FAIRS & FESTIVALS
Christian County Fair Jul 14-17, Christian County Fairgrounds, 700 W. Spresser St, Taylorville.
Corndog Kickoff Jul 16, 5:30-9pm, Auction, fair food, entertainment hosted by Illinois State Fair Museum Foundation. Orr Building. $40-$50. 415-4408. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave.
Divernon Homecoming Jul 14-16, 6-11pm Thu, 6pm-12am Fri, 8am Sat, Carnival rides, food concessions, tournament games. Sat. morning car show and 5 p.m. parade. Bands each night. Divernon square, Divernon.
Menard County Fair Jul 19-24, Menard County Fairgrounds, 18450 Fairgrounds, Petersburg.
Sweet Corn Festival Jul 15-16, 4:30pm-12am Fri, 10am-12am Sat, Features world famous sweet corn and cow chip throw, plus entertainment and more. chathamjaycees.net. Chatham Community Park, S. Main St, Chatham.
BOOKS & AUTHORS
Book Signing Jul 20, 12-2pm, Hugh Moore, local poet, artist and host of radio program The Flyover Zone, signs copies of his new book of poetry, Beaming on Dreamsville. (Also, July 21, 5-7 p.m. Moore reads during book release party at Trout Lily Café.) Prairie Archives, 522 E. Adams. www.hughmoorezone.com.
Book Signing and Presentation Jul 20, 7pm, Thomas V. Lerczak discusses writing and field journal process for his book, “Side Channels: A Collection of Nature Writing and Memoir.” Adams Wildlife Sanctuary, 2315 East Clear Lake Ave, 217-544- 2473.
Friends Sweet Corn Book Sale Jul 16, 9am-3pm, Put on by Friends of the Chatham Area Public Library. Chatham Area Public Library, 600 E. Spruce, Chatham, 483-2713.
Pondicherry Lodge/ Sherlock Holmes Society Jul 16, 6:30pm, Dinner meeting and discussion of His Last Bow. 546-8387. The Pasta House Company, 2800 Southwest Plaza Dr.
Poetry Open Mic Jul 20, 6-8pm, Bring poetry to read - or just sit back and listen. Springfield Poets & Writers. 725-9058. Robbie’s, 4 S. Old State Capitol Plaza, 217-528-1901.
THEATER & COMEDY
Barefoot in the Park Jul 22-24, 8pm Fri-Sat, 2pm Sun, 29- 31, Neil Simon classic directed by Rich McCoy and produced by Gus Gordon. $16. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St.
Buttercup Girls Jul 15-17, 7pm Fri-Sat, 4pm Sun, Musical follows the antics of a struggling dance troop. Written and directed by Illinois playwright Bryon Garrison. Lincoln Square Theatre, 141 N. Main, Decatur, 217-820-7943.
Comedian Sean Kent Jul 15-16, 7:30pm and 9:30pm Fri, 8:30pm Sa, Written and appeared on numerous television shows. Donnie B’s Comedy Club, 2937 W. White Oaks Dr, 391-joke.
Comedy Night Competition Jul 16, 8pm, Local talent competing for $100 prize. Three celebrity judges and MC Tim Laffey. Supports Riverton Riverfest 2001. Riverton KC Hall, 401 S. Fourth St, Riverton.
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 contest, she becomes a celebrity. $8-$12. The Muni, 815 East Lake Dr.
Nick Griffin Jul 15-16, 8pm Fri, 8pm Sat, Heard on Bob and Tom, seen on Late Night with David Letterman. Mason City Limits Comedy Club, 114 E. Chestnut, Mason City, 482-5233.
Open Mic Comedy Jul 14, 21, 8pm, Every Thursday, Springfield’s best up-and-coming comedians, as well as some brave firsttimers. Hosted by Buddy Redman. Free. Chaser’s Iron Horse Saloon, 3036 N. Peoria Rd, 481-4754.
Prairie Voices Jul 16, 23, 5pm, Every Saturday during summer, free performance of Illinois poetry and prairie music by Kevin Purcell and Aasne Vigesaa. Old State Capitol, 1 Old State Capitol Plaza, 217-785-7960.
Shenandoah Jul 15-17, 21-24, Full length, musical drama based on the film. $12, 800-710-9290. Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site, 15588 History Lane, Petersburg, 217-632-4000.
