Holiday Happenings Candlelight Tours Dec 27, 5-8pm. Open house tours every Friday evening except Christmas week. Special events each evening. DeWitt County Museum, 219 E. Woodlawn, Clinton, 217-935-6066.

Carols at Noon Dec 26, 12pm. Mark Gifford plays Christmas carols on the organ. 217- 523-8609. Blessed Sacrament Church, 1725 S. Walnut Street, 528-7521.

First Night Dec 31, 1-4pm and 5-11:15pm.

Afternoon free activities for kids at Springfi eld High School. Evening music, dance and more at various downtown locations. springfi eldartsco. org. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St, 217-523-2787.

Food Drive Dec 26, Through Dec 31. 8:30am-5pm Mon-Fri, 12-5pm Sun. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St, 217-782- 7386. Historic Christmas at the Mansion Dec 26, Through Dec 31. 9:30-11am, 2-3:30pm Tue, Thu and 9:30-11am Sat. Free tours. Illinois Executive Mansion, 410 E. Jackson. Holiday Decorations Dec 26, Through Jan 2. 8:30am.

Through Jan. 2, walk through decorated neighborhood. Free and ticket not needed Guided tours (except on Christmas and New Years Day) check in at visitor center. Lincoln Home National Historic Site, 413 S. Eighth St, 217-391-3221.

Holiday House Dec 26, Through Dec 31. 5-9:30pm Sun- Thu, 5-11pm Fri-Sat. Computer animated Christmas light show. Tune into 103.3 on your radio. Free but accepting donations for The Autism Program. Holiday House, 1135 N. Patton St. New Year’s Eve Dance Dec 31, 10pm. Party favors, giveaways, midnight champagne toast. Dress to impress. $5. Abe’s Southside Cafe & Pub, 3751 S. Sixth St., 217-529-5511. Noon Year’s Eve Dec 31, 11am. Games, crafts and lunch will all be included at this drop-off celebration. $10-$12. Henson Robinson Zoo, 1100 E. Lake Shore Dr, 217-585- 1821. Theater & Comedy Comedian Chris Smith Dec 27, 7:30pm and 9:30pm Fri-Sat. $13-$15. 217-391-5653. Donnie B’s Comedy Club, 625 E. Saint Joseph Street, 391-JOKE. Comedian Heywood Banks Jan 3, Through Jan 4. 8pm. Headliner in 45 states, Canada, Japan, Greenland and Europe and opened for show biz legends. 217-482-5233. Mason City Limits Comedy Club, 114 E. Chestnut, Mason City, 482-5233.

Comedy Hypnosis Show Dec 31, 7:30pm. Nationally known hypnotist and comedian Doug Thompson. $22-$32. Hilton Springfi eld, 700 E. Adams, 217-789-1530.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch Happy New Year Dec 31, 8pm. Black Queen, wine tasting, musical, champagne toast, and dance party. The Legacy Theatre, 101 E. Lawrence, 800-838-3006.

Music: General Events Millikin University Choir Dec 26, 4pm. Nationally recognized group. St. Patrick’s Church, 407 E. Eldorado, Decatur, 217-429-5363.

Seeking Musicians Dec 26, 5:40-7:30pm. UIS Chamber Ensemble open to students, faculty, alumni and community. Thursdays in VPA 33. 206-7549. University of Illinois at Springfi eld, 217-206-6073.

Seeking Musicians for UIS Band Dec 30, 4-5:50pm. Open to students, faculty, alumni and community members. 206-7549. University of Illinois at Springfi eld, 217-206-6073.

Dance A Country Dance Dec 27, Through Dec 27. 7pm. Wednesdays and Fridays. $5. 217-428-1560. Prairie Land Dance Club, 650 Matilda St, Illiopolis, 217-428-1560.

Ballroom Dance Dec 28, 7pm. $5. 217-428- 1560. Prairie Land Dance Club, 650 Matilda St, Illiopolis, 217- 428-1560. Dance Dec 27, 8pm. Every Friday night. $10. VFW Post #755, 2211 Old Jacksonville Road, 217-546- 9515.

Art & Architecture Figurism: Narrative and Fantastic Figurative Art Dec 26, Through Mar 2. 8:30am-5pm. Historical and contemporary body-based art by over fi fty artists from ISM collection. 217-782-7440. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St, 217-782-7386. L. Philip Trutter Commemorative Exhibit Dec 26, 10am-3pm Tue, Wed, Thu. Through July 2015, Trutter’s artwork including one-of-a-kind handmade puzzles, interview excerpts of his thoughts on growing up in Springfi eld, his art and architecture. LLCC Trutter Center, 5250 Shepherd Road, 217-786-2200.

Film & Television Downton Abbey Season 4 Preview Event Jan 3, 5:30pm. Preview of pilot episode before it airs on Jan. 5. Call 217-483-7887 by Dec. 23 to reserve your spot. Free. 217- 483-7887. Pasfi eld House, 525 S. Pasfi eld St.

Nature

Stone Soup Hike Jan 1, 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.

Lectures & Meetings Central Illinois Stuttering Support Group Jan 7, 7am. p414-0835 or [email protected]./p Hope Presbyterian Church, 2211 Wabash Ave, 546-6951.

Illinois Specialty Crops, Agritourism and Organic Conference

Jan 8, Through Jan 10. 12pm. Three-day conference and 60-booth trade show with seed, equipment, bakery items, etc. for these same producers and roadside market operators. 309- 557-2107. Crowne Plaza, 3000 S. Dirksen Pkwy, 217-529-7777.

LGBTQ yOUTh Group Dec 27, 6-10pm. Every Friday for LGBTQ youth and allies ages 13-17. Phoenix Center, 109 E. Lawrence Ave, 217-528-5253. Lincoln Land Depression Era Glass Club Meeting Jan 6, Through Jan 6. 6-8pm. Fenton Christmas. $5 dues. 546- 6795. Lincoln Library, 326 S. Seventh St, 217-753-4900.

Local Chapter National Stuttering Association Jan 7, 7-8:30pm. First Tuesday of month, chapter meeting. Hope Presbyterian Church, 2211 Wabash Ave, 546-6951.

McBrian Lincoln Toastmasters Dec 26, 6pm. Weekly meeting dedicated to helping individuals improve leadership and communication skills. 416-5127. Our Savior’s Lutheran School, 2645 Old Jacksonville Rd, 217- 546-4531.

Sex Addicts Anonymous Dec 26, 7:30pm Mon and 6:30pm Thu. For those seeking freedom from addictive sexual behavior. Meeting info, springfi [email protected]. Confi dentiality assured. Various locations, Women Entrepreneurs - Central IL Jan 8, 5:30pm. Document destruction and changes in privacy law. Mr. Tom Schreyer of Affordable Shred. $30-$22. Register reservations@we-ci. org. 622-0189. Indigo Restaurant, 3013 Lindbergh Blvd, 217-726- 8436.

Bulletin Board APL Pet Adoptions Dec 28, 11am-4pm. Dogs and cats available for adoption. Petsmart, 3183 S. Veterans Pkwy, 217-698-3091. BEST (Becoming Empowered and Successful Teens) and Parent Transition Support Group Jan 8, 5:30pm. 217-523-2587. YMCA, 701 S. Fourth St, 217- 544-9846. Personal Assistant Employers Group Dec 28, 3pm. Support group for those who have a disability and hire personal assistance. 217- 523-2587. Springfi eld Center for Independent Living, 330 S. Grand Ave. West, 217-523-0427.

Health DBSA Central Illinois Dec 31, 6:30-8:30pm. Tuesdays.

For those affected by mood disorder, friends/family. Fellowship Hall, lower level. 414- 7368. First Christian Church, 700 S. Sixth St, 217-528-3407. Fitness for You Dec 26, 12:30-1:30pm. Various exercises and fi tness routines for cancer patients. Register by phone. Free on Thursdays. 217- 545-0798. Simmons Cancer Institute, 315 W. Carpenter, 217- 545-0798.

Free Testings Dec 26, 12-3pm Mon-Fri. Free HIV, hepatitis C, gonorrhea and chlamydia testing. Weekdays or by appointment. Phoenix Center, 109 E. Lawrence Ave, 217-528- 5253. GROW in Illinois Mental Health Jan 1, Through Dec 18. 2:30pm. Wednesdays, 12-step support program for emotional, mental health issues, coping or addictions. 217-816- 1083. Salvation Army Corps Community Center, 530 N. Sixth Street, 525-2196. OCD Self-Help Group Dec 30, 6:30-8pm. Last Monday of month in library. 217-522- 8446. SIU School of Medicine, 801 N. Rutledge, 545-2155. Pilates Jan 1, 11am-12pm. Free to cancer patients through Side-By-Side Program. Register by phone. Wednesdays. 217-545- 0798. Simmons Cancer Institute, 315 W. Carpenter, 217-545- 0798. Faith & Philosophy Informal Conversations About God Jan 3, Through Jan 10. 1:15pm Fridays. Free. Enter Cook Street canopy and look for green God sign. 217-494-8041. Vinegar Hill Mall. Spiritual Dimensions of Family Stories Dec 29, 10:30am. Jacqueline Jackson talks about teaching “Writing from Family Materials.” 217-585-9550. Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 745 Woodside Rd, 217-585-9550.

Sports & Fitness

Harlem Globetrotters Jan 2, 7pm. World famous basketball team. $23-$90. Prairie Capital Convention Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, 800-745-3000.

Springfield Jr. Blues Home Game Dec 31, 7:05pm. $12-$8 217- 525-2589. Nelson Center Ice Arena, Lincoln Park, 1601 N. Fifth St, 217-525-2589.