HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS
Breakfast with Santa Dec 08, 9am-12pm, Valley of Springfi eld Scottish Rite hosts free to families attending. Donations for Learning Center for Dyslexia accepted. Springfi eld Masonic Center, 1020 Rickard Road, 217-793-7728.
Christmas Open House Dec 08, 11am-4pm, Kevin Purcell performs Dylan Thomas’ ‘A Child’s Christmas in Wales’ at 2 p.m. Seasonal music, refreshments. Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site, 603 S. Fifth St, 217-524-0901.
Christmas in Virginia Dec 07-08, Ginger bread house making, craft and food vendors, Santa Claus Parade and visits, kids games and more. 452-7786. Virginia town square.
Clayville Christmas Dec 08, 10am-4pm, Caroling groups throughout the day, children’s store, refreshments, puppeteer, Santa all day. Free. Clayville, Route 125, Pleasant Plains, 481-4430.
Cookie Walk Dec 08, 8am-12pm, Come early for best selection of homemade cookies and candy. Douglas United Methodist Church, 501 S. Douglas Avenue.
Ghosts of the Library Nov 29-30, Dec 01-12, Through Jan. 2, exhibit of 13 Santa Claus fi gures from around world. Museum admission. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, 212 N. Sixth St, 217-782-5764.
Pleasant Plains HS Madrigal Singers Dec 08-09, 6pm Sat, 1pm Sun, Madrigal music and world Christmas carols in 16th century atmosphere. $20 Sat. dinner, $14 Sun. tea. Pleasant Plains High School, 2000 Championship Dr, Pleasant Plains, 626-1044.
The Nutcracker Dec 08-09, 2pm and 8pm Sat, 2pm Sun, Springfi eld Ballet Company’s production of holiday classic with a Springfi eld-area cast. $26-$16. Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, 1 University Plaza, 544-1967.
The Santaland Diaries Dec 07-09, 8pm Fri-Sat, 2pm Sun, Comedy about out-of-work actor who becomes Macy’s elf to pay holiday bills. Mature audiences. $17-$18. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St, 217- 523-2787.
Victorian Christmas Gaslight Tea Dec 07, 6pm, Creative and delicious array of savory delicacies. Register by December 3. $25. Springfi eld Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St, 217-523- 2631.
BOOKS & AUTHORS
Book Reading/Signing Dec 08, 10:45am, Sarah Nestler, Chatham Middle School student, reads from her book ‘How to Be a Goddess.’ The Sly Fox Bookstore, 123 N. Springfi eld St (Route 4), Virden, 217- 965-3641.
Book Signing Dec 07, 7pm, ‘Lincoln’s Ladder to the Presidency, The Eighth Circuit’ Guy Fraker. Horsefeathers, 104 Governor Oglesby St, Elkhart, 217-947-2100.
Book Signing Dec 01, 11am-2pm, Guy Fraker, “Lincoln’s Ladder to the Presidency;” Glenna Schroder-Lein Lincoln and Medicine. Books on the Square, 153 East Jackson, Virden, 217-965-5443.
Book Signing/Presentation Dec 05, 6:30pm, Amy S. Greenberg, “A Wicked War: Polk, Clay, Lincoln, and the 1846 U.S. Invasion of Mexico.” Museum exhibit opens. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, 212 N. Sixth St, 217-782-5764.
Chosin Reservoir Talk Dec 01, 12pm, Carl I. Greenwood, retired Korean War Veteran. Reservations strongly encouraged. Korean War National Museum Denis J. Healy Freedom Center, 9 South Old State Capitol Plaza, 217-523- 7230.
