Two nights, 70 bands, five stages, 10 charities

The SOHO (Service Organization for Humanitarian Opportunity) Music Festival was a highlight among the central Illinois summer festival scene for 12 years. But earlier this year SOHO’s founder and director Eric Welch announced his plans to step back from the festival, effective immediately. After more than a decade of working year-round to organize, book and execute the colossal festival, which donated more than $150,000 to charity during its 12-year run, Welch had simply run out of steam.

Shortly after Welch’s announcement, Bryan Tippy, the local entrepreneur behind Bacon Duct Tape and corporate administrator of Conn’s Hospitality Group, stepped up as festival director, assuring Springfield that a charitable festival equivalent to SOHO will go on at least once more. Under the new name of Legacy of Giving Festival, Tippy is promising all the activities that SOHO attendees have enjoyed in the past, as well as some additional features and amenities.

The Legacy of Giving Festival will be held June 2-3, from 5 p.m. through midnight Friday and 10 a.m. through midnight Saturday. The festival boasts two days of live music from 70 local, regional and national acts on five stages; 50-plus vendors peddling a variety of art, crafts and additional handmade goods; a large children’s play area featuring inflatables, face painting and games; at least seven food trucks; and a slew of affiliated activities such as a 5K and 10K race though a historic, 160-year-old cemetery and past Lincoln’s Tomb at Oak Ridge Cemetery on Friday night at 6 p.m., as well as bags, bocce ball and disc golf throughout the course of the weekend. Registration for the 5K costs $25-29 and registration for the 10K costs $35-39. Race registration can be completed online at http://bit.ly/2qxgVwN.

From start to finish, music will emanate from two main stages, two side stages and one acoustic stage. Main stage acts on Friday feature local favorites such as The Suburban Mystics, Off the Wall, Black Queen, Nick Bifano and the Innocents, The Stone Giants, Old Smoke, Robert Brown Band, Highway J, and the Aileeah Colgan Band. Saturday’s main stage acts are Purple Stardust, Groove Daddies, Fun DMC, Smashtag, Chel, Jetpack Hotline, Chicago Loud 9, Sir Cadian Rhythm, Tennessee Borderline, The Devin Williams Band, Afterimage, David Lumsden and Friends, Hot Stop, Gracia Harrison of NBC’s “The Voice,” Aaron Kamm and the One Drops and The North 41. The two side stages feature notable acts as well, with The Fireside Relics, Baaad Boyz and Wolf Crick Boys playing Friday and Good Times and Company, Enamel and Alex and the XO’s (just to name a few) performing Saturday. The acoustic stage located just south of the Old State Capitol steps will host mesmerizing singer-songwriter style performances both Friday and Saturday.

Admission to the Legacy of Giving Festival vendor fair is free; admission to the music festival costs $5 per day. Like SOHO, festival proceeds will support a variety of charities that offer aid and support to people and animals in the Springfield community. The inaugural Legacy of Giving Festival beneficiaries are: Compass for Kids, Forever Home Feline Ranch, genH Kids, Habitat for Humanity of Sangamon County, the Helping Paw Project, the Mary Bryant Home, the Outlet, Stepping Out to Cure Scleroderma, and WILD (Women in Love with Dogs Canine Rescue).

For more information about the inaugural Legacy of Giving Fest, visit http:// logmusicfest.org. –Nan Kording Series. Free. levittamp.org. Downtown Jacksonville, Central Park, Jacksonville, 243-5678.

Aladdin, Jr. Jun 2-4, 9-10, 8pm. Children’s musical fi lled with songs from the Disney movie. Directed by Adam Power. $15 adults, $13 seniors, $10 children under 12. theatreinthepark.net. Theatre in the Park, Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site, 15588 History Lane, Petersburg, 632-5440.

Super Saturdays Jun 3, Jul 1, Aug 5, 11am-3pm. Themed activities and crafts for ages 5+ and their families. Free with museum admission. illinoisstatemuseum.org. 782- 0061. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St., 782-7386.

Art in the Yard Jun 3, 1-4pm. Children accompanied by an adult create seven different art projects. $4 per child. David Strawn Art Gallery, 331 W. College Ave., Jacksonville, 243-9390.

Hog Roast Jun 3, 4-8pm. Fifth annual event. kclakeclub.com. Knights of Columbus, Holy Family Council 4179, 141 N. Lakewood Dr., Chatham, 483-3013.

Tony Bennett Jun 3, 8pm. Concert by 19-time Grammy Award-winner. $60+. sangamonauditorium.org. Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, 1 University Plaza, 206-6160.

First Sunday Midwest Bazaar Jun 4, Jul 2, Aug 6, 8am- 4pm. 150+ vendors. $4 adults, free to children under 12. Menard County Fairgrounds, 18450 Fairgrounds, Petersburg.

First Annual KC Car Show Jun 4, 10am. Participant-judged show featuring music, food, drinks and more. Supported by the Route 66 Cruisers Car Club. $15 registration for participants. Riverton Knights of Columbus, 335 S. Fourth St., Riverton, 629- 9018.

Concerts in the Park Jun 4-Aug 27, 6pm Sun. Complimentary concerts on Sundays, Jun-Aug. BYO blankets or lawn chairs. Hosted by Pilot Club of Jacksonville. Free. Jacksonville Community Park, 1201 S. Main, Jacksonville.

International Carillon Festival Jun 4-6, 8-9, 6:30-8:30pm. Nightly carillon concerts by worldwide renown carillonists. Fireworks Friday at dusk. Free. carillon-rees.org. Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon, 1740 W. Fayette Ave., 546-3853.

Springfield Municipal Band Jun 6, 13, 20, 27, Jul 4, 11, 18, 25, Aug 1, 7:30-9pm. Outdoor concerts Tuesdays in June through the fi rst week of August. Douglas Park, 400 N. Macarthur Blvd.

Chatham American Legion Homecoming Jun 8-10, 5pm-11pm Thu, 5pm-12am Fri-Sat. Three-day old-fashioned street festival with food, beverages, live music, carnival rides, family fun and more. Parade at 2pm on Saturday. Free. chathamlegion. com. Chatham Town Square, 101 W. Mulberry, Chatham, 483- 4084.

The Last Laugh Film Showing Jun 8, 7-9pm. Part of the Fourth Annual Jewish Film Series, which features award-winning fi lms from around the world suitable for a multicultural, multi-generational audience. $25 for series pass; $7 per fi lm or $5 per fi lm with student ID. shalomspringfi eld.org. 787- 7223. Capital City Bar & Grill, 3149 S. Dirksen Pkwy, 529- 8580.

The Tangents, Unifyah, Mathias and The Pirates Jun 9, 6pm. Outdoor concert. Bring picnics, blankets, lawn chairs. Part of the Levitt AMP Jacksonville Music Series. Free. levittamp.org. Downtown Jacksonville, Central Park, Jacksonville, 243-5678.

Willy Wonka Jun 9-11, 14-18, 8:30pm. Musical based off Roald Dahl’s timeless story of the worldfamous candy man and his quest to fi nd an heir. Tickets: $15 and $17 reserved; $10 and $12 lawn. themuni.org. The Muni, 815 E. Lake Dr., 793-MUNI.

Blue Carpet Corridor Route 66 Celebration Jun 10, 8am-5pm. visitlitchfi eld. com. Litchfi eld Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center, 334 Old Rt. 66 North, Litchfi eld, 866- 733-5833.

Plaza Car Show and Cruise Night Jun 10, 8am-9pm. Judged car show from 8am-3pm on the downtown square. Cruise from 5-9pm from Hardees. jacksonvilleil.org. 243-5678. Central Park, Downtown Jacksonville.

Summer Frolic Jun 10, 10am-4pm. Periodclothed interpreters celebrate frontier heritage plus World Wide Knit in Public Day. Bring your own chair and knit. lincolnsnewsalem.com. Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site, 15588 History Lane, Petersburg, 632-4000.

Wacky Wheelers Parade Jun 10, 1-4pm. Bring your art bike or decorate your wheels for a group ride around Enos Park. Decorating session, safety training, group ride, and more. Basic supplies provided. Hosted by Our Vibrant Community. Free. Questions to 331-2027. Enos Park, Seventh and Enterprise streets.

Murder Mystery Dinner Jun 10, 5pm. hickoryglenil.com. Hickory Glen Senior Living, 1700 W. Washington St., 793- 0431.

Annual Cops and Robbers Fishing Clinic Jun 11, 8-11am. For ages 7-12. Hosted by Springfi eld Park District and the Springfi eld Police Department. Preregistration required. Free. springfi eldparks.org. 741- 0988. Southwind Park, 4965 S. Second St., 753-0702.

Litchfield Pickers Market Jun 11, Jul 9, Aug 13, 9am-3pm. Open-air market specializes in vendors featuring items prior to 1980. Plus live music, food, more. Free admission. visitlitchfi eld.com. 866-733-5833. Downtown Litchfi eld, 400 N. State St., Litchfi eld.

Walk to Defeat ALS Jun 11, 9am-12pm. Team or individual registration available. Free. web.alsa.org. 888-873- 8539. Hope Pavilion, Southwind Park, 4965 S. Second St., 788- 2310.

Family Fun Golf Day Jun 11, 2-6pm. Kids and their families try FootGolf, a new sport that combines soccer and golf. Free. springfi eldparks.org. Bergen Golf Course, 2900 E. Clear Lake Ave., 753-6211.

Larry Gatlin Jun 11, 3pm. Solo concert by country music legend Larry Gatlin. $25-35. hcfta.org. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St., 523-2787.

Midwest Charity Horse Show Jun 13-17, 10:30am and 6:30pm daily. Premier US horse show features American Saddlebred, Roadster, Morgan and Arabian horses and Hackney ponies. Performances at 10:30am and 6:30pm daily. Free. midwestcharity.com. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave., 782- 6661.

Sangamon County Fair Jun 13-18. Carnival, queen pageant, nationally-recognized entertainment, demolition derby, agricultural exhibits and more. Concert tickets $20; demolition derby tickets $10; general admission $5-10; free to ages 3 and under. sangcofair.com. Sangamon County Fairgrounds, 316 W. Birch St., New Berlin, 488-2685.

SCHS Annual Dinner Jun 13. Keynote speaker is Carolyn Moore, who headed the SCHS in 2007. Tickets. Clayville, Route 125, Pleasant Plains, 572-4984.

Bob Steffan Summer Film Fest Jun 13, 20, 27, Jul 11, 18, 25, 10- 10:30am. 30-minute fi lms every Tuesday in June and July for ages 3-8. Free with museum admission. illinoisstatemuseum.org. 782-5949. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St., 782-7386.

Adult Coloring Club Jun 13, 26, 5:30-7:30pm. All supplies provided. Led by Eve. Free. lincolnlibrary.info. Lincoln Library, 326 S. Seventh St., 753-4900.

Crossroads Pro Rodeo Association Jun 14, 7pm. Muttin’ Bustin’ competition for kids plus barrel racing, clown acts, bull riding and fi reworks. Free with general fair admission. sangcofair.com. Grandstand, Sangamon County Fairgrounds, 316 W. Birch St., 488-2685.

Paul Mickey Archaeology Lecture Series Jun 14, Jul 12, Aug 9, 7-8:30pm. Featuring a different topic and speaker each month. illinoisstatemuseum.org. 782-0061. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St., 782-7386.

Artists on the Plaza Jun 15-17, 9am-5pm. Fine craft sale featuring dozens of local and regional artisans in an outdoor setting. Live music on the plaza from 11am-2pm daily. The Gables, Plaza Drive, off W. White Oaks Drive near Greenbriar and Veterans.

The Kind Words Film Showing Jun 15, 7-9pm. Part of the Fourth Annual Jewish Film Series, which features award-winning fi lms from around the world suitable for a multicultural, multi-generational audience. $25 for series pass; $7 per fi lm or $5 per fi lm with student ID. shalomspringfi eld.org. 787-7223. Capital City Bar & Grill, 3149 S. Dirksen Pkwy, 529-8580.

Trent Harmon, Michael Tyler Jun 15, 8pm. Concert. $20. sangcofair.com. Grandstand, Sangamon County Fairgrounds, 316 W. Birch St., 488- 2685.

Aaron Lewis, The Steel Woods, Lick Creek Jun 16, 7pm. Concert. $20. sangcofair. com. Grandstand, Sangamon County Fairgrounds, 316 W. Birch St., 488- 2685.

Poor Farm Road, Waterloo Revival Jun 16, 6pm. Outdoor concert. Bring picnics, blankets, lawn chairs. Part of the Levitt AMP Jacksonville Music Series. Free. levittamp.org. Downtown Jacksonville, Central Park, Jacksonville, 243-5678.

Vintage Baseball Festival Jun 17, 12pm. Three local baseball teams play by 1860s rules and wear uniforms from the same time period. Bring your own seating. Food truck on site. 953-0744. Jacksonville Community Park, 1201 S. Main, Jacksonville.

The Cadillac Three, Broseph E. Lee, Bailey Bryan Jun 17, 7pm. Concert. $20. sangcofair. com. Grandstand, Sangamon County Fairgrounds 316 W. Birch St., 488- 2685.

Movie in the Park: Moana Jun 16, 7pm. Part of Springfi eld Park District’s concert and movie