dec. 18 from 4-6 p.m.) Illinois Executive Mansion, 410 E. Jackson.
Holiday Lights at the Zoo
Dec 10-12, 16-23, 5-8pm, Thousands of lights and displays. Bring new unwrapped toy, get in free. $2.75 adults, $1.50. 753-6218. Henson Robinson Zoo, 1100 E. Lake Shore Dr.
2010 Christmas in the Park
Dec 10-22, 5-10pm. Drive through 55 acres and view over 85 illuminated displays. Manners Park, South Main Street (four blocks south of square), Taylorville. 217-824-3110.
Old Capitol Holiday Walks
Dec 15, 22, 5-8pm, Discover the charm of downtown - free entertainment, horse-drawn trolley rides, lighted holiday tree, extended shopping hours, Santa House (Also open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. until Christmas at Fifth and Adams. Kids receive free photo and candy cane.) and more. 544-1723. Old State Capitol Plaza.
DECEMBER
Lectures in the Library: Victorian Christmas Traditions
Dec 09, 7pm, Dr. Marcia Young, David Davis Mansion director, talks on 19th century Christmas traditions. You might leave hungry for
chocolate cockroaches. Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St, 217-523-2631.
White Christmas
Dec 09-10, Jacksonville Theatre Guild performs Irving Berlin’s holiday classic. 245-1402. Sophie Leschin Theatre, 1201 S. Main St, Jacksonville.
Santa Claus is Coming to Town Event
Dec 10, 5-9pm, Parade, holiday shopping, pictures with Santa Claus, refreshments, lots of other activities. 625-8270. Pawnee town square.
This is Christmas
Dec 10, 7-8:30pm, A worship celebration of Christmas. Coordinator, Dan Shryock. Calvary Temple, 1730 W. Jefferson St, 546-9700.
Fleming Academy of Performing Arts
Dec 10, 7:30pm, Performances by the violinists and pianists, children and adults, caroling. Tickets, 787-6556. St. John’s Lutheran Church, 2477 W. Washington St.
Lux Aeterna
Dec 10, 7:30pm, Illinois College Christmas Concert. Illinois College Rammelkamp Chapel, 1101 W. College Ave, Jacksonville.
White Christmas
Dec 10-12, 8pm Fri-Sat, 2pm Sat-Sun, Springfield Theatre Center presents traditional musical to warm your heart. $15. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St. 523-2787.
It’s a Wonderful Life
Dec 10-12, 7pm Fri-Sat, 2pm Sun, Unity Players present a radio theater production with an emphasis on characterization and sound effects. Free, love offerings accepted. Unity of Springfield, 417 Cordelia. 523-5897.
The Santaland Diaries
Dec 10-12, 8:30pm Fri-Sat, 2:30pm Sun, Comedy about out-of-work actor who decides to become a Macy’s elf to pay the holiday bills. Intended for mature audiences. $16. 523-2787. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St.
11th Annual Cookie Walk
Dec 11, 8am-12pm or until sold out, Mix and match cookies and candies for $6 per pound. Diabetic cookies and doggie treats. 483-4204. Chatham Presbyterian Church, 1835 E. Walnut, Chatham.
21st Annual Cookie Walk
Dec 11, 8am-12pm, Over a hundred different kinds of cookies and numerous candies. Cookies are $6.50 per pound and candy is $8.50 per pound. Douglas United Methodist Church, 501 S. Douglas Avenue, 217-546-4631.
Breakfast with Santa
Dec 11, 9am-12pm, Breakfast with Santa, then pictures with Santa and crafts for the kids. $5- $2. 245-7312. Wesley Chapel UMC, 1447 Merritt Road, Jacksonville.
Christmas Open House
Dec 11, 10am-4pm, Free tours of the poet’s Victorian home decorated for the holidays. Enjoy
seasonal music and refreshments. Kevin Purcell performs Dylan Thomas’ whimsical story of his youth, A Child’s Christmas in Wales at 1 and 2:30 p.m. Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site, 603 S. Fifth St, 217-524-0901.
Holiday Workshops
Dec 11 and 18, 10:30am-12:30pm, Incredible Ornaments and Gingerbread Houses. Registration required. $10-$20. 523-2631. Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St.
Wreaths Across America
Dec 11, 11am, Event held simultaneously at national cemeteries nationwide to honor, remember and teach about the contributions of veterans. Camp Butler National Cemetery, 5063 Camp Butler Road, 217-753-9139.
The Nutcracker
Dec 11-12, 2pm and 8pm Sat, 2pm Sun, Springfield Ballet Company’s production of holiday classic with a Springfield-area cast. $26- $16. Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, 1 University Plaza, 544-1967.
Mad Hatter Christmas Tea
Dec 11, 2-3:30pm, Holiday delicacies served in the formal parlors with program “Hats Galore’s Marle: Hats from 1835 to 1870.” $25. 652- 7302. Elijah Iles House, 628 S. Seventh St.
Journey To Bethlehem
Dec 11-12, 18-19, 5:30-8:30pm, 20-minute walk with one of the wise men through live nativity scenes where costumed characters reveal the story of Christmas. Free. Western Oaks Baptist Church, 5345 Old Jacksonville Rd.
Le Noël Romantique
Dec 11-12, 7pm Sat, 5pm Sun, LLCC Madrigal Singers present madrigal concert about French town that stages Christmas nativity. French pastries by LLCC culinary arts students served with coffee and tea. $12. 786-2762. Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Rd.
Not So Silent Night
Dec 12, 4-6pm, Musical welcome to the holidays with The Capital City Men’s Chorus directed by Mary E. Myers. Laurel United Methodist Church, 631 South Grand Ave W, 629-9439.
Springfield Handel Choir
Dec 12, 4pm, The Christmas portion of Georg Friderich Handel’s Messiah featuring soloists, organ, instruments and over 60 singers conducted by Janet Cobb. Accompanied by Dr. See Tsai Chan on the organ. St. Agnes Church, 245 N. Amos St, 217-793-1330.
Caroling at the Carillon
Dec 12, 4:30-5:15pm, Bring the family and gather around a roaring bonfire and sing carols accompanied by beautiful bell music. Enjoy hot cocoa and cookies afterward. Free souvenir song books. Accessible. Free. Washington Park Rees Memorial Carillon, Fayette Rd, 753-6219.
Check Illinois Times next week for more holiday events.