HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS Dana-Thomas House Holiday Tours Dec 27-30, Jan 02, 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.

First Night Dec 31, 1-4pm and 6:30pm, 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 St, 217-523- 2787. First Night Civil War Ball Dec 31, 7-10pm, Free. Old State Capitol, 1 Old State Capitol Plaza, 785-7960.

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

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 Party Dec 31, 8pm-1am, Dancing, dinner and live music. Hilton Springfi eld, 700 E. Adams.

New Year’s Eve Open House and Party Dec 31, 7:30pm-1am, Restoration fundraiser. Reservations, 243-2001. Governor Duncan Mansion, 4 Duncan Pl, Jacksonville, 245-2626.

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.

Xmas ARTicles Gift Shop Dec 27-28, 8:30am-4:30pm Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm , Through Dec. 28, 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.

THEATER & COMEDY Comedian Jimmy McCugh Dec 28-29, 8pm Fri, 7:15pm Sat, Classic observational humor emphasized with unique vocal and facial expressions. $12.50-$13.50. Mason City Limits Comedy Club, 114 E. Chestnut, Mason City, 482-5233. Comedian Jimmy McCugh Dec 31, 8pm, Classic observational humor with unique vocal and facial expressions. $12.50. Mason City Limits Comedy Club, 114 E. Chestnut, Mason City, 482-5233.

Sonnets from an Ungrafted Tree Dec 31, 5:30pm and 7pm, Free compelling original play based on sonnets by Edna St. Vincent Millay with actress Aasne Vigesaa. Reservations by phone. Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site, 603 S. Fifth St, 217-524-0901.

MUSIC: GENERAL EVENTS

An Evening with Elvis Jan 05, 7:30pm, Elvis Himselvis, Steve Brandes and The Elvis Himselvis Band. Mary Bryant Home fundrasier. $20. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St, 217-523-2787. Millikin University Choir Jan 06, 3pm, Nationally recognized choir performing free concert. Goodwill offering accepted. Central Baptist Church, 501 S. Fourth St.

DANCE A Country Dance Dec 28, 7-10pm, New Year’s countdown. $5. Prairie Land Dance Club, 650 Matilda St, Illiopolis, 428-1560. All About Country Dance Dec 28, 7-10pm, Line dancing, two step, waltz, swing. Free lesson at start of dance w/ DJ Marilyn Ferry. $6. Decatur Moose Lodge, 3190 N Woodford Street, Decatur, 217- 836-1438.

All About Dance Jan 02, 09, 7-10pm, Every Wed. hour line dance lessons with Marilyn Ferry before dance. $5. VFW Post #755, 2211 Old Jacksonville Road, 836-1438.

Dance Dec 28, 8pm, Kevin Turner playing 50s, 60s and 70s. Dances every last Friday of each month. VFW Post #755, 2211 Old Jacksonville Road, 217-546-9515. New Year’s Eve Celebration Dec 31, 10pm-2am, Dress to impress and dance in the New Year. Party favors, champagne toast. $8, $10 couple. SalsaNights@hotmail. com. Abe’s Southside Cafe & Pub, 3751 S. Sixth St, 217- 529-5511.

ART & ARCHITECTURE Luminous Ground: Artists with Histories Dec 27-31, Jan 01-06, 8:30am-5pm Mon-Sat, 12- 5pm Sun, Through Jan. 2013, view the work of eleven older Illinois artists, ages 78 through 90. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St, 217-782-7386. Reflections from Salisbury Dec 27-31, Jan 01-09, 8am- 9pm Mon-Thu, 8am-4pm Fri, 12, Through Jan. 31, Pastel drawings by acclaimed local artist, George Colin. Charles

E. Becker Library. Closed for Christmas break. Benedictine University at Springfi eld.

CHILDREN’S CORNER 2013 Healthy Family Kick-off Jan 05, 9am-12pm, Screenings, activities, games and more. All free. Erin’s Pavilion, Southwind Park, 4965 S. Second St, 217 960-5724.

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.

SCIENCE Paul Mickey Science Series Lecture Jan 09, 7-9:30pm, “The Science of Climate Change.” Dr. Eric Grimm, Curator and Chair of Botany, ISM. Thorne Deuel Auditorium. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St, 782-7386.

NATURE

Stone Soup Hike Jan 01, 10am, Join the Sierra Club. Bring ingredients for soup pot (one for meat pot and one for veggie pot). Bring own bowl and silverware. Free. Carpenter Park Nature Preserve Pavilion, Cabin Smoke Trail off North Business Route 55 (Peoria Road), Sherman, 217-544-1751. Winter Bird Feeding Jan 07, 9:15-11:30am, Wild Birds Unlimited presents info on how to attract more birds to your yard and identify them. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 533 S. Walnut Street, 217-522-4415.

LECTURES & MEETINGS

Lincolnland Depression Era Glass Club Meeting Jan 07, 6-8pm, Fenton Christmas Glass by Rich Karman. Lincoln Library, 326 S. Seventh St, 793-0565.

BULLETIN BOARD Backgammon Club Jan 02, 09, 6pm, Every Wed. with Sangamon Valley Backgammon Association. 622-9447. Capital Teletrack, 1766 Wabash Ave, 217-546- 2111 .

Pharmacy Open Dec 27, 7pm, Fourth Thursday of month, poetry, prose, song, stand-up and more. 6:30 p.m. sign-up. The Pharmacy, 401 South Grand Avenue West, 217-652-3273. Vigil for Peace Dec 29, 12pm, Each Saturday at noon on corner of Sixth and Monroe, outside Federal Building. All are welcome. 544- 3997. Downtown Springfi eld.

FOOD Lions Pancake Breakfast Jan 06, 7am-1pm, Pancakes, sausage, coffee, milk and juice. $8. Proceeds for leader dog for local vision-impaired resident. Knights of Columbus Hall Council 364, 2200 S. Meadowbrook Rd, 971-9276.

HISTORY Freedom’s First Day Jan 01, 1pm, Old State Capitol, 1 Old State Capitol Plaza, 785- 7960.

Holiday Events Dec 27-29, Civil War Santa and other holiday activities. Museum admission may be

required. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, 212 N. Sixth St, 217-782-5764. Proclamation Signing and News Conference Jan 01, 1pm, Frederick Douglass and others will join President Lincoln for comments. Old State Capitol, 1 Old State Capitol Plaza, 217- 785-9363.

Watch Night Service Dec 31, 8pm Mon, Recreation of the anticipation as emancipation neared. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 533 S. Walnut Street, 217-522-4415.

SPORTS & FITNESS Drop-In Derby Dec 30, Jan 06, 8-10pm, Every Sunday for ages 18 and up. Helmet required. $5, $3 skate rental. Skateland South, 1500 Recreation Dr, 546-4543.

Springfield Junior Blues Game Dec 31, Jan 01, 6pm Mon, 3pm Tue, Jr. Blues vs Michigan. Nelson Center Ice Arena, Lincoln Park, 1601 N. Fifth St, 217-525-2589.

More events, more details in our online calendar at illinoistimes.com.