Holiday Happenings
Happy Noon Year Dec 31, 10am-2pm Sun. Confetti balloon-drop at noon plus music, crafts and fun. $6 members, $8 non. Children’s Museum of Illinois, 55 South Country Club Road, 423-KIDS.
Holiday Camps Dec 28-31, Jan 2, 7:30am-5:30pm. A winter break daycare solution for anyone with or without a disability, ages 5-25. $20 per day residents, $25 per day non. springfieldparks.org. Erin’s Pavilion, Southwind Park, 4965 S. Second St., 753-0702.
Holidays at the White House Dec 28 - Jan 7. Exhibition depicts how past presidents and their loved ones enjoyed the holidays in the White House. On display through Jan 7. illinois.gov. 558-8844. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, 212 N. Sixth St., 782-5764.
Kwanzaa Celebration Dec 28-30, 12-4pm Thu-Fri, 10am- 4pm Sat. 391-6323. African-American History Museum, 1440 Monument Ave., 877-757-2246.
New Year Eve Bash Dec 31, 8pm-2am Sun. Featuring games, food, drinks, live music and more. Ages 21+ only. $50 per person. rt66hotel.com. Route 66 Hotel & Conference Center, 625 E. Saint Joseph St., 529-6626.
New Year’s Eve Event Dec 31, 6pm Sun. 1970s-themed party features a costume contest, dueling pianos, prime rib meal and more. Firefighters-Postal Lake Club, 940 W. Lake Shore Dr., 622-0099.
Vintage Carriage Rides Dec 29-30, 5-8pm Fri-Sat. Enjoy a charming ride for 4-6 people in a horse-drawn carriage, decorated for the holiday season. Reservations required. $60 per 30-minute ride. redgatefarmllc.com. 501-4234. Washington Park, 1501 S. Grand Ave. W., 544-1751.
Winterland Holiday Zoo Lights Dec 28-30, 5-9pm Thu-Sat. Enjoy a walking tour set to Cool 93.9 holiday music, thousands of twinkling lights, animated LED light displays and more. $7 adults, $5 ages 3-12, free to ages 2 and under. springfieldparks.org. Henson Robinson Zoo, 1100 E. Lake Shore Dr., 585-1821.
Fairs & Festivals
First Night Springfield Dec 31, 1-11:15pm Sun. Complimentary afternoon activities for kids at Springfield High School. Ticketed shows feature music, dance and more at various downtown locations at night. Admission. springfieldartsco.org. 753-3519. Hoogland Center for the Arts and various downtown locations. 420 S. Sixth St., 523-2787.
Theater & Comedy Comedian Josh Alton Dec 30-31, 8-9:45pm Sat-Sun. Athleteturned-comedian Josh Alton has been featured in Road Dogs, American Smartass and more. $12.50. mclimits. com. Mason City Limits Comedy Club, 114 E. Chestnut, Mason City, 482- 5233.
Dance BAM Dec 31, 8pm Sun. New Year’s Eve dance. By reservation only. 825-9251. VFW Post #755, 2211 Old Jacksonville Road, 546-9515.
Dance for Hope Dec 29, 7:30-10:30pm Fri. West coast swing dances every fifth Friday of the month. danceforhope3111.com. Normandy Hill Plaza, 3111 Normandy Road, Suite 104, 522- 9106.
Art & Architecture Robert Middaugh: Machines Inherit the Earth Dec
28-Feb 11. Exhibition features 20 artworks ranging in date from
1964-2005. On display through Feb 11. $5 for adults; free admission to
children, seniors, veterans. illinoisstatemuseum.org. 558- 6696.
Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St., 782-7386.
Toy Box - Inspiration Through Play Dec 28-31, 9am-4:30pm Thu- Sat, 12-4:30pm Sun. Featuring artwork by working artists across Illinois. $5 ages 19-64; free to members, children, seniors and veterans. illinoisstatemuseum. org. 558-6696. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St., 782- 7386.
Nature
Sierra Club Stone Soup Hike Jan 1, 10am-1pm Mon. Bring something to throw in the soup pot, your own drink (something hot is recommended) and your own “table service.” Free. 899- 9996. Carpenter Park Nature Preserve Pavilion, Cabin Smoke Trail off North Business Route 55 (Peoria Road), Sherman, 544- 1751.
Lectures & Meetings Adult Children of Alcoholics Jan 2, 5:15pm Tue. Weekly meetings every Tuesday. New attendees welcome. wisetruth@ yahoo.com. Discovery Club, 313 W. Cook St., 544-9049.
Breakfast Optimist Club Dec 29, 7am Fri. Every Friday. 546-5021. Peace Lutheran Church, 2800 W. Jefferson St., 546-7646. Capital City Toastmasters Jan 3, 12-1pm Wed. Every Wednesday. Develop public speaking and leadership skills. 131-3356. toastmastersclubs. org. Illinois Department of Transportation, 2300 S. Dirksen Parkway.
Celebrate Recovery Dec 29, 6:30-8:30pm Fri. Christcentered recovery program for hurts, habits and hangups. livingfaithbaptist.org. Living Faith Baptist Church, 7575 W. Outer Road, Sherman, 496-2590.
GriefShare Jan
2, 6:30pm Tue. Nondenominational grief-recovery program utilizes video
seminars, a workbook and a support group environment. Two-hour sessions
weekly for 13 weeks. $15. 899-9418. Trinity Lutheran School, 515 S.
MacArthur, 787-2323.
Springfield Backgammon Club Jan 3, 6pm Wed. First time is free; $5 per entry after that. sangamonvalleybackgammon. com. 622-9447. Capitol Teletrack, 1766 Wabash Ave., 546-2111.
Bulletin Board Winter Camp Dec 28-31, Jan 2, 7am-5:30pm. A holiday daycare solution for working parents and their kids ages 5-12. $25 per day residents, $28 per day non. springfieldparks. org. 753-2800. Nelson Center, 1601 N. Fifth St., 525-2589.
Auditions And Then There Were None Jan 3, 6:30-8:30pm Wed. Open auditions for 11 male and female characters available to ages 16+. theatre7.net. Theatre 7, 131 N. Water St., Decatur, 423-2107.
Faith & Philosophy New Year’s Eve Service Dec 31, 6:30pm Sun. Holy Communion service. trinitylutheran.com. Trinity Lutheran School, 515 S. MacArthur, 787- 2323.
Find more details and gigs in our online calendar at