Fairs & Festivals Cask and Carhartt Outdoor Festival Feb 20, 11am-6pm Sat. Enjoy unique new beer fl avors via casks with food, bocce ball, bags, fun. Obed & Isaacs, 500 S. Sixth St., 670-0627.

Books & Authors

ArtLiterations Feb 18, 5:30-7pm Thu. Featuring artist/author Phil Locascio and comic writer/artist Adam McHenry Nicholson. Jazz by Mark Russilo and friends. Free. springfi eldart.org. Springfi eld Art Assoc. Juried Art Gallery in the Hoogland, 420 S. Sixth St., 544-2787.

Poets in the Parlor: Ted Mathys Feb 21, 2-3pm Sun. Author of three books of poetry, Null Set (2015), The Spoils (2009) and Forge (2005). Free. vachellindsay.com. Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site, 603 S. Fifth St., 524-0901.

Pondicherry Lodge Feb 20, 9am Sat. Meeting of the Sherlock Holmes Society of Springfi eld and west central Illinois. Discussion of The Naval Treaty. Public welcome. sherlock.lolopop.org. 217-546-8387. Scheels, 3801 S. MacArthur, 726- 6330.

Springfield Comic Book Convention Feb 21, 10am-4pm Sun. Large variety of comic books new and old, plus toys and collectibles. Free. epguides. com/comics. 309-657-1599. Route 66 Hotel & Conference Center, 625 E. Saint Joseph St., 529-6626.

Theater & Comedy

Blather, Blarney and Balderdash Feb 20-22, 7pm Fri-Sat, 2pm Sun. Three hilarious, action-packed Irish folk and fairy tales about three crazy leprechauns and shepherd Fin O’Grady. Presented by Springfi eld Theatre Centre. $16, $18. hcfta.org. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St., 523-2787.

Comedian Peter Berman Feb 19-20, Fri-Sat 7:30pm, 9:30pm. Seen on Comedy Central, HBO, Showtime. $13, $15. donniebscomedyclub.com. Donnie B’s Comedy Club, 3455 Freedom Dr., 391- JOKE.

Rumors Feb 19-21, 26-28, 8pm Fri-Sat, 4pm Sun. Hilarious farce by master comedy writer Neil Simon. Directed by Don Russell. $18 adults, $16 students and seniors. hcfta.org. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St., 523-2787.

Shen Yun Feb 24, 6:30-10pm Wed. Journey through 5,000 years of Chinese culture via music and dance. 100 world class performers, more than 400 sets of detailed handmade costumes, a unique orchestra blending East and West, more. $63-153. shenyun.com. 844-484-9669. Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, 1 University Plaza, 206-6160.

Music: General Events

A Salute to Americana Feb 18, 7-9:30pm Thu. Featuring pianist Jacqueline Schwab. Presented by WSEC. $16 show, $30 show plus meet-and-greet. networkknowledge. tv/specialevents. Hoogland Center for the Arts LRS Theatre 1, 420 S. Sixth St., 217-523-2787.

Annual Synergy Concert Feb 21, 4pm Sun. Performed by Millikin University’s Chamber Percussion Ensembles. Program examines the relationship between music and sports. Free. kirklandfi nearts.com. Kirkland Fine Arts Center, 1184 W. Main St., Decatur, 424-6318.

Augustana College Symphonic Band Feb 22, 7-8:30pm Mon. Free to public. Free-will offerings accepted. 217-778- 7117. St. John’s Lutheran Church, 2477 W. Washington St., 793-3933.

Bold and Beautiful Feb 20, 7:30-9:30pm Sat. Includes Beethoven’s “Coriolan Overture”, Brahms’ “Second Symphony” and Barber’s “Violin Concerto” featuring ISO’s Concertmaster Violetta Todorova. $20, $40, $60. ilsymphony.org. Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, 1 University Plaza, 206- 6160.

Celtic Nights: Spirit of Freedom Feb 19, 7:30pm Fri. The story of Irish independence told through song, dance, music. Features 3 male vocalists, 3 female vocalists, plus 6 of Ireland’s most-talented dancers and musicians. $25-45 adults, $5 students. camimusic. com. Kirkland Fine Arts Center, 1184 W. Main St., Decatur, 424-6318.

Devorina Gamalova, violin Feb 24, 12:45pm Wed. Violinist Devorina Gamalova performs solo concert with works by Bach, Kreisler and Goleminov. Bag lunches available at the door for $5 or bring your own. Free. lincolnschurch.org. First Presbyterian Church, 321 S. Seventh St., 528-4311.

Lenten Concert Feb 21, 4pm Sun. Performing Faure’s “Requiem”. Featuring adult, youth choirs and professional and student musicians. Blessed Sacrament Church, 1725 S. Walnut St., 528- 7521.

River Ramblers—LLCC Recital Feb 21, 4-5pm Sun. Traditional bluegrass music. Part of LLCC Recital Series. Free. llcc.edu. 217-786-2383. Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Road, 786-2200.

Sangamon Valley Youth Symphony Winter Concert Feb 20, 2-4pm Sat. Final concert of series features Youth Symphony, Sinfonia Orchestra, Preparatory Orchestra, Starter Strings II. $10 adults, $5 students, free ages 12 and under. svys.org. 217-753-8000. Springfi eld High School, 101 S. Lewis St., 525-3100.

SmoothTimes Band Feb 19, 7-9pm Fri. Jazz, blues and R&B concert. $10. decaturarts.org. LOFT 125, Madden Arts Center, 125 N. Water St., Decatur, 423-3189.

Dance A Country Dance Feb 19, 7-10:30pm Fri. $5. pldc. org. Prairie Land Dance Club, 650 Matilda St., Illiopolis, 428- 1560.

A Country Dance Feb 24, 7-10:30pm Wed. Dance lesson at 7:30pm. $5. pldc.org. Prairie Land Dance Club, 650 Matilda St., Illiopolis, 428-1560.

Don Smith Quartet Feb 19, 8-11pm Fri. Playing the Friday night dance. VFW Post #755, 2211 Old Jacksonville Road, 546-9515.

Art & Architecture

Color with Friends Feb 23, 6:30-8:30pm Tue. Hosted by Our Vibrant Community. Custom coloring pages by local artists. $5 cash at event. Register, ourvibrantcommunity@ gmail.com. DH Brown, 231 E. Monroe St., 525-0381.

Electronic Music Canvas & Cocktails Feb 19, 7pm Fri. Choose from a variety of electronic album covers and create the image on a 12x12 canvas. BYO food, drink. 21+. $10 SAA members, $20 non. Reservations, springfi eldart. org. Springfi eld Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St., 523-2631.

Parent & Child Dinner Paint Date Feb 20, 3:30-5:30pm Sat. Memorable painting experience for one adult and one child. $35 cash. $10 cash per additional child. Preregister, ourvibrantcommunity@gmail. com. Twisted Deli, 330 S. Grand Ave., 331-2027.

Pink Recognition Gala Feb 20, 6-9pm Sat. Cocktails, dinner, music, opportunity to honor local breast cancer warriors and survivors. $50 per ticket, includes dinner. springfi eldil.zetataualpha.org. 217-306-2005. Illinois State Fairgrounds/Artisans Building, 801 Sangamon Ave., 544-7702.

Film & Television

Molly Schlich Film Series Feb 21, 23, 1pm, 4pm Sun, 7pm Tue. Showing of The Wonders, a coming-of-age fi lm about a family of beekeepers in rural Italy. $8 adults, $4 students. springfi eldart.org. AMC Parkway 8, 3025 Lindbergh Boulevard, 888-262-4386.

Tuskegee Airmen: Sacrifice and Triumph Feb 20, 2-2:30pm Sat. 30-minute documentary tells the true story of the fi rst African American fi ghter pilots, known as the Red Tails. Free. Lincoln Home Visitors Center, 426 S. 7th St., 492-4150.

Children’s Corner

Boom and Whirl “Make Space” Workshop Feb 24, 12:30-3pm Wed. K through 1st graders create a cannon and rocket. 2nd through 6th graders create their own alien and UFO. $15, $12 museum members. Registration, CMofIL. org/events. Children’s Museum of Illinois, 55 South Country Club Road, 423-KIDS. Nature

Maple Syrup Time Demonstrations Feb 20-21, 27-28, 1-1:45pm Sat-Sun. Naturalists lead groups into Garden to tap trees, collect fl owing sap and cook it into pure maple syrup. Free. lincolnmemorialgarden.org. Lincoln Memorial Garden, 2301 E. Lake Shore Dr., 529-1111.

Springfield Audubon Society Program Feb 18, 6pm Thu. Jacques Nuzzo (Illinois Raptor Center) discusses bird rescues. Live raptor will be present. $5, limited seating. illinoisaudubon.org. Adams Wildlife Sanctuary, 2315 E. Clear Lake Ave., 544-2473.

Volunteer Work Day Feb 21, 1-3pm Sun. With Friends of the Sangamon Valley. illinoisaudubon.org. Adams Wildlife Sanctuary, 2315 E. Clear Lake Ave., 544-2473.

Lectures & Meetings

Church Women United Monthly Meeting Feb 23, 9:30am Tue. Featured speaker is Cathy Annerino, Program Director at MERCY Communities. 217-629-8881. First Christian Church, 700 S. Sixth St., 528-3407.

Strategic Hourglass Solutions Feb 20, 10-11am Sat. Free seminar on organizing personal records so documents can be found quickly and easily. 217- 299-1366. Edgar’s Coffee House, 87 W. Plummer, Chatham, 391- 7628.

The Unbelievable Truth About Sweatshops Feb 23, 6-7:30pm Tue. Presentation by Benjamin Powell, Director of the Free Market Institute & Professor of Economics, Rawls College of Business, Texas Tech University. Free. 217-206-6245. UIS Brookens Auditorium, One University Plaza, 206-6073.

TranSupport Group Feb 18, 6:30-8:30pm Thu. Phoenix Center, 109 E. Lawrence Ave., 528-5253.

Bulletin Board 14th Annual Education Career Day Feb 22, 9am-12pm Mon. Compare programs, obtain information and ask questions of representatives from seven various four-year institutions. A. Lincoln Commons, Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Road, 786-2200.

African-American Food and Vendor Day Feb 24, 10am-2pm Wed. Free samples of food, displays exhibiting the wares of African- American entrepreneurs, “Saxophone and African- American Poetry Improvisations” by LLCC retired business law professor and jazz musician Virgil Rhodes, J.D., more. A. Lincoln Commons, Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Road, 786-2200.

APL Pet Adoptions Feb 20, 11am-4pm Sat. Cats and dogs available. apl-shelter.org. 217-544-7387. Petsmart, 3183 S. Veterans Pkwy, 698-3091.

APL Pet Adoptions Feb 21, 11am-3pm Sun. Cats available. apl-shelter.org. 217- 544-7387. Petsmart, 3183 S. Veterans Pkwy, 698-3091.

Business After Hours Feb 18, 4:30-7pm Thu. Connect with other area professionals and gain exposure for your business in a casual atmosphere. $5 chamber members, $15 non. 217-525-1173. Springfi eld Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St., 523-2631.

Cabin Fever Feb 22, 6-7pm Mon. Join Scheels Kids’ Klub and the Boy Scouts to learn about camping and survival bracelets. Free. scheels.com/events. Scheels, 3801 S. MacArthur, 726-6330.

HIV/AIDS Awareness Testing Feb 22, 11am-2pm Mon. Sponsored by the LLCC Black Student Union. A. Lincoln Commons, Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Road, 786-2200.

Springfield Social Club Feb 24, 5:30-8:30pm Wed. Hand sanitizer, Power Bars and Gatorade requested donations for Multiple Sclerosis: One Step At A Time Foundation. Keefner’s Restaraunt, 1941 W. Iles, 546- 1941.

St. Aloysius Trivia Night Feb 20, 7-10pm Sat. $10 per person. Food, drink available for purchase. Reservations, 544- 4553. St. Aloysius Church, 2000 Sangamon Ave.

History

African-American Read-In Feb 20, 1pm Sat. Celebration of authors, words and works by or about African-Americans and blacks. Supported by the James Weldon Johnson Study Guild and Book Club. 217-528-6847. Zion Baptist Church, 1601 E. Laurel St., 528-6113.

Elizabeth Keckley Presentation Feb 18, 7pm Thu. Ms Kathryn Harris gives a fi rst-person presentation of historical fi gure Elizabeth Keckley. Free. Grand Army of the Republic Museum, 629 S. Seventh St., 522-4373.

Know Your Heritage Bowl Feb 18, 9-11pm Thu. UIS students team up and compete in trivia game to learn about important people, inventions, legislations that impact the way we see society today. Free. uis. edu/diversitycenter. 206-6333. UIS Brookens Auditorium, One University Plaza, 206-6073.

Auditions

Springfield Muni 2016 Audition Workshop Feb 20, 10am Sat. Children 10am, adults 1pm. Directors, staff on hand from all shows to discuss requirements, answer questions. themuni.org. 217- 454-7875. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St., 523-2787.

Sports & Fitness

Fight for Air Climb Feb 21, 9am Sun. Help the American Lung Association raise funds to help those affected by lung disease. $25 through Feb 14. In order to climb, registerered participants must raise $100 min for American Lung Association. 217-718-6678. Hilton Springfi eld, 700 E. Adams St., 789-1530.

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

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