Through December, fi nd fun holiday activities here.

(Also see page 32.)

Children’s Holiday Store Dec 5-23. 4-8pm Mon-Fri, 10am-5:30pm Sat, 12-5pm Sun. Kids shop with help of volunteers. Benefi ts Mini O’Beirne Crisis Nursery. Holiday Store, Town and Country Shopping Center, 2403 S MacArthur Blvd., 217-525-6800.

Historic Christmas Dec 5, Through Dec 31. 9:30- 11am, 2-3:30pm Tue, Thu and 9:30-11am Sat. Free tours. Dec. 13 open house. Illinois Executive Mansion, 410 E. Jackson.

Holiday Chorale Concert Dec. 5, 11:15-11:45am and 12-12:30pm, Dec. 6, 12- 12:30pm. Pleasant Plains High School Madrigal chorale and Rochester High School Madrigal on Thursday. Williamsville High School Madrigal chorale on Friday. Free. Old State Capitol, 1 Old State Capitol Plaza, 217- 785-9363.

Old Capitol Holiday Walks Dec 5, 11 and 18, 5-8pm. Santa House, reindeer, entertainment, tours and more. Free. 217-544- 1723. Downtown Springfi eld.

Alternative Holiday Fair Dec 6, Through Dec 7. 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, 217-523-5212.

Angel of Hope Ceremony Dec 6, 7pm. Public invited to free candlelight ceremony that includes reading of children’s names on Memorial Wall. Washington Park Botanical Garden, 1740 W. Fayette Ave, 217-546-4116.

Candlelight Open House Dec 6, Through Dec 7. 6-8pm. Enjoy home lit with candles and see period-decorated house. Refreshments. Free. Elijah Iles House, 628 S. Seventh St, 217- 492-5929.

Carlinville Christmas Market Dec 6, Through Dec 8. 3-9pm Fri, 9am-8pm Sat, 11am-3pm Sun. Small town holiday magic, heated tents, arts, crafts, caroling, entertainment, trolley tours, Santa. 217-473-9048. Carlinville Square, Carlinville.

Chatham Light Up the Park Dec 6, Through Dec 21. 6-9pm. Friday and Saturdays. Drivethrough display. 217-416-1142. Chatham Community Park, S. Main St., Chatham.

Holiday Lights at the Zoo Dec 6, Through Dec 23. 5-8pm. Walking tour of lights and displays. $3.25, $2 kids. Henson Robinson Zoo, 1100 E. Lake Shore Dr, 217-585-1821.

Holiday Reception Dec 6, 5:30pm. $30. Dana- Thomas House, 301 E. Lawrence, 217-782-6776.

Nativity Festival Dec 6, Through Dec 8. 2-7pm Fri, 12-4pm Sat-Sun. More than 100 Nativity sets and tour of St. Francis of Assisi Church. Free. Chiara Center, 4875 LaVerna Rd, 523-0901.

Pancakes, Paws and Santa Claus Dec 7, 8:30-10:30am. Breakfast, free photo with Santa, zoo animals. $10-$8. Advance registration and payment required. Register 217-585- 1821. Lincoln Greens Golf Course, 700 E. Lake Shore Dr, 786-4111.

Breakfast with Santa Dec 7, 10am. Playhouse on the Square, 68 E. Central Park, Jacksonville, 217-491-3977.

Breakfast with Santa Dec 7, 9am-12pm. The Valley of Springfi eld Scottish Rite hosts. Free. Reservations 217- 794-7728. Springfi eld Masonic Center, 1020 Rickard Road.

Christmas Bazaar Dec 7, 9am-2pm. Cookie walk, shopping, kids activities, turkey noodle luncheon 11.a.m.-1 p.m. Sherman United Methodist Church, 2336 E. Andrew Rd, Sherman, 496-2338, ext 5.

Christmas in Petersburg Dec 7, 8am-3pm. Saturday includes craft show, home tour and bazaar. Petersburg Square, N. Seventh St. at W. Douglas Ave., Petersburg.

Christmas Open House Dec 7, 11am-4pm. Seasonal music, Lindsay’s Christmas poetry, refreshments. Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site, 603 S. Fifth St, 217-524-0901.

Christmas Open House Dec 7, 5-8pm. Music, holiday treats and cookie give-away. Free. Dana-Thomas House, 301 E. Lawrence, 217-782-6776.

Christmas Parade Dec 7, 6pm. Holiday Stories, with Santa Claus. Downtown Springfi eld.

Clayville Christmas Dec 7, 10am-4pm. Santa, caroling groups, period decorations, refreshments

and kids’ store. Donation. 217- 572-4984. Clayville, Route 125, Pleasant Plains, 626-1024.

Cookie Walk Dec 7, 8am-12pm. $5 a pound. First Congregational Church, 2100 Bates Ave, (217) 546-7170.

Cookie Walk and Craft Sale Dec 7, 8am-3pm. Homemade cookies, candies and handcrafted items. Springfi eld Ceramics and Crafts Club, 2626 S. Pasfi eld St., springfi eldceramicsandcraftsclub.org.

Evergreen Wreath Making Dec 7, Through Dec 8. 10am. Fresh greens with frame and wire included. Bring your own pruning shears and any special wreath decorations. Pre-registration, pre-payment required. $30- $35. Washington Park Botanical Garden, 1740 W. Fayette Ave, 217-546-4116.

Holly Fair Bake Sale Dec 7, 10am-4pm. Gyros, Italian beef, spinach pie, baklava, Greek pastries, assortment plates and more desserts. Crafts tables. St. Anthony’s Hellenic Orthodox Church, 1600 S. Glenwood Ave, 217-522-7010.

Kleiner Christkindlmarkt Christmas Market Dec 7, 11am-5pm. Handmade and manufactured items. Bake sale. Food and drinks. Live music. Fire pit. Santa Claus visit. 217- 793-0139. Engel’s on Edwards, 552 S. MacArthur, 217-744-0607.

Madrigal Dinner Dec 7, 6pm and Dec 8, 3pm. Southeast High School Sensations Show Choir. 217-525-3130, ext. 161, sps186.org/teachers/ twilliam. Abundant Faith Christian Center, 2525 Taylor Ave.

Messiah: Springfield Choral Society Dec 7, 7:30pm. Authentic Baroque version of Handel’s Messiah, with orchestra. $15. 787-4868. Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 815 S. Sixth Street, 522-3342.

PTO Winter Carnival Dec 7, 9am-1pm. Donut Breakfast with Santa (9-10 a.m.), Christmas wishes (10 a.m.-1 p.m.), Santa’s Secret Shop, vendors, Infl atable fun 10 a.m.-noon ($5) and lunch. Free. 217-502-4974. Pawnee School, 810 N. Fourth Street.

Santa and Mrs. Claus Dec 7, 11am-4pm. Clauses’ hear children’s wishes. Free. Bring your camera. Free Ferris wheel ride for participating kids. Scheels, 3801 South MacArthur, 217-726-6330.

Santa Paws Photos Dec 7, 11am-3pm. Santa will have his photo taken with pets and/or children to benefi t Adopt-A-Pet. $8. Petco, 2721 S. Veterans Parkway, 217-793- 7387.

Twilight Christmas Parade Dec 7, 5pm. Treats for kids and Santa at the end. Taylorville square, Taylorville. Vespers Dec 7, Through Dec 8. 3pm. Two holiday performances each day. Kirkland Fine Arts Center, 1184 W. Main St, Decatur, 424-6318.

Winter Holiday Floral Show Dec 7, Through Dec 23. 12- 4pm Mon-Fri, 12-5pm Sat- Sun. Conservatory fi lled with poinsettias among tropical collection. Free. Washington Park Botanical Garden, 1740 W. Fayette Ave, 217-546-4116.

December Stillness Dec 8, 5pm. Mixed Chorus, Encore and Premiere Choirs of Sacred Heart-Griffi n High School. Free-will offering at door. Sacred Heart-Griffi n High School, 1601 W. Washington.

Santa House Dec 9, Through Dec 21. 5-8pm Mon-Fri, 12-4pm Sat-Sun. Springfi eld Park District hosts. Free. Pictures $5 or bring camera. Pet days Dec. 7-8. 753-0700. Robin Roberts Stadium, Lanphier Park, N. Grand Ave and Michigan Ave.

Wrights Specialty Tour Dec 13, 10am. $20 donation for tour followed by afternoon A Child’s Christmas in Wales by Kevin Purcell. Free. Dana-Thomas House, 301 E. Lawrence, 217- 782-6776.

Christmas Open House Dec 14, 5-8pm. Music, decorations by Civic Garden Club of Springfi eld, holiday treats courtesy of Slow Food Springfi eld. Free. Dana-Thomas House, 301 E. Lawrence, 217-782-6776.

Cookie Walk Dec 14, 8am-12pm. Homemade cookies and candy. Douglas United Methodist Church, 501 S. Douglas Avenue, 217-546-4631.

Holiday Bazaar Dec 14, 10am-2pm. Gifts, crafts, food. Lunch with Santa from noon to 1 p.m. ($3). 217-523-6282. St. John AME Church, 1529 E. Capitol Ave, 217-533-3969.

Live Nativity Dec 14, 5-8pm. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1 Camelot Dr., Rochester, 217-498-7991.

Wreaths Across America Dec 14, 11am-12pm. National cemeteries nationwide simultaneously. 217-415-6464. Camp Butler National Cemetery, 5063 Camp Butler Road, 492- 4070.

Caroling at the Carillon Dec 15, 4:30-5pm. Roaring bonfi re and carol singing with carillon bells, hot cocoa and cookies. Souvenir songbooks. Free. Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon, 1740 W. Fayette Ave., 217-546-3853.

Holiday Craft and Vendor Fair Dec 15, 1-4pm. Benefi ts Elizabeth Ann Seton Program. 217-757- 6025. Chatham Community Center, 109 W. Mulberry St., Chatham, 217-483-2488.

Tree of Lights Dec 15, 12-5pm. Tree lighting ceremony at 5:30. $5 per light. Animal Protective League, 1001 Taintor Rd, 544-7387.

Christmas Play Dec 19, 7pm. Doors open at 6:30. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, 2208 Kansas St, (217) 544-1424.

Christmas Movie Classics Dec 20, 7:30pm. “It’s a Wonderful Life.” $10. The Legacy Theatre, 101 E. Lawrence, 800-838-3006.

Holiday Music with Barry Cloyd Dec 20, 7:30pm. Playhouse on the Square, 68 E. Central Park, Jacksonville, 217-491-3977 .

Holiday Stories with Santa Dec 20, 6-9pm. Photos with Santa, stories and treats for the whole family. Free. Old State Capitol, 1 Old State Capitol Plaza, 217-785-9363.

Candlelight Tours Dec 21-22. 5-8pm. Holiday decorations. Free. Dana-Thomas House, 301 E. Lawrence, 217- 782-6776.

Polar Express Pajama Party Dec 21, 5pm. Pre-show cocoa party and Santa after. $15. The Legacy Theatre, 101 E. Lawrence, 800-838-3006.

Santa and Live Reindeer Dec 21-22, 11am-6pm. Photos available for purchase. Scheels, 3801 South MacArthur, 217-726- 6330.