Food and music festival celebrates the eternal beauty of Springfield

Although the name “Amaranth Apple Festival” (Downtown Springfield Inc.’s revision of 2016’s Bacon Throwdown) may sound like a celebration of the late summer and early autumn deciduous fruit, the midsummer festival, occurring July 14-15, actually celebrates Springfield’s signature restaurant dishes paired with live music, courtesy of the Bedrock 66 Live! Concert Series. The name of the festival pays homage to Springfield’s most famous poet, Vachel Lindsay, who wrote of the mystical fruit called the “Amaranth Apple” in his 1920 novel titled The Golden Book of Springfield.

In Lindsay’s novel, the Amaranth Apple grew after Johnny Appleseed planted seeds in the deceased body of Hunter Kelly, the fictional founder of Springfield. The seeds then blossomed, converting Springfield into a utopian paradise comprised of socially and religiously awakened citizens, serving as a model for all of America. The name “Amaranth Apple Festival” came into being when, according to DSI’s Executive Director Lisa Clemmons Stott, a DSI committee member likened downtown Springfield to the blossoming of Lindsay’s Amaranth Apple. DSI’s committee felt it was a fitting name for a food festival designed to celebrate the “weird and wonderful” in the heart of Springfield, and the name took off from there.

Although there will be a “hint” of the mystical food in each bite, participating restaurants will be showcasing their own signature dishes, marking a return to the “Taste of Downtown” street festival format. On July 14-15, organizers are expecting at least 25 participating restaurants to line Fifth and Washington streets just west of the Old State Capitol. Expect to find sample-sized portions of your favorite local chef’s creations as well as exciting new dishes to tantalize your tastebuds.

The music component of the festival features a talented mix of local and regional acts. The tunes begin Friday evening at 6 p.m. with singer-songwriters Josh Reilly and Amy Benton. Friday’s musical lineup features two co-headliners: Rockford’s Miles Nielsen and The Rusted Hearts along with The Whistles and the Bells, who are based out of Nashville, Tennessee. Miles Nielsen and The Rusted Hearts have been likened to early Wilco and the Raspberries while The Whistles and The Bells, the solo project from Cadillac Sky frontman Bryan Simpson, seamlessly blends Southern folk, alt-country and indie gospel.

Music on Saturday begins at 3 p.m. with Bruiser Queen, the St. Louis-based garagepop rock n’ roll duet voted “Best Rock Group” in the 2015 and 2016 Riverfront Times’ “Best of St. Louis” readers poll. They’ll be followed by sets from Springfield poppunkers The Starter Jackets, former Motor City rockers Captain Ivory, and Chicago’s The Handcuffs. Saturday night’s headliners are American singer-songwriter Matthew Sweet, whose 1991 album titled Girlfriend is recognized as one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the 90s, and The Cold Stares, returning to Springfield for the second time this year, from Nashville.

Admission to the Amaranth Apple Festival costs $5 per day. Food and drink tickets will be available for purchase in advance online at a discounted rate, or on site at the festival. For more information about DSI’s Amaranth Apple Festival, call 544-1723 or visit http:// downtownspringfield.org. – Nan Kording series. Bring lawn chair or blanket. Concessions for purchase. Free. springfi eldparks.org. Comer Cox Park, Capitol Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, 544-1751.

Railsplitter Olympic Triathlon Jun 17, 7:30am. Olympic triathlon includes a .9-mile private lake swim, 24.8-mile bike ride and 6.2-mile run. Registration, triharderpromotions.com. Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site, 15588 History Lane, Petersburg, 632-4000.

Scholastic Challenge 5K Jun 17, 7:30-9:30am. 3.1-mile race is one of the fastest 5Ks in Illinois. Proceeds support local high schools. $25 advance, $30 race day. 971-4663. Lake Springfi eld Beach House, 100 Long Bay Dr., 757-8660.

Stovepipe Sprint Triathlon Jun 17, 8am. Sprint triathlon includes a 500-yard private lake swim, 13-mile bike ride and 3.1-mile run through an 1800’s pioneer village. Registration. triharderpromotions.com. Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site, 15588 History Lane, Petersburg, 632-4000.

Pleasant Plains Market Days Jun 17, Jul 22, Aug 19, 9am-1pm. Featuring 20+ vendors on the third Saturday of each month. 415-0731. Pleasant Plains Market Days, 408 E. State Highway 125, Pleasant Plains.

Gun Show-and-Tell Jun 17, 2-3pm. Re-enactor Darin Miller discusses various weapons the soldiers would have been equipped with on the battlefi elds of Korea. Free. kwnm.org. Korean War National Museum Denis J. Healy Freedom Center, 9 South Old State Capitol Plaza, 523-7230.

Celtic Woman Jun 17, 7:30pm. Captivating new “Voices of Angels” concert by multi-platinum international music sensation Celtic Woman. $42, $72. sangamonauditorium.org. Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, 1 University Plaza, 206-6160.

WWE Summer Slam Tour Jun 18, 7pm. $17-107. springfi eldpc3. com. Prairie Capital Convention Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, 800-745- 3000.

Brown Bag Lecture Series Jun 21, Jul 19, Aug 16, 12-1pm. Bring your lunch and enjoy a different speaker and topic each month.illinoisstatemuseum.org. 782-0061. Illinois State Museum Research & Collections Center, 1011 E. Ash St., 785-0037.

Pawnee Prairie Days Jun 22-24, 5pm-12:30am Thu, 5pm- 1am Fri, 8-1am Sat. Live music, carnival rides, food and drinks. Car show Saturday. Parade at 5pm on Sat. Free admission; purchase tickets for carnival. Pawnee Town Square, Pawnee, 625-2411.

What Our Fathers Did: A Nazi Legacy Film Showing Jun 22, 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.

Crazy Horse Bluegrass Festival Jun 23-25. Tenth annual festival. Music all weekend, including a Sunday morning gospel show. crazyhorsecamp. com. 243-5678. Crazy Horse Campground, 2113 Crazy Horse Road, Ashland, 886-2089.

Marina Fireworks

Jun 23. Lake Springfield.

Marbold Farmstead Antique Show and Farm Fest Jun 23-25, 5-8pm Fri, 9am- 8pm Sat, 8:30am-3pm Sun. See primitive antiques, period craftsmen, steam engines, gas engines, demonstrations, children’s activities and more. $5 per day or $12 for three days. historic-marbold-farmstead. org. Historic Marbold Farmstead, 21722 State Hwy 29, Greenview, 968-5808.

St. Andrew’s Society Celtic Dancers, Old Salt Union Jun 23, 6pm. Outdoor performance and concert. Bring picnics, blankets, lawn chairs. Part of the Levitt AMP Jacksonville Music Series. Free. levittamp.org. Downtown Jacksonville, Central Park, Jacksonville, 243-5678.

State Fair Jun 23-25, 29, Jul 1, 8pm. Musical about an Iowa farm family preparing to go to the multi-day Iowa State Fair. $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.

Fit for Life: Heart Healthy 5K Jun 24, 8am. 5K run through the grounds surrounding the lake. Hosted by M & M Multisport Club. Registration. mmmultisport.com. Lake Lou Yaeger, Picnic Area 3, 3 Primitive Lane, Litchfi eld, 866-733-5833.

Pawnee Prairie Days BBQ Jun 24, 8am-5pm. Ribs, chicken and open. $25 entry fee per category after Jun 15; $20 before. 836-9580. Pawnee Town Square, Pawnee.

A.J. Croce Jun 24, 8pm. Son of Jim Croce and jazz-infl uenced blues artist turned pop music iconoclast. $25+. sangamonauditorium.org. Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, 1 University Plaza, 206-6160.

Music in the Park: New City Road Jun 25, 4-7pm. Part of Springfi eld Park District’s concert and movie series. Retro and current country music. Concessions for purchase. springfi eldparks.org. 544-1751. Southwind Park, 4965 S. Second St., 753-0702.

Illinois Shakespeare Festival Jun 28-Aug 12. 40th annual festival features A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Cymbeline, I Heart Juliet and The Improvised Shakespeare Company. Individual and season tickets available. illinoisshakes.com. Illinois State University, 100 N. University St., Normal.

Jacksonville Passavant Team Rehab/FCA Shootout Jun 28-29. Largest basketball tournament in the state of Illinois. Illinois College and MacMurray College.

The Women’s Balcony Film Showing Jun 29, 7-9pm. Part of the Fourth Annual Jewish Film Series, which features awardwinning 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.

Assumption Fest Jun 30-Jul 1. Family-friendly fair featuring a BBQ contest and much more. Free. Assumption.

Ten Foot World, Curley Taylor Jun 30, 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.

Mary Poppins Jun 30, Jul 1-2, 5-9, 8:30pm. Musical based on the similarly titled Mary Poppins children’s books by P. L. Travers and the 1964 Disney fi lm. Tickets: $15 and $17 reserved; $10 and $12 lawn. themuni.org. The Muni, 815 E. Lake Dr., 793-MUNI.

July

5K Freedom Fun Run/Walk Jul 1, 7-11am. Registration. visitlitchfi eld.com. 866-733- 5833. Lake Lou Yaeger, Picnic Area 3, 3 Primitive Lane, Litchfi eld.

Capital City Celebration Jul 1, 11-12am. Dog pageant, live music, large kids area, food trucks and vendors. Fireworks at 9pm. Hosted by Springfi eld Jaycees. Fifth and Capitol streets, Downtown Springfield.

Independence Party Jul 1. Sangamo Surf Club, 405 E. Lake Shore Dr., 529-1712.

Riverton Fire Crackin Festival Jul 1, 3-11pm. Fourth annual festival features bounce houses, activities, live music by Ran$om and more. Fireworks at dusk. Food and beverages for purchase. Riverton KC Grounds, 335 South Fourth, Riverton.

Fourth of July Celebration and Parade Jul 3-4. Two-day celebration featuring kids events, live entertainment, fi reworks and more. Nichols Park, 319 Holken Brink Dr., Jacksonville, 243- 5678.

Independence Day Fireworks Jul 4, 9:30-10pm. Free. VisitLitchfi eld.com. 324-8147. Lake Lou Yaeger Marina 1, 4313 Beach House Trail, Litchfi eld, 866-733-5833.

North End Lake Fireworks Jul 4. Rain date is Saturday, July 8. Lake Springfield.

Community Summer Band, The South Austin Moonlighters Jul 7, 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.

Disney’s Newsies: The Musical Jul 7-9, 12-16, 19-23, 7pm Wed-Thu, 8pm Fri-Sat, 2pm Sun. Captivating story of a band of underdogs who stand up to the most powerful men in New York. $25 advance, $30 day of; $22 seniors and children. atthelegacy.com. The Legacy Theatre, 101 E. Lawrence, 800- 838-3006.

Capitol Takeover Jul 8, 7am-5pm. Two-person CrossFit competition featuring RX, Scaled and Masters divisions. $150 per team; free to spectators. capitoltakeover.com. Rail Splitter CrossFit, 300 W. North St., 312-882-2440.

Springfield Highland Games and Celtic Festival Jul 8. Dance, solo piping, drumming, band and athletic competitions and games, live musical acts, vendors, kids activities, storytelling, food, animals and more. $10 per person; $5 ages 5-12, seniors and kids under 5 are free. springfi eldhighlandgames.com. Chatham Community Park, 731 S. Main St., Chatham.

Women’s Distance Festival Jul 8, 8am. Two-mile race and kids’ fun run. Registration. srrc. net. Washington Park, 1501 S. Grand Ave. W., 544-1751.

Illinois Bat Festival Jul 8, 9am-4pm. Featuring fun and educational presentations, speakers, live animals, hands-on activities, games for kids and interactive exhibits. Free. batconservation.org. 248-645-3232. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St., 782-7386.

Zoofari Jul 8, 11am-4pm. Kids of all ages learn how animals enjoy summer. Bring your favorite stuffed animal friend in for a checkup at the Teddy Bear Clinic. $5 adults, $2 children. springfi eldparks. org. Henson Robinson Zoo, 1100 E. Lake Shore Dr., 585-1821.

Springfield Civic Garden Club Jul 10, 9am. Monthly meeting features speaker Nancy Schumm-Burgess on “Pioneer Gardens.” Free. 563- 940-5735. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 533 S. Walnut St., 522-4415.

Ballroom Dance Jul 12-Aug 16, 6-9:30pm Wed. On Wednesdays, enjoy Easy Coast Swing (6-7pm), Basic ChaCha/Mambo (7:15- 8:15pm) and All Waltz (8:30-9:30pm) dancing. Hosted by Ron and Paula’s Ballroom Dancing. RonAndPaulaDance. com. 553-0446. Nelson Center, 1601 N. Fifth St., 525-2589.

Morgan County Fair Jul 12-16. Carnival, food, talent show, pageant, livestock, tractor pulls, live entertainment Friday by Trace Adkins and Saturday by Big and Rich. themorgancountyfair.com. Morgan County Fairgrounds, 110 N. Westgate, Jacksonville, 245-6800.

Amaranth Apple Festival Jul 14-15, 6pm-12am. Revival of Springfi eld’s favorite downtown food and music festival with many new twists. Hosted by Downtown Springfi eld, Inc. $5 admission per day. downtownspringfi eld.org. Downtown Springfi eld, Inc., 3 W. Old State Capitol Plaza, 544-1723.

Movie in the Park: Finding Dory Jul 14, 6pm. Part of Springfi eld Park District’s concert and movie series. Swim from 6-8pm. Bring lawn chair or blanket. Concessions for purchase. Free. springfi eldparks.org. 544-1751. Veterans Memorial Pool, 2700 Ely St., 753-3030.

The Longmeyer Band, Ptah Williams Jul 14, 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.

High School Musical Jul 14-16, 20-22, 8pm. Contemporary musical comedy featuring a popular high school basketball star and a shy, new student who discover they both share a secret passion for singing. $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.

Big Dawg Dare Jul 15, 8am. Extreme 5K run features infl atable obstacles and mud. Registration. bigdawgdare.com. 866- 733-5833. Wolff Farms, 3153 N. 15th Ave., Litchfield.

Party in the Park Festival Jul 21-22, 5-11pm Fri, 10am-11pm Sat. Carnival, live music, food and vendor booths, pageants and more. Hosted by the Litchfi eld Chamber of Commerce. litchfi eldchamber.com. 324-2533. Downtown Litchfi eld, 400 N. State St., Litchfi eld, 866-733-5833.

West End Boogie, The Trip Daddy’s Jul 21, 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.