JULY EVENTS

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Arthur Freedom Celebration Jul 02, Craft show, petting zoo, mechanical bull and more downtown. Parade starts at 1 p.m. in park and moves through downtown. Then at 4 p.m. in park— helicopter rides, WWII aircraft flyover, sky divers, food stands. Fireworks display at 9:30 pm at Jurgens Park on the south edge of Arthur. www.ArthurFestivals.com.

Capital City Celebration Jul 03-04, 5pm-12am Sat, 4pm Sun, Music, food and drinks. Fireworks on Sunday at dusk. Second and Capitol streets. 553- 2082. www.springfieldjaycees.org.

Independence Day Celebration Jul 04, 10am-2pm, Join New Salem residents in celebrating the birth of our nation with period music, games, speeches and hymns. Bring a blanket. New Salem State Historic Site, 15588 History Lane, Petersburg, 632- 4000.

Fireworks Extravaganza Jul 04, 9:30-10:30pm, One of the area’s most popular fireworks displays. Free. Knight’s Action Park. 1700 Knight’s Recreation Dr. 546-8881.

Fireworks Jul 04, Decatur Park Singers and a spectacular fireworks display at dusk. Free. 422-5911. Nelson Park, Decatur.

Morgan County Fair Jul 06-10, Fair, carnival, food, Friday night performance by country star Justin Moore and Saturday country legend Charlie Daniels Band plays. Morgan County Fairgrounds, 110 N. Westgate, Jacksonville.

Region XI Arabian Horse Show Jul 07-09, 8am-10pm, Free admission. Coliseum. 309-245- 2264. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave.

Music at the Museum Jul 7, 5:30-7:30pm, Bring a lawn chair and enjoy an outdoor concert featuring Greater Decatur Youth Band, Young Park Singers and Decatur Park Singers. Under age 16 must be accompanied by adult. Concessions available. Children’s Museum of Illinois, 55 South Country Club Rd., Decatur. 217- 423-KIDS.

An Evening with Mark Twain Jul 08-10, 8pm Fri-Sat, 2pm Sun, Journey through Twain’s remarkable life. Stars Cincinnati actor Bill Hartnett. $16. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St.

Movies in the Park Jul 08, dusk, Free viewing of Megamind. Bring a chair or blanket. 544-1751. Rotary Park, Iles Ave. and Archer Elevator Road.

Major Opuses Art Exhibit Jul 08-August 6, 10am-5pm  Tues-Fri, 10am-3pm Sat, Barbara Rhoads, multiple media; Rebecca McVay, photography; Morgan Elser, sculpture. (Reception July 9, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Music, drinks, hors d’oeuvres.) Free. H.D. Smith Gallery, 420 S. Sixth St, 544-2787.

Taste of Downtown and American Music Show Jul 08-09, 6pm-12am Fri, 12pm-12am Sat, Over twenty downtown restaurants present ethnic, classic and eclectic cuisine, the American Music Show and children’s entertainment. Between Fifth and Washington. $2. Downtown Springfield.

Tin Man Regatta Jul 09, 10am youth series, 1pm tin man, Register to set sail or be a virtual skipper. Awards ceremony at 6 p.m. cmnspringfield.org. Island Bay Yacht Club, 76 Yacht Club Road, 217-544-6464 ext. 45160.

Zoofari Jul 09, 10am-6pm, Free admission for all with activities throughout the day. 753- 6217. Henson Robinson Zoo, 1100 E. Lake Shore Drive.

Civil War Tea Jul 09, 2-3:30pm, Lives of Springfield’s Civil War-era ladies explored over delicious tea and treats. $25. Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth Street, 217- 523-2631.

Sangamon Watercolor Society Jul 09, 5:30-7:30pm, Featured are artists Doug Brackney and Linda Flesch. Dessert reception and exhibit free and open to public. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St, 217-523-2787.

CPE Dog Agility Trial Jul 09-10, 8am-5pm, Takes place at the Livestock Center - Upstairs Ring. Free. 585-0937. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Avenue.

Amanda Foreman Book Discussion and Signing Jul 11, 7-8:30pm, Acclaimed historian and NY Times bestseller. Newest book, A World on Fire: Britain’s Crucial Role in the American Civil War. Free. Reservations required, 558-8934, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, 212 N. Sixth Street.

They Lived Long Ago Jul 12, 10am, Discover animals that lived long ago with the Henson Robinson Zoo. Jacksonville Public Library, 201 West College Ave, Jacksonville, 243-5435.

Christian County Fair Jul 12-17, Times to be announced. Christian County Fairgrounds, 700 W. Spresser Street, Taylorville.

Evening Science Series Lecture Jul 13, 7-8:30pm, Dr. Paul Gardner, Midwest Regional Director, The Archaeological Conservancy. “Saving the Past for the Future: The Archaeological Conservancy.” Illinois State Museum Research & Collections Center, 1011 E. Ash Street, 785-0037.

Evening Hike—Marvelous Mammals Jul 13, 7-9pm, See the zoo in a new light at this after hours guided tour. Preregistration required. $6, $4 child. 753- 6217. Henson Robinson Zoo, 1100 E. Lake Shore Drive.

Divernon Homecoming Jul 14-16, 6-11pm Thu, 6pm-12am Fri, 8am Sat, Carnival rides, food concessions, tournament games and more. Saturday morning car show and 5 p.m. parade. Bands play each night. Divernon square.

Crazy Horse Bluegrass Festival Jul 15-17, Performances Friday and Saturday, Sunday morning Gospel Show. 886-2089. Crazy Horse Campground, 2113 Crazy Horse Rd, Ashland.

Art Beat Jul 15-Aug 26, 10am-5pm Mon-Fri, 10am-3pm Sat, Works inspired by music by the Third Thursday Art Show Artists. Opening reception is set for July 15, 5-8 p.m. Free and open to the public. Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth Street.

Family Camp Out Jul 15, 5pm, “How well do you know Harry Potter.” Overnight with dinner, breakfast and activities. Reservations required. $18, $12 child. 753-6217. Henson Robinson Zoo, 1100 E. Lake Shore Drive, 217-753-6217.

Shenandoah Jul 15, Full length, musical drama based on the film. $12, 800-710-9290. Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site, 15588 History Lane, Petersburg.

Rochester Movies in the Park Jul 15, dusk, Watch Shrek Forever After. Free. Rochester Community Park. 498- 7192.

Sweet Corn Festival Jul 15-16, 4:30pm-12am Fri, 10am-12am Sat, World famous sweet corn and cow chip throw, entertainment and much more. chathamjaycees.net. Chatham Community Park, S. Main Street, Chatham.

Buttercup Girls Jul 15-17, 7pm Fri-Sat, 4pm Sun, Musical follows antics of a struggling dance troop. Written and directed by Illinois playwright Bryon Garrison. Lincoln Square Theatre, 141 N. Main Street, Decatur, 217-820-7943.

Ice Cream Social and Cook Book Premiere Jul 16, 2-4pm, 1860s crafts, dancing, introduction of two new SAA books and more. $2, $5 family. Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth Street, 217- 523-2631.

Ice Cream Safari Jul 17, 1-4pm, See how zookeepers help the animals stay cool, and find ice cream stations hidden throughout zoo. Zoo admission. Scovill Zoo, 71 S. Country Club Road, Decatur, 217-421-7435.

Dana-Thomas House Foundation Program Jul 17, 2pm, Mike Jackson of Illinois Preservation Agency talks about house restoration after it was purchased by the State of Illinois. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, 112 North Sixth Street, 217-558-8844.

KISS Jul 18, 7:30pm, Iconic and influential rock band comes to town. $49-$89. Prairie Capital Convention Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, 800-745-3000.

Macoupin County Fair Jul 18-23, Country singer Josh Gracin performs July 23, tractor pull, demolition derby, livestock competition, food and carnival. $3 per car. Macoupin County Fairgrounds, 21368 Route. 4, Carlinville.

Menard County Fair Jul 19-24, Week full of fun. Menard County Fairgrounds, 18450 Fairgrounds, Petersburg.

Barefoot in the Park Jul 22-24, 29-31, 8pm Fri-Sat, 2pm Sun, Neil Simon classic directed by Rich McCoy and produced by Gus Gordon. $16. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth Street, 217-523-2787.

Hairspray Jul 22-24, 27-31, 8:30pm, All Tracy  wants to do is dance, and she doesn’t let her size stop her. Winning a dance contest, she becomes a celebrity. $8-$12. The Muni, 815 East Lake Drive. 793-6864.

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