Holiday events

Each week throughout the season, find fun holiday activities here. Also, see The Calendar page 29 for more holiday happenings.

ONGOING

Old Capitol Holiday Walks Dec 05-06, 08, 12, 15, 19, 22, 5-8pm Wed, 10am-2pm Sat, plus Dec. 6 from 5-8pm, unique shopping and dining, entertainment, horse-drawn trolley rides, Santa House and more. Downtown Springfi eld. 544-1723.

Historic Christmas at the Mansion Through Dec. 27, 9:30-11am, Tue, Thu, Sat and 2-3:30pm Tue and Thu, view 23 unique decorated trees. Illinois Executive Mansion, 410 E. Jackson.

Holiday Hall Exhibition/Sale Through Dec 17, 10am-5pm Mon-Fri, 10am-3pm Sat, Unique exhibition featuring more than 45 regional artists. Springfi eld Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St, 217-523-2631.

Mini O’Beirne Crisis Nursery Children’s Holiday Store Through Dec 23, 4-8pm Tue-Fri, 10am-5:30pm Sat, 12-5pm Sun. Kids shop with help of volunteers. Closed Mondays. Holiday Store, 3325 Robbins Road, 217-525-6800.

Holiday at the Mall Until Christmas, Santa, train rides (center court), holiday concerts (food court). Family Service Center Tree of Wishes (lower level outside Sears). White Oaks Mall, 2501 Wabash Ave. 787-8560.

Xmas ARTicles Gift Shop Through Dec 30, 8:30am-4pm Mon-Fri, 12-4pm Sat-Sun, Original art and fi ne crafts from over 50 artists. (Open 10am- 2pm Christmas Eve.), Anne Lloyd Gallery of the Madden Arts Center, 125 N. Water, Decatur, 217-423-3189.

Winter Holiday Floral Show Dec 01-09, 12-4pm Mon-Fri, 12-5pm Sat-Sun, Through Dec. 23, Conservatory fi lled with poinsettias among the tropical collection for a stunning holiday display. Free. Washington Park Botanical Garden, 1740 W. Fayette Ave., 217-546-4116.

Holiday Lights at the Zoo Dec 07- Dec 23, 5-8pm, Thousands of lights and displays. Bring new unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots, get in free. Admission. 217-585- 1821 Henson Robinson Zoo, 1100 E. Lake Shore Drive.

NOVEMBER

Christmas Parade Nov 29, 5:30pm, ‘Sending Holiday Greetings to Your Loved Ones’ in honor of Lincoln Post Offi ce 100th anniversary. Downtown Lincoln.

Capital Chamber Singers Christmas Candlelight Concert Nov 29, 7pm, Free admission hosted by Taylorville Area Arts Council. First Presbyterian Church, Taylorville, 116 E. Franklin St. Taylorville.

Nativity Festival Nov 30, Dec 01-02, 2-7pm Fri, 12-4pm Sat-Sun, Public invited to view more than 100 Nativity sets and tour St. Francis of Assisi Church. Free. Chiara Center, 4875 Laverna Road, 523-0901.

The Holly and the Ivy Nov 30, Dec 01-02, 8pm Fri- Sat, 2pm Sun, Moving, awardwinning 1950 British drama centers on recently widowed, aging country vicar who hosts a family Christmas. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth Street, 217-523-2787.

White Christmas Nov 30, Dec 01-02, 07-09, 14-16, 8pm Fri-Sat, 2pm Sun, Springfi eld Theatre Centre presents. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St, 217- 523-2787.

Charles Dickens’ Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story Nov 30, Dec 01-02, 7-9, 8pm Fri-Sat, 3pm Sun, LLCC Theatre’s newly adapted version. $12. Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site, 15588 History Lane, Petersburg, 217-632- 5440.

Christmas in Petersburg Nov 30, Dec 01, 10am-5pm, Saturday includes craft show, home tour and bazaar. 632-4392 or 632-4154. Petersburg Square, N. Seventh St. at W. Douglas Ave. Petersburg.

Alternative Holiday Fair Nov 30, Dec 01, 4-8pm Fri, 7:30am-1pm Sat, Shopping experience offering fair-trade goods from around world. Dinner/lunch for purchase. First Church of the Brethren, 2115 Yale Boulevard, 523-5212.

DECEMBER

Pancakes, Paws and Santa Claus Dec 01, 8:30-10:30am, See Santa and animal friends. Each child gets free photo with Santa. Reservations and pre-payment required by phone at 585-1821. Lincoln Greens Golf Course, 700 E. Lake Shore Drive, 786-4111.

Cookie Walk Dec 01, 8:30am-12pm, Homemade cookies, candy, sweet bread and holiday craft items for Committee for Children. St. John’s Lutheran Church, 2477 W. Washington St., 793-3933.

Holiday Craft Show Dec 01, 9am-2pm, Lunch served 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. First Baptist Church of Virden, 157 W. Jackson Street, Virden, 217- 358-9772.

Coat Drive Dec 01, 9am-12pm, Eastside Pride collecting clean, slightly used coats. 502-3701. Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, 908 S. Martin Luther King Dr.

Cookie Walk Dec 01, 9am-12pm, Christmas cookies, decorated cutouts to snickerdoodles to fudge. $5 per pound. First Congregational Church, 2100 Bates Ave., 217- 546-7170.

Christmas Village Bazaar Dec 01, 9am-2pm, Crafts, baked goods and turkey noodle luncheon 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Family life center gymnasium. 638- 3334. Sherman United Methodist Church, 2336 E. Andrew Rd, Sherman, 496-2338, ext 5.

Holiday Decorating Seminars Dec 01, 08, 10am, 45-minute seminars. Dec. 1 Make & Take, $30 must also buy materials. Dec. 8 is a free seminar. GreenView Nursery, 3000 W. Jefferson, (217) 787-4700.

Kleiner Christkindlmarkt - A Little Christmas Market Dec 01, 10am-3pm, SHS German language student choir sings carols, Santa Claus, kids craft corner, bake sale and food outside under tent and free standing fi re-pit. Engel’s on Edwards, 552 S. MacArthur, 217-744-0607.

Advent Day of Reflection Dec 01, 10am-3pm, Quiet refl ection and input amidst the frenetic holiday schedule. Jubilee Farm, 6760 Old Jacksonville Road, 787-6927.

Evergreen Wreath Making Dec 01-02, 10am-1:30pm, Plant material, wreath frames, wire and simple ribbon provided. Preregistration required. Washington Park Botanical Garden, 1740 W. Fayette Ave., 217-546-4116.

Mission Day Dec 01, 10am-1pm, Free kitchen, bath and paper towels. Board games tournaments. Sponsored by Freedom in Holiness Mission. 522-2527. Lincoln Library, 326 S. Seventh Street, 217-753-4900.

Christmas Candlelight Service Dec 01, 2pm, 4pm, 5:30pm, 8pm, Elkhart Historical Society hosts service in St. John the Baptist Chapel. Reservations by phone or website. 947-2238. Elkhart.

Twilight Christmas Parade Dec 01, 4-6pm, Treats for kids, THS Madrigal Singers and hot chocolate at U.S. Bank. Taylorville square, Taylorville.

1850s-style Community Carol Sing Dec 01, 6pm, 5:30pm prelude music, Join Abraham and Mary Lincoln for worship service and carol sing. Attend in period costume if you wish. First Presbyterian Church, 321 S. Seventh Street. 528-4311.

LLCC Madrigal Singers Dec 01, 6pm, Catered ole fashioned dinner and the sounds of madrigal singers. $50. Reservations and prepayment required. Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site, 603 S. Fifth Street, 217-524-0901.

Pilot Home Tour and Tea Dec 01-02, 7-9pm Sat, 1-5pm Sun, Tour fi ve homes followed by tea. 479-4610. Jacksonville Theatre Guild, 210 W. College Ave., Jacksonville, 245-1402.

Jingle Jam IV for St. Jude Dec 02, 12-6pm, Live music, raffl e baskets, Styx “Guitar of Hope” drawing, children activities, holiday merchandise, grab bags, food, concessions and more. Free. Erin’s Pavilion, Southwind Park, 4965 S. Second Street, 217-899-5676.

Santa in the Depot Dec 02, 1pm, Children of Chatham, fi nd out what Santa will arrive in this year - a Model T ford, a train? Free. Chatham Railroad Museum, 100 N. State St, Chatham.

The Christmas Carol - Jacksonville Edition Dec 02, 2pm and 7pm, Written by Ken Bradbury and performed by local talent. $5. Grace United Methodist Church, Jacksonville, 400 W. Morgan Street, 217-245- 9521.

A Ringing Christmas Dec 02, 4pm, Family-friendly Christmas pops concert with a jazz combo and handbells. $10. First Congregational Church, 2100 Bates Ave., 309-365-2910.

Advent Concert Dec 02, 4pm, Blessed Sacrament Choirs, The Capital Chamber Singers, Seraphim and orchestra. $10. Blessed Sacrament Church, 1725 S. Walnut Street, 217-528-7521.

LLCC Recital Series Dec 02, 4pm, “My Grown-Up Christmas Wish” and other holiday favorites by The Jane Hartman Trio. Free. LLCC Trutter Center, 5250 Shepherd Road, 217-862-2000.

Boston Brass and the Brass All-Stars Big Band: Christmas Bells are Swingin’ Dec 02, 7pm, Exciting classical arrangements, to burning jazz standards and best of the original brass quintet repertoire. Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, 1 University Plaza, 217-206-6160, 800-207-6960.

Springfield Civic Garden Club Dec 03, 9am, ‘A Funky Twist on the Holidays’ with Trendsetters, Chatham. www.scgc-il.org. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 533 S. Walnut Street, 217-522-4415.

Fair Trade Fair Dec 03-04, 11am-1pm and 4-6pm, Proceeds support work of Pax Christi Springfi eld. Dawson Hall. 544-3997. Benedictine University at Springfi eld.

Create an Ornament Dec 03, 6pm, Kids Klub event for ages 4-12. Scheels, 3801 South MacArthur Ave., 217-726-6330.

DSI Santa House Dec 05-06, 12, 19, 5-8pm and Dec. 08, 15, 22, 10am-2pm, Free photo and candy cane. Old State Capitol Plaza, Between Sixth and Fifth streets at Adams.

LLCC Madrigal Singers Dec 05, 4pm, Free. Cathedral Church of St. Paul, 815 S. Second St, 217-544-5135. A second free performance at 7 p.m., Old State Capitol, 217- 785-9363.