Holiday Happenings Candlelight Tours Dec 23, 5-8pm, Open house tours every Friday evening except Christmas week. Special events each evening. DeWitt County Museum, 219 E. Woodlawn, Clinton.
Christmas Morning Celebration Service Dec 25, 10am, Bring a dish or goodies to share for Christmas Open House following church until 1 p.m. Unity of Springfield, 417 Cordelia, 523-5897.
First Night Dec 31, 6:30pm, Alcohol-free event for entire family featuring live music, dance and theatrical performances. Downtown locations including Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St, 217-523-2787.
First Night Civil War Ball
Dec 31, 7-10pm, Authentically costumed ladies and gentlemen dance.
Some visitor participation. Free for First Night Springfield participants. Old State Capitol, 1 Old State Capitol Plaza, 217-785-9363.
Grand Ballroom Bash Dec 31, Dinner, dancing, entertainment, morning breakfast or lunch and overnight stay. $319 couple. Hilton Springfield, 700 E. Adams.
Historic Christmas at the Mansion Dec 22, 24, 27, 29, 31, Jan 03, 05, 07, 9:30-11am Tue, Thu and Sat, and 2- 3:30pm Tue, Thu, Features 21 unique trees decorated for the holiday. Illinois Executive Mansion, 410 E. Jackson .
Holiday Interfaith Breakfast Dec 25, 8:30am-12pm, Public invited to Christmas breakfast of scrambled eggs, turkey sausage, pan cakes,
coffee, dessert and juice served to benefit Helping Hands of Springfield. $6, $5 seniors, $.25 per year for children 12 and under. Temple B’rith Sholom, 1004 S. Fourth St, 525- 1360.
Holiday at the Mall Dec 22-24, Until Christmas, visit Santa and ride the train. Family Service Center Tree of Wishes (lower level Sears). Neuhoff Media Holiday Concerts. White Oaks Mall, 2501 Wabash Ave.
Midnight in Paris Dec 31, 7pm-2am, French and American hors d’ourves. Music by KFD. Prizes, champagne toast. $30, $50 couple. 899-9517. Firefighters- Postal Lake Club, 940 W. Lake Shore Dr, 217-899-9517.
Mini O’Beirne Crisis Nursery Adopt A Family
Dec 22, 24, Help a family in need this Christmas by purchasing clothing and other gifts. Phone the center, 525-6800.
Mini O’Beirne Crisis Nursery Children’s Holiday Store Dec 22-23, 4-8pm Tue-Fri, 10am- 5:30pm Sat 1, 12-5pm Sun. Through Dec. 23, Kids shopping with the help of volunteers to benefit Crisis Nursery. Closed Mondays. Holiday Store, 3251 W. Iles Ave.
New Year’s Eve Party Dec 31, 7pm Fri-9am Sat, Pere Marquette Lodge, 13653 Lodge Blvd, Grafton, 618-786-2331 ext 338.
New Year’s Eve Party Dec 31, 8pm, Music of Robert Sampson. Free snacks and sandwiches. Drinks not included. Advance tickets only. $15, 635-9900. (Reservations at River Bank Lodge, 10 min. away, 632- 0202.) Hill Prairie Winery, 23753 Lounsberry Rd, Oakford, 217-635- 9900.
Poinsettia Give-Away Dec 28, 3:30-4:30pm, Be sure to bring your own container to transport your new poinsettia in. Washington Park Botanical Garden, 1740 W. Fayette Ave, 217-753-6228.
The Yellow Wallpaper Dec 31, 7pm, Compelling 1892 drama starring Aasne Vigesaa, directed by Kevin Purcell. Part of First Night, reservations required, 524-0901. Can leave voice mail. Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site, 603 S. Fifth St, 217- 524-0901.
Winter Holiday Floral Show Dec 22, 12-4pm Mon-Fri, 12-5pm Sat- Sun, Through Dec 22, Conservatory filled with poinsettias amongst tropical collection for stunning holiday display. Free. Washington Park Botanical Garden, 1740 W. Fayette Ave.
Xmas ARTicles Gift Shop Dec 22-24, 8:30am-4pm Mon-Fri, 12- 4pm Sat-S, Through Dec. 30, original art and fine crafts from over 50 artists. (Open 10am-2pm Christmas Eve.), Anne Lloyd Gallery of the Madden Arts Center, 125 N. Water, Decatur.
Fairs & Festivals
Eagle Festival Jan 08, 11am-3pm, See a live bald eagle up close. Pere Marquette Lodge, 13653 Lodge Blvd, Grafton, 619-786- 2331.
Books & Authors
Book Signing - Robert Shaw Dec 22, 1-3pm, Landscape photographer signs copies of his book, “Abraham Lincoln Traveled This Way: The America Lincoln Knew.” Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, 212 N. Sixth St, 217-782-5764.
Classics Book Group Jan 09, 12-1pm, Meets October through May in the Bicentennial Room. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. Lincoln Library, 326 S. Seventh St, 217- 753-4900.
Theater & Comedy
Chaser’s Comedy Showcase Dec 22, 29, Jan 05, 9pm, Every Thursday, Springfield’s best up-andcoming comedians. Hosted by Buddy Redman. Free. Chaser’s Iron Horse Saloon, 3036 N. Peoria Rd, 481-4754.
Comedian Dobie Maxwell Dec 23, 7:30pm and 9:30pm Fri, A.k.a. “Mr. Lucky” has toured North America as a professional standup comedian since 1985 and appeared with all the greats. Donnie B’s Comedy Club, 2937 W. White Oaks Dr, 391-joke.
Comedian Rex Havens Dec 23, 8pm, “Everything I know I learned from my wife.” Mason City Limits Comedy Club, 114 E. Chestnut, Mason City, 482-5233.
Comedian Steve Kramer Dec 30, 7:30pm and 9:30pm Fri, Laugh hysterically at celebrity impressions, musical satire, improv, and audience participation that plays like a Vegasstyle variety show. Donnie B’s Comedy Club, 2937 W. White Oaks Dr, 391-joke.
Comedian Steve Lott Dec 31, 7:15pm & 9:30pm, Opened shows for Steven Wright, Chicago and Bill Maher. Mason City Limits Comedy Club, 114 E. Chestnut, Mason City, 482- 5233.
New Year’s Eve Comedian Steve Kramer Dec 31, 6pm, 8pm, 10pm, Celebrity impressions, musical satire, improv and audience participation Vegas-style variety show. Donnie B’s Comedy Club, 2937 W. White Oaks Dr, 391-5653.
Music: General Events
Barton Theater Organ Concert by Mark Gifford Dec 31, 4:30pm, $5 admission or included with a First Night admission button. Springfield High School Schnirring Auditorium. Enter at Washington and Parker street. Springfield High School, 101 S. Lewis St.
Bret Michaels “Get Your Rock On” New Year’s Eve Extravaganza Dec 31, 8pm-1am, Prairie Capital Convention Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, 800-745-3000.
Elvis 77th Birthday Tribute Concert Jan 07, 7pm, Elvis Himselvis, Rick Dunham and his full band to benefit the Mary Bryant Home. $15. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St, 217-523-2787.
The Bill Hickerson Christmas Show Dec 25, 6am-12pm, Bill Hickerson and co-host Charles Curry present an entertaining variety of music, humor and talk for Christmas. WQNA 88.3 FM, 217- 529-0312.
Dance
Central IL Singles/Couples Dance Dec 23, 8-11pm, Don Smith plays. VFW Post #755, 2211 Old Jacksonville Road, 217-546-9515.
Central IL Singles/Couples Dance Dec 30, 8-11pm, Bobby Remack Band plays. VFW Post #755, 2211 Old Jacksonville Road, 217-546-9515.
Country Open Dance Dec 23, 7-11pm, Music by request, large floating hardwood dance floor. Prairie Land Dance Club, 650 Matilda St, Illiopolis, 217-428-1560.
Dec 30, 7-11pm, Large floating hardwood dance floor, music by request. Prairie Land Dance Club, 650 Matilda St, Illiopolis, 217-428-1560.
Country Open Dance Dec 28, 7-10pm, Dancing all night, no lessons. Prairie Land Dance Club, 650 Matilda St, Illiopolis, 217-428-1560.
Line Dance & Swing w/ DJ Marilyn Ferry Dec 22, 29, Jan 05, 8-10pm, Every Thursday open dancing. (Line dance lessons, 7-8 p.m.), The Doghouse, 2937 W. White Oaks Drive, 836-1438.
Art & Architecture
Featured Artist - Judy Shutt Dec 22-24, 26-31, Jan 02-04, 10am-5:30pm Mon-Sat, Floral arrangements. The Blue Door Gallery, 214 South 6th St, 217- 753-0262.
Gallery Hours Jan 09-10, 4-6pm Tue-Sat, 1- 3pm Sun, Sue Sommers Watercolors. Opening reception is January 7, 6-8 p.m. David Strawn Art Gallery, 331 W. College Ave, Jacksonville, 243- 9390.
Gallery Opening and Exhibit Dec 22, 4-6pm Tue-Sat, 1-3pm Sun, Adam Long, sculptor and Sherrie Jaudes, sculptor. David Strawn Art Gallery, 331 W. College Ave, Jacksonville, 243- 9390.
Manning After 20 Long Years Dec 22-23, 10am-2pm Tue-Fri, Through Dec. 23, retrospective collection of brightly colored pastels by well-known artist. Robert Morris Gallery, 607 E. Adams, 522-8977.
On and Of Paper: ISM Selections Dec 22-31, Jan 01-11, 8:30am-5pm Mon-Sat, 12-5pm Sun, Through April 2012, exhibit of all things paper. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St.
Film & Television
Movie Geeks Club Dec 29, 7pm, Last Thursday each month, watch movies selected by voting. moviegeeksclub.blogspot.com. Charley’s Club at Cafe Andiamo, 206 S. Sixth St, 303-2052.
Science
Paul Mickey Science Series Lecture Jan 11, 7-8:30pm, Dr. Jonathan Reyman, ISM Curator of Anthropology, “The End of Time: Maya, Aztec, Pawnee, and Pueblo Views of the “End of the World.” Illinois State Museum Research & Collections Center, 1011 E. Ash St, 785-0037.
Nature
New Year’s Day Outing - Stone Soup Hike Jan 01, 10am, Join the Sierra Club for a hike and soup meal. Bring ingredients for soup pot (one for meat pot and one for veggie pot). Bring own bowl and silverware. Free. Carpenter Park Nature Preserve Pavillion, Cabin Smoke Trail at North Business Route 55, 217-544-1751.
Winter Workshop Jan 08, 1-3pm, Wade Kammin, Wild Birds Unlimited, backyard bird feeding info and tips on winter bird identification. Free. Adams Wildlife Sanctuary, 2315 East Clear Lake Ave, 217-544-2473.
Illinois Answers The Call: Boys In Blue Dec 22-24, 9am-5pm, Through Dec. 30 daily, temporary exhibit illustrates Illinois’ early, initial response to Civil War. Free. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, 112 North Sixth St, 558-8844.
Meet a Boy in Blue Dec 24, 11am, 1pm and 3pm, Saturdays, living history presenter union soldier. New themes each Sat. Old State Capitol, 1 Old State Capitol Plaza, 785-7960.
Team Of Rivals Dec 25-31, Jan 01-11, 9am- 5pm daily, Through Jan 16, 2012, One-of-a-kind temporary Civil War Sesquicentennial exhibition that takes you inside the highest levels of the government. Museum admission. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, 212 N. Sixth St, 558-8934.
Health
Alcoholics Anonymous
Dec 22-24, Meetings daily. For times, locations visit aaspringfield.org. 24-hour answering service 525-5795, 1-866-525- 5795. Various locations.
Cancer Support Groups Dec 22, Various times, Lung Cancer, second Tue 10am; Women Around You, fourth Wed 5:30pm; Survivors Brown Bag Lunch, Mon noon; Caregivers Support Group, Tue 11am; Parents of Children w/ Cancer, Wed 3:30pm; Cancer Support Group Thu 3pm. Simmons Cancer Institute, 315 W. Carpenter.
GROW Mental Health Support Group Dec 22, 7-9pm, Monday and Thursday meetings. Free for those with mental health issues, emotional problems, addictions or difficulties coping. Anonymous, confidential. 622- 7953. Laurel United Methodist Church, 631 South Grand Ave W.
GROW in Illinois Mental Health Dec 22, 29, Jan 05, 6:30pm, Thursdays, 12-step support program for emotional, mental health issues, coping or addictions. Anonymous, free, confidential, open to all. Laurel United Methodist Church, 631 South Grand Ave W, 217-622-7953.
GROW in Illinois Mental Health Dec 22, 3-5pm, Free weekly 12-step for those with mental health, emotional or coping issues, addictions. Anonymous, confidential. 622-7953. People’s Church, 1109 E. Ash St.
HIV/Aids Testing Dec 22-23, 9am-4pm Mon-Fri, Testing throughout the week. 670-2259. Springfield Community Federation, #52 Brandon Drive.
Reiki for Cancer Patients Jan 03, 09, By Appointment , Open to all cancer patients regardless of where they are treated. Register, 545-5408. Simmons Cancer Institute, 315 W. Carpenter.
Social Media Conference Jan 11, 8am-1pm, Social media in public health world for health administrators, educators, nurses and communicators.
Wedeberg Conference Center. $20. www.ipha.com. Memorial Medical Center, 701 N. First St, 217-522-5687.
Faith & Philosophy
