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Dates, times and locations are subject to last-minute changes, so we suggest calling before attending events.

Fairs & Festivals

Cirque Italia Apr 29, 2:30-7:30pm Fri. An animal-free, Italian-style circus featuring a 35,000 gallon water stage. First offi cial water circus in the US. cirqueitalia. com. Free, $10-50. 941-704-8572. White Oaks Mall, 2501 Wabash Ave., 787-8560.

Theater & Comedy

Alice in Wonderland Apr 29, May 1, 7pm Fri-Sat, 2pm Sun. Admission. hcfta.org. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St., 523-2787.

Belly Laffs Comedy Apr 28, 7:30-9pm Thu. Comedy show features young Illinois comedians Drift Roberts and Scotty Harris. $5-10 at door. Capital City Bar & Grill, 3149 S. Dirksen Pkwy, 529-8580.

Comedy Showcase Apr 30, 8-10pm Sat. Featuring host Jodi Woodard plus Amy Watson, Jon Maddy, Lisa Lomprez, Jessica Renae, Tim Laffey, Drift Roberts. Free. 217-638-5234. Club Station House, 306 E. Washington St., 525-0438.

Distracted Apr 28-30, 7:30pm Thur-Sat, 2pm Sun. A hilarious, provocative, poignant look at a modern family, information overload and an epidemic dilemma. UIS Theatre’s Spring production. $14 adults, $12 seniors, $10 faculty/staff, $8 students. uis.edu/theatre. UIS Studio Theatre, One University Plaza, 206-6160.

Ragtime: The Musical May 3, 7:30pm Tue. Stories of an upper-class wife, determined Jewish immigrant and a daring young Harlem musician. Featuring Tony Award-winning score by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens. Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, 1 University Plaza, 206-6160.

Music: General Events Liturgical Arts Festival: Glorious Treble Voices May 2, 7pm Mon. Performance. Free. lafspringfi eld.org. First Christian Church, 700 S. Sixth St., 528-3407.

Native American Flutes May 1, 4pm Sun. Native American fl ute concert by Paul Van Heuklom, professor of English at LLCC and member of the Sangamon Valley Flute Circle. Free to public. LLCC Trutter Center, 5250 Shepherd Road, 786-2200.

Profound Pictures Apr 30, 7:30-9:30pm Sat. Musical pictures from the Silk Road with Borodin’s “In the Steppes of Central Asia,” Zhao Lin’s “Duo for Sheng & Cello” featuring Chinese rock star Wu Tong and Silk Road Ensemble cellist Mike Block. Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition.” $20, $40, $60. ilsymphony.org. Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, 1 University Plaza, 206-6160.

Sangamon Valley Civic Orchestra and Ecumenical Choir Apr 29, 7:30pm Fri. Music Director is Matthew Sheppard. Part of Liturgical Arts Festival of Springfi eld. Free. lafspringfi eld.org. Temple B’rith Sholom, 1004 S. Fourth St., 525-1360.

The Fab Four Apr 29, 8pm Fri. Performance features three costume changes three costume changes representing every era of the Beatles. Have performed in Japan, Australia, France, Hong Kong, The United Kingdom, Germany, Mexico and Brazil. sangamonauditorium.org. Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, 1 University Plaza, 206-6160.

Dance

Kevin Turner Apr 29, 8-11pm Fri. Playing the Friday night dance. VFW Post #755, 2211 Old Jacksonville Road, 546-9515.

Art & Architecture

Craft Crazies Art Party May 4, 6-8pm. Create an 8 X 10 mixed media canvas with a “doodle fl owers” theme. Food and drink for purchase. $25, includes supplies. CraftCraziesArtParties@gmail.com. 217- 793-0139. Tradewinds, 1700 Receation Dr., 546-8881.

Ladies Tea (and Paint) Party Apr 30, 11am-1pm Sat. Drink hot tea and eat scones while learning about tea and its history. Justine and Carolyn Owen Sommer instruct attendees through creating a tea cup painting. $25. Reservations, inspirespringfi eld.com/ladiestea-and-paint-party. Inspire, 221 S. 6th St., 836-3247.

Liturgical Arts Festival: Bach B-Minor Mass May 7, 7pm Sat. Featuring the Springfi eld Choral Society plus orchestra. Conducted by Marion van der Loo. $15. lafspringfi eld. org. Central Baptist Church, 501 S. Fourth St., 523-3639.

Liturgical Arts Festival: Exhibiton of Liturgical & Sacred Art Apr 30, 4:30-6:30pm Sat. Opening reception features scores of artists and 93 individual pieces of art in various media. Free. lafspringfi eld.org. Springfi eld Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St., 523-2631.

Liturgical Arts Festival: Inner

Peace - The Quest for the Divine May 4, 7pm. Performance plus a special exhibition of liturgical vestments as expressions of art and the sacred. Free. lafspringfi eld.org. St. John’s Lutheran Church, 2477 W. Washington St., 793-3933.

Liturgical Arts Festival: Lofty Melodies May 1, 2pm Sun. Performance by by Carlo van Ulft, carillonist. Free. lafspringfi eld.org. Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon, 1740 W. Fayette Ave., 546-3853.

Liturgical Arts Festival: Power from the Pipes May 3, 7pm Tue. “Power from the Pipes,” performed by members of the American Guild of Organists. Free. lafspringfi eld. org. Central Baptist Church, 501 S. Fourth St., 523-3639.

Liturgical Arts Festival: Sangamon Valley Orchestra Apr 29, 7:30pm Fri. Concert by the Sangamon Valley Civic Orchestra. Conducted by Matthew Sheppard. Free. lafspringfi eld.org. Temple B’rith Sholom, 1004 S. Fourth St., 525-1360.

Translations Exhibit Opening Apr 30, 5:30-7:30pm Sat. Mixed-media exhibition features photography by David Brodsky, sculptural objects by Jed Leber and detailed line drawings by Corrin Smithson McWhirter. On display through June 16. Free. springfi eldart.org. SAA Collective Gallery, 420 S. Sixth St., 544- 2787.

Film & Television

Before I Do Movie Premiere Apr 30, 7pm Sat. Produced by local fi lmmaker Kimberly Conner. Film is about wayward fi refi ghter, Caleb Abrams, who is at a crossroad in his life after being left at the altar. Tickets. hcfta.org. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St., 523- 2787.

Paper Tigers Screening Apr 29, 2-4:30pm Fri. Awardwinning documentary follows six troubled teens over the course of a year at Lincoln Alternative High School in Walla Walla, Washington. Prevent Child Abuse Illinois hosts a post-fi lm discussion on the effects of chronic stress in our communities. Free. preventchildabuseillinois.org. 217-522-1129. Hoogland Center for the Arts LRS Theatre 1, 420 S. Sixth St., 523-2787.

Children’s Corner

SHG Spirit Sunday Walk/Run May 1, 12-4pm Sun. Corporate sponsors sponsor each lap walked around the stadium or run around the track. Kids’ activities include bounce house, infl atable obstacle course and games. Food, drink available. Free. shg.org. 217-787-9732. SHG West Campus, 1615 West Washington St. Nature

Illinois Native Plant Society Central Chapter Plant Sale Apr 30, 9am-2pm Sat. Purchase native Illinois prairie and woodland plants grown by INPS members. ill-inps.org. Commodity Pavilion, 217-243- 6055. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave., 782-6661.

Monarchs and Milkweed Apr 30, 10am-12pm Sat. Learn how to plant milkweed for the conservation of monarch butterfl ies and other benefi cial pollinators. Free. lincolnmemorialgarden.org. Lincoln Memorial Garden, 2301 E. Lake Shore Dr., 529-1111.

Spring Bird Hikes Apr 30, 8-9:30am Sat. Kevin Veara leads visitors throughout Garden in search of spring migratory birds. All skill levels welcome. All hikes begin at Nature Center. Free. lincolnmemorialgarden.org. Lincoln Memorial Garden, 2301 E. Lake Shore Dr., 529-1111.

Lectures & Meetings

Springfield Civic Garden Club May 2, 9am Mon. Creative design ideas by Janet Gallagher, fl oral design instructor at Kishwaukee College. Free. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 533 S. Walnut St., 522-4415.

Capital Area Woodworkers Club Meeting May 3, 6:30-8pm Tue. Scheduled program is “Bits, Braces and Blades: Interesting and Unique Hand Tools.” Presented by Dan Schmoker. Free to visitors. cawspi.org. 217-553-0097. MCL Cafeteria, 2151 Wabash Ave., 787-8706.

The Rotary Club of Springfield May 2, 5:30-7pm Mon. Presentation by Illinois State Representative Tim Butler. Meal, presentation complimentary to prospective Rotarians. springfi eldilrotary.org. 217-793- 1710. Maldaner’s, 222 S. Sixth St., 522-4313.

Bulletin Board

2016 State of the City Apr 28, 11:30am-12:45pm Thu. Springfi eld mayor provides the administration’s view on the state of the city, review the accomplishments and challenges from the past year, outline priorities for the upcoming months. Registration. business. gscc.org. 217-525-1173. Prairie Capital Convention Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, 800- 745-3000.

25th Annual Kitchens in Bloom Tour May 1, 12-4pm Sun. Hosted by the Junior League of Springfi eld. $15 advance, $20 day of. jlsil. org. 217-544-5557. Ironbridge Estates, 3140 Cockrell Lane, 793-5484.

Business After Hours Apr 28, 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. Prairie Capital Convention Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, 800-745-3000.

Forget-Me-Not Gala Apr 30, 5-9pm Sat. $70 per person, $600 for table of 10. saintjosephshome.org. 217-529- 5596. Crowne Plaza Hotel, 3000 S. Dirksen Pkwy, 529-7777.

Neon Glow Trivia Night Apr 29, 7pm Fri. Play trivia in Ace Sign Co’s Neon Sign Museum in support of literacy initiatives at Washington Middle School. Doors 6pm, trivia 7pm. Celebrity MC Joe Crain. $100 per table of 10. Registration, 638-5009. Ace Sign Co., 2540 S. First St., 522-8417.

Spring Fling Route 66 Cruisers Apr 30, 10am-4pm Sat. Annuals, hanging baskets, vegetables and herbs for sale. Hosted by Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary. 217-529-0530. Disabled American Veterans Chapter 15, 25 Club Area.

Auditions

Land of Lincoln Barbershop Chorus Open Auditions May 3, 7-10pm Tue. Men of all ages welcome. Singing, refreshments, camaraderie. Tuesday night practices. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St., 523-2787.

Faith & Philosophy

Embracing Our Sacred Journey Wisdom Apr 29-30, 7-8:45pm Fri- Sat. Women’s retreat hosted by Theresians International. Keynote speaker Robin Herbert. $85. Registration, 726-5484. Chiara Center, 4875 LaVerna Road, 523-0901.

The Pacifist’s Fight: Rev. John Haynes Holmes May 1, 10:30-11:30am Sun. Rev. Martin Woulfe on the message of John Haynes Holmes, a key promoter of Pacifi sm, the NAACP, Gandhi and Interfaith Relations. Free. aluuc.org. Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 745 Woodside Road, 585-9550.

Sports & Fitness

Healthy Kids Day Triathlon and Festival Apr 30, 9am-2pm Sat. Kids triathalon for ages 5-14 plus free festival with games, bounce house, kids Zumba, martial arts demonstrations, healthy living and kids’ safety vendors. $20 ages 5-6, $25 ages 7-14. bit.ly/KidsYTri2016. Springfi eld YMCA Gus & Flora Kerasotes Branch, 4550 West Iles Ave., 679-1625.

Live Pro Wrestling Apr 30, 7pm Sat. Pinfall Wrestling Association and Lanphier High School present the Third Annual TOGA Memorial Tournament. Lanphier High School, 1300 N. 11th St., 525-3080.

Refuse To Abuse: 2 Mile Walk and Fun Run Apr 30, 10am-12pm Sat. 2-mile walk and fun run in recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention Month. $5 adults, $7 ages 12 and under. cyfsolutions. org. 217-528-3694. Washington Park Playground, 1021 South Grand Ave., 753-6225.

Take A Step for Autism Apr 30, 9:30am-1pm Sat. Clowns, games, balloon artist, cheek stamping, cotton candy, silent auction, merchandise, more. Free. autismcil.org. 217-585-7421. Hope Pavilion - Southwind Park, 4965 S. Second St., 788-2310.