HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS 4th of July Parade Jul 4, 9-10am. 217-824-3592. Taylorville area, Taylorville. WSEC 4th of July Celebration Jul 4, 6:30pm. 217-483-7887. Pasfi eld House, 525 S. Pasfi eld St..

FAIRS & FESTIVALS 4th of July Celebration Jul 3, 6pm. Kids events, entertainment, parade, fi reworks at dusk in Nichols Park. Free. 217-243-5678. Nichols Park, 319 Holken Brink Drive, Jacksonville,

Capital City Celebration July 3-5, 7pm Thur., 4pm Fri., 4:30pm Sat. Bands, free kids infl atables and activities and more. Fireworks July 4th. Fourth/Fifth and Capitol and Second and Capitol. 553-2082. springfi eldjaycees.org. Downtown Springfi eld,

Carlinville 4th of July Festival Jul 3, 6-9pm. Concerts, historical presentations and activities, bluegrass festival. (July 3 on the square.) $12-$22. www.carlinville4th.com. 217-415-3458.

Demuzio Sports Center, 18456 Shipman Road, Carlinville, 217-854-7986.

Fifth of July Celebration Jul 5, 11am-11pm. Food vendors, beer and soda, bounce house, quarter auction, band from 6:30-11, fi reworks at 9 p.m. 741-8703. Riverton KC Grounds, 335 South Fourth, Riverton.

Fireworks Jul 4, dusk. Waldrop Park, East Andrew Road, Sherman.

Fireworks Extravaganza Jul 4, 9:30pm. One of the area’s most popular fi reworks displays. Free. Knight’s Action Park and Caribbean Water Adventure, 1700 Knights Recreation Dr, 217-546-8881.

Pack the Park with Fireworks Jul 3, 4-11pm. Games and food. Music and dancing starts at 7 p.m. Fireworks at dusk. Bring a lawn chair. Dawson.

Sparks in the Park Jul 4, TBA. Carnival, parade on Saturday, and Fireworks on Sunday at 9:30. Live music, fi shing derby and more. Rochester Community Park, Rochester. Latham Firefighters Ice Cream Social

Jul 12, 12-9pm. Car show, kids Jr. Olympic games and pedal tractor pull, country band, large prize drawings. Latham Firehouse, 271 N. Macon St, Latham. Menard County Fair Jul 15-20, Queen Pageant, tractor pulls, harness racing, demolition derby, contests, live music, great food and much more. Weekdays $4 and under 10 free. Weekends $10 after 3 p.m. with ages 6-10 $3. menardcountyfair. com. 217-632-3848. Menard County Fairgrounds, 18450 Fairgrounds, Petersburg, 217-632-3848.

Morgan County Fair Jul 9-13, Carnival, talent show, pageant, livestock, tractor pulls and more. Friday night, Country Super Star Lee Brice; Saturday night, 38 Special. 245-6800. Morgan County Fairgrounds, 110 N. Westgate, Jacksonville.

Taste of Downtown Jul 11-12, 5pm-12am Fri, 12pm- 12am. Downtown restaurants present ethnic, classic and eclectic cuisine. Children’s entertainment. Between Fifth and Washington. $5. Downtown Springfi eld.

BOOKS & AUTHORS Book Discussion and Signing Jul 6, 2-4pm. Taylor Pensoneau will discuss and sign his new book, Reporting on Life - and People Along the Way, about his experiences reporting from the State House for the St. Louis Post Dispatch. Books on the Square, 153 East Jackson, Virden, 217- 965-5443.

Teen Summer Writing Camp Jul 7, 9am-12pm. Three-week poetry and fi ction writing camp for students who have completed grades 7 through 12. Monday, Wednesday, Friday mornings July 7-25. $120. Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site, 603 S. Fifth St, 217-524-0901.

THEATER & COMEDY

Agnes of God July 11-13, 18-19, 8pm Fri- Sat, 4pm. Drama about a novice nun who gives birth and insists that the dead child was the result of a virgin conception. $18-$16. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St., 217-523-2787.

All Shook Up July 11-12, 17-19, 24-26, 8:30pm. The Muni, 815 East Lake Dr, 793-MUNI.

Prairie Dreams - Story of Clayville and Its People Jul 4-6, 2pm Fri-Sat, 6pm. Features stories of people who built and traveled through Clayville. $13.50-$8.50 at Clayville Trading Post, Sangamon Auditorium ticket offi ce, 206-6160. Bring lawn chair. 217-572-4984. Clayville, Route 125, Pleasant Plains, 217-572-4984.

MUSIC: GENERAL EVENTS

Fourth of July Concert Jul 4, 3-4:30pm and 6:30- 8pm. Mark Gifford, Damien Kaplan, Joe Kath, Debbie Ross, Elizabeth Jones and guests. Free, donations accepted. 217- 787-3445. Parkway Christian Church, 2700 Lindbergh Blvd.

Land of Lincoln Chorus, Sound Celebration Chorus Jul 12, 7pm. Free musical program of old-time favorites. Bring lawn chairs. 217-415- 2112. Douglas Park, 400 N. Macarthur Blvd.

Sinatra at Washington Park Gazebo Jul 12, 2pm. Free one-hour performance by Springfi eld’s own Phil Steinberg. Bring your chair. Washington Park, South Grand and MacArthur, 217-753- 6225.

Songs Lincoln Loved Jul 13, 11am and 2 pm. Suzanne and Jim perform in the Central Plaza. Museum admission. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, 212 N. Sixth St, 217- 782-5764. SoulFresh First Sundays Jul 6, 6:30-9pm. Spoken word artists, comedians and musicians. $10. Donnie’s Homespun, 107 West Cook Road, 323-782-9000.

Summer Piano Camp Concert Jul 7, 7pm. Millikin piano faculty members and students. Free. Millikin University, 1184 W. Main St, Decatur.

DANCE A Country Dance Jul 9, 7-10pm. Prairie Land Dance Club, 650 Matilda St, Illiopolis, 217-428-1560.

All About Wednesday Dance Jul 9, 6:30-10pm. Line dance at 8. Beginners lesson 6:30-7.

Intermediate 7-8. $5. 217-836- 1438. VFW Post #755, 2211 Old Jacksonville Road, 217-546- 9515.

Once Upon a Time: A Surprise Party for the Big Bad Wolf Jul 12, 2pm and 6pm. Springfi eld Youth Performance Group ballet with vocal selections. $12.50- 8:50. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St., 217-523- 2787.

ART & ARCHITECTURE COLORX3 Jul 3, 12-7pm. June 27- Aug. 14 featuring Jed Leber (watercolor), Rich Ford (pastels), Teri A. Zucksworth (sculpture). Prairie Art Alliance Gallery in the Hoogland, 420 S. Sixth St., 217- 544-2787.

July Art Classes Jul 3, 9am-3pm. Sign up phone 217-632-7068 or email artandsoulforever@gmail.com. $10-$40. 217-632-7068. Art & Soul, 119 South Sevent St., Petersburg, 217-632-7068.

The Gallery Jul 7, 6-10pm. Meet local artists downtown. Free. 217-503- 8428. Joe Gallina’s Pizza and Restaurant, 432 E. Monroe St., 217-522-5271.

FILM & TELEVISION

Blazing Saddles Jul 5, 7pm. Great Mel Brooks comedy. $8. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St., 217-523-2787. Free Short Films Jul 10, 6:30-8pm. Wooing Wes Wilson, Being Bradford Dillman, Bhavri. Free. 217-725-9058. Z Bistro, 220 S. Sixth St., 217-522- 4049.

Powerlight Christian Movie Night Jul 6, dusk. “God is Not Dead.” Second feature, “Mom’s Night Out.” Prize giveaways. Knight’s Action Park and Caribbean Water Adventure, 1700 Knights Recreation Dr, 217-546-8881.

Summer HD Encores Jul 9, 7pm. “Rigoletto” (June 18), Puccini’s “La Rondine”(June 25), Verdi’s “Otello”(July 9), “The Enchanted Island” (July 16). AMC Showplace Springfi eld 12, 3141 Mercantile Dr.

CHILDREN’S CORNER Bob Steffan Summer Film Fest Jul 8, 10-10:30am and 2-2:30pm. Growing Up Wild: Frontier Friends. Recommended for ages 3-8. Free. 217-782- 5993. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St, 217-782-7386. Mission Illinois Science Workshop Jul 10, 1-4pm. Two-day workshop for grades completed

6-8. $50-$35. Register at bit.ly/ missionil by July 6. 217-782- 5993. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St, 217-782-7386.

Paws to Read Summer Program Jul 7, 10-11am. Forest Park Nature Center mobile education and live animals program. Free. 217-626-1553. Prairie Skies Public Library District, 125 W. Editor St, Ashland, 217-476- 3417. Satur-Play! Bugs Jul 5, 11am-3pm. Create your own ladybug with plaster. Ages 3-10 and family. Free. 217-782- 5955. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St, 217-782-7386.

Storyteller Kay Price Jul 8, 10-11am. Jacksonville Public Library, 201 West College Ave, Jacksonville, 217-243- 5435.

SCIENCE Paul Mickey Science Series Lecture Jul 9, 7-8:30pm. Dr. Steve J. Dasovich, “The Louis Blanchette Site: A Circa-1770 French-Canadian Settlement in Missouri.” Free. Illinois State Museum Research & Collections Center, 1011 E. Ash St, 785- 0037.

Star Gazing at Lincoln Memorial Garden Jul 12, 8-10pm. Lincoln Memorial Garden, 2301 E. Lake Shore Dr, 217-529-1111.

NATURE Moonlight Paddle and Potluck Jul 12, 5pm.Bring kayak/canoe, lawn chair, food, drinks, table settings. Sangamon Valley Group Sierra Club will have fi re, sweet corn. scottcgauvin@yahoo. com. Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish & Wildlife Area, 10149 County Hwy. 11, Chandlerville. Springfield Civic Garden Club Meeting Jul 7, 9:15-11:30am.“All About Hummingbirds.” Vernon Kleen, retired ornithologist and Illinois Audubon Society board member. Free, public invited. 217-971- 6888. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 533 S. Walnut Street, 217-522-4415.

Zoofari Jul 12, 10am-6pm. Free admission with activities throughout the day. Henson Robinson Zoo, 1100 E. Lake Shore Dr, 217-585-1821.

LECTURES & MEETINGS

Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area Workshop Jul 11, 10:30am. How to replicate elements of the program in your community. Register 217-782-6817 or

hwickens@lfl hc.org. Lincoln Home National Historic Site, 413 S. Eighth St, 217-391-3221.

Disbursing Your Lifetime Collection Jul 11, 7-8pm. Andrew will offer tips on how to sell your collection at auction to downsize. Free. Springfi eld Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St, 217-523-2631. Female Offending in U.S.: Incarceration and Recidivism Jul 8, 6pm. Dr. Juanita Ortiz, UIS Criminal Justice professor, discusses female offenders’ representation and experiences in the U.S. criminal justice system. Free. 217-206-8507. UIS Public Affairs Center (PAC), One University Plaza, 217-206-6073.

Springfield Parental Alienation Advocacy Group Meeting Jul 7, 6-8pm. 217-793-3586. Hilton Springfi eld, 700 E. Adams, 217-789-1530.

BULLETIN BOARD Backgammon Club Jul 9, 6pm. Online, new and experienced players welcome. 622-9447. Capital Teletrack, 1766 Wabash Ave, 217-546- 2111.

Beer School Jul 5, 10-11am. Tour brewery, learn about beer making process, sample a few of brews. Free class limited to 20 participants. Phone to register. 217-670-0627. Obed & Isaacs, 500 S. Sixth St, 217-670-0627.

Call for Performers? Deadline Extended Deadline July 14 to perform at First Night. New to FN send bio, photo and work. Register with form on website or email offi ce@ springfi eldartsco.org. Springfi eld Area Arts Council, 420 S. Sixth St, 217-753-3519.

Corndog Kickoff Jul 12, 6pm. Fair food and entertainment hosted by Illinois State Fair Museum Foundation. Orr Building. $25 in advance. 217-558-0863. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave, 217-782-1698.

Dog Days Jul 12, 9am. Vendors in airconditioned KC Hall and there will be dog baths, paw print keepsakes, best-dressed, best tricks, etc, pet blessing. 971- 1354. Riverton KC Grounds, 335 South Fourth, Riverton.

Ethnic Heritage Day Jul 9, 12-1pm. “The History, Culture and Composition of Spain” Robert Patino, J.D., director of the Offi ce of Technology Transfer. Foods from Spanish cultures. Pearson Museum, UIS School of Medicine, 801 N. Rutledge, 217-545-2155.

Grant Application Workshops Attendance required at workshop for funding (deadline July 31). Register, 753-3519. springfi eldartsco.org. Springfi eld Area Arts Council, 420 S. Sixth St, 217-753-3519. Mass of Remembrance in Honor of Veterans Jul 4, 10am. South of Lincoln’s Tomb. Rev. Bring chair. If rain, Mass will be held at Oak Ridge Cemetery Chapel. 217-528- 6461. Oak Ridge Cemetery, 1441 Monument Ave, 217-789- 2340.

FOOD

East Side Farmers Market Jul 7, 8:30am-12:30pm. Mondays through Sept. 29. (Also: Cooking classes Mondays in July, August. Sign up for up to four, phone 217-814-4308 or mary.rogers@hshs.org.) Sangamon County Department of Public Health, 2833 South Grand Avenue East, 217-535- 3100 or 888-217-3505 .

HISTORY 114th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Flag Lowering Jul 8, 7-7:30pm. Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site, 1500 Monument Ave, 782-2717. 2nd Sunday at the Farmstead Jul 13, 1-4pm. Kathryn Harris portrays Harriet Tubman, famous conductor of the Underground Railroad. Free. Marbold Farmstead, 21722 State Hwy 29, Greenview, 217-968-5808.

Antiques Appraisal Event Jul 12, 11am-2pm. Andrew Richmond, nationally recognized antiques expert, on hand to provide verbal estimates of antiques and collectibles. $8 per item or 3 for $20. Springfi eld Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St, 217-523-2631.

Historic 4th of July at Clayville Jul 4, 10am-4pm. Re-creation of Broadwell family event that had artillery, bands, speeches and food. Clayville, Route 125, Pleasant Plains, 217-572-4984. Old Stone House Open House Jul 6, 1-4pm. First Sunday of month June-November, tour the 1830s-era home, weather permitting. 498-7335. Rochester Historical Village, W. Main St, Rochester,

HEALTH DBSA Central Illinois Jul 8, 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. NAMI Springfield Monthly Support Group Jul 5, 1pm. First.of month. 217-341-3125. First Christian Church, 700 S. Sixth St, 217- 528-3407.

SPORTS & FITNESS Tin Man Regatta Jul 12, 10am-10pm. Register to sail or be a virtual skipper. Youth Series 10 a.m., Tin Man Series at 1 p.m. (Awards dinner, auction at 6 p.m., $75) (Evening awards dinner $25.) 544-5437. 217-814-5722. Island Bay Yacht Club, 76 Yacht Club Road, 217- 529-5418.

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

Searchable by date, venue, genre, name and more.