Holiday events
Also, see The Calendar page 30 for more holiday happenings.
ONGOING
Historic Christmas at the Mansion Through Dec 27, 9:30- 11am, 2-3:30pm Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30-11am Saturdays, View 23 unique decorated trees. Illinois Executive Mansion, 410 E. Jackson.
Old Capitol Holiday Walks Dec 15, 19, 22, 5-8pm Wed, 10am-2pm Sat, Wednesdays and Saturdays until Christmas, unique shopping and dining, entertainment, horse-drawn trolley rides, Santa House and more. Downtown Springfi eld. 544-1723.
DSI Santa House Dec 19, 5-8pm and Dec. 15, 22, 10am-2pm, Free photo and candy cane. Old State Capitol Plaza, Between Sixth and Fifth streets at Adams.
Holiday Hall Exhibition and 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.
Santa House Through Dec 23, 5-7pm Mon- Fri, 1-6pm Sat-Sun, Springfi eld Park District hosts free visits with Santa. Pictures $5 or bring your own camera. 1415 N. Grand Ave. East next to Robin Roberts Stadium.
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 Eve, 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.
Winter Holiday Floral Show Through Dec 23, 12-4pm Mon-Fri, 12-5pm Sat-Sun, 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 Through 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.
Xmas ARTicles Gift Shop Through Dec 28, 8:30am- 4:30pm Mon-Fri, 10-4pm 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.
Ghosts of the Library Through Jan. 2, exhibit of 13 Santa Claus fi gures from around world. Museum admission. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, 212 N. Sixth Street, 217-782-5764.
Dana-Thomas House Holiday Tours Through Jan. 2013, 9am- 4pm Wed-Sun, See famous Springfi eld landmark decorated for the holidays. Suggested donations $10, $15 family. Closed Christmas Day. Dana- Thomas House, 301 E. Lawrence, 217-782-6776.
DECEMBER
Holiday Handmade Gifts Dec 13, 10am-12pm, Preschool age and their grown-ups for learning, art projects and more. $40. Register in advance online. Urban Sassafras, 200 Broadway, 670-2391.
Sustainable Springfield, Inc. Holiday Party Dec 13, 5:30-7:30pm, Members and their guest invited. lamar4good@hotmail.com if you didn’t receive your invite. Maldaner’s, 222 S. Sixth Street, 217-522-4313.
Holiday Stories with Santa Dec 14, 5:30-7:30pm, Family event with holiday crafts, games and stories. Wear your holiday pajamas. $10 per family by Dec. 12, 525-1825. Underground garage available until 9 p.m. Old State Capitol, 1 Old State Capitol Plaza, 785-7960.
Messiah: Springfield Choral Society Dec 14-15, 7:30pm, authentic Baroque version of Handel’s Messiah, with orchestra. $15. Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 815 S. Sixth Street, 787-4868.
Christmas Movie Classics Dec 14-15, 7:30pm, It’s a Wonderful Life (Fri.) and Miracle on 34th Street (Sat.) shown on grand screen. $5 and food bank donation. The Legacy Theatre, 101 E. Lawrence, 1-800-838-3006.
White Christmas Dec 14-16, 8pm Fri-Sat, 2pm Sun, Springfi eld Theatre Centre presents. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St, 217- 523-2787.
Breakfast with Santa Dec 15, Visit Santa, enjoy brunch and listen to seasonal music. $10 family of four. Tickets, 415-7699. The Maple Club, 120 S. McLean, Lincoln.
Holiday Farmers Market Dec 15, 9am-1pm, Everything you need to make your most scrumptious holiday dinner ever. Artisan’s Building. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave., 528-1563.
Wreaths Across America 2012 Dec 15, 11am, Honor, remember, teach about veterans. Held simultaneously nationwide. Camp Butler National Cemetery, 5063 Camp Butler Road, 217-415-6464 .
A Historic Christmas Dec 15, 12-5pm, Visit Mr. Lincoln, enjoy carolers and refreshments at Edwards Place, Lincoln Home, Iles House, Lindsay Home, Governor’s Mansion and Pasfi eld House. 217-523-2631.
A Historic Christmas Dec 15, 12-5pm, Part of progressive tour. Sound Celebration Choir and Abe and Mary Lincoln on hand. Elijah Iles House, 628 S. Seventh Street, 217-492-5929.
Holiday Ice Skating Exhibition Dec 15, 1:30pm, Springfi eld Figure Skating Club performs to holiday music. Free. Bring non-perishable item get free into public skate 3-5 p.m. Nelson Center Ice Arena, Lincoln Park, 1601 N. Fifth St., 217-553-7708.
Lindsay Home - A Historic Christmas Dec 15, 1-5pm, Candle-lit tour, poetry, refreshments. Sound Celebration Chorus and more. Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site, 603 S. Fifth Street, 217-524-0901.
The Nutcracker Dec 15-16, 2pm and 7pm Sat, 2pm Sun, Classic holiday stage production presented by The Summer Repertory Theatre at Blackburn College. $10. Bothwell Auditorium, Blackburn College, 700 College Ave., Carlinville, 854-5518.
Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and Chorale Dec 15, 3pm, A Golden Christmas. $15, children and students free. Tickets at door. Illinois College Rammelkamp Chapel, 1101 W. College Ave., Jacksonville, 217-245-1181.
Springfield Jaycees Holiday Parade Dec 15, 5pm, Catch the holiday spirit as over 90 units thrill onlookers when the parade winds down the streets of Springfi eld at night! 691-7460. Downtown Springfi eld.
Rankin-Bass Christmas Special Spectacular Dec 15-16, 1pm and 2:30pm, “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer,” “’Twis the Night Before Christmas,” “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” “The Year without a Santa Claus.” Free with food bank donation. The Legacy Theatre, 101 E. Lawrence, 1-800-838-3006.
Caroling at the Carillon Dec 16, 4:30-5pm, Listen to carillon music, Damien Kaplan and Springfi eld High School Choir, plus hot cocoa and cookies around a roaring bonfi re with a special visit from Santa. 753-6219. Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon, Fayette Road.
Decorate a Cookie Dec 17, 6pm, Kids Klub event for ages 4-12. Scheels, 3801 South MacArthur, 217-726- 6330.
Christmas at the Front Dec 18, 6-9pm, Walk recreated trench, talk with soldiers, enjoy Christmas carols, hot beverages, donate to Toys for Tots. Illinois State Military Museum, 1301 N. MacArthur Blvd., 761-3910.
Capital Area Concert Band, Holiday Walks Dec 19, 6pm, Free concert. Old State Capitol, 1 Old State Capitol Plaza, 785-7960.
A Very Hoogland Christmas Dec 20-23, 7pm Thu-Fri, 2pm Sat-Sun, Old-fashioned Christmas revue featuring talents of local performers. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth Street, 217-523- 2787.
Morning Star Reindeer Dec 21, 11am-6pm, Santa and his live reindeer. Photos and reindeer food available to purchase. Scheels, 3801 South MacArthur, 217-726-6330.
Luminaria Evening at Dana- Thomas House Dec 22, 4-8pm, 1000 candles in paper sacks line sidewalks and ledges. Silent tours with live music. $5-$3. Dana-Thomas House, 301 E. Lawrence, 217-782-6776.
Holiday Meals Dec 25, 9am or later, Help package and deliver meals to home-bound citizens. No reservation needed, just show up to help. First Church of the Brethren, 2115 Yale Boulevard, 523-5212.
Poinsettia Giveaway Dec 27, 12-3:30pm, Be sure to bring your own container to transport your new poinsettia in. Washington Park Botanical Garden, 1740 W. Fayette Ave., 217-546-4116.
Noon Year’s Eve Dec 31, 11am-1pm, Kids 5-12 count down to the new year. Games, crafts and lunch in this drop-off celebration. $10. Henson Robinson Zoo, 1100 E. Lake Shore Dr, 217-585-1821.
First Night Dec 31, 1-4pm and 6:30- 11pm, Afternoon free activities for kids at Springfi eld High School. Evening live music, dance and theatrical performances. Downtown locations. springfi eldartsco. org. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth Street, 217- 523-2787.
First Night Civil War Ball Dec 31, 8-10pm, Free. Old State Capitol, 1 Old State Capitol Plaza, 785-7960.
New Year’ Eve Maple Club Style Dec 31, Listen to musicians while served a scrumptious dinner, followed by dancing to Debbie Ross Band. Tickets, 415-7699. The Maple Club, 120 S. McLean, Lincoln.
New Year’s Eve Open House and Party Dec 31, 7:30pm-1am, Restoration fundraiser. Reservations, 243-2001. Governor Duncan Mansion, 4 Duncan Place, Jacksonville, 245-2626.
