Fairs & Festivals

Illinois State Fair Aug 16-19. So much to do we can’t list everything. Food, entertainment, midway, exhibits and more. Admission. illinois.gov. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave., 782-6661.

Loco-Motion Cruise-In and Car Show Aug 19, 11am-3pm Sun. Free to spectators; $10 donation per vehicle entry. chathamrailroadmuseum.org. Chatham Railroad Museum, 100 N. State St., Chatham, 483-7792.

Loggerpalooza Aug 21, 10am-2pm Tue. Featuring entertainment, community vendors, food and more. Free. 786-2241. Outside A. Lincoln Commons, Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Road, 786-2200.

Mt. Auburn Farmer’s Picnic Aug 23-25, 4pm Thu-Fri, 7am Sat. Annual event features a carnival, live entertainment, food, parade at 11am Saturday and more. Theme is “Dreams of the Future.” Mt. Auburn.

Old Capitol Blues and BBQ Aug 24-25, 5-11:59pm Fri, 12- 11:59pm Sat. Two days of live music, BBQ, domestic and craft beers, a wine garden and more. An official bicentennial event. $5 Friday; $10 Saturday. Old State Capitol Plaza, between Sixth and Fifth streets at Adams.

Books & Authors Springfield Comic Book Convention Aug 19, 10am-4pm Sun. Large variety of comic books (new and old) plus toys and collectibles. Free admission. epguides.com/comics. 309-657-1599. Route 66 Hotel and Conference Center, 625 E. Saint Joseph St., 529-6626.

Third Thursday Reading Series Aug 16, 6-8pm Thu. Book launch for Travis Finds the Truth, written by Melissa Morrissey and illustrated by Michelle “Micki” Smith. Open mic and discussion at 6pm; presentation to follow. Free. twelvewinters.com. Sherman Public Library, 2100 E. Andrew Road, Sherman, 496-2496.

Theater & Comedy Big River Aug 17-19, 24-25, 8pm Fri-Sat, 2pm Sun, 2pm Aug 25. Mark Twain’s timeless classic sweeps us down the mighty Mississippi as the irrepressible Huck Finn helps his friend Jim, a slave, escape to freedom. $18, $20. hcfta.org. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St., 523-2787.

Comedian Geechy Guy Aug 16, 8-9:30pm Thu. Has been seen on “The Tonight Show,” “Make Me Laugh” and “America’s Got Talent.” $5. mclimits.com. Mason City Limits Comedy Club, 114 E. Chestnut St., Mason City, 482-5233.

Spoon River Anthology Aug 24-26, 8pm Fri-Sun. A stage adaptation of Edgar Lee Masters’ classic book of poems. Directed by Phil Funkenbusch. $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.

STC’s Boat and Season Launch Party Aug 24, 6:30pm Fri. Featuring musical entertainment, a dessert bar, boat rides and more. Hosted by Springfield Theatre Centre. $20. hcfta.org. Island Bay Yacht Club, 76 Yacht Club Road, 529-5418.

Music: General Events

Brantley Gilbert Aug 19, 8pm Sun. Country concert. $35-$55. illinois.gov/ statefair. Illinois State Fair Grandstand, 801 E. Sangamon Ave., 782-6661.

Brett Eldredge Aug 17, 8pm Fri. Country concert. $29-$49. illinois.gov/ statefair. Illinois State Fair Grandstand, 801 E. Sangamon Ave., 782-6661.

Flo Rida, Ludacris, Childish Major Aug 18, 8pm Sat. $27-$47. illinois.gov/statefair. Illinois State Fair Grandstand, 801 E. Sangamon Ave., 782-6661.

Jazz in Bloom Aug 18, 6-9pm Sat. A summer cocktail party featuring music by the Rob Killam Quartet and a silent auction. Hosted by the Dana-Thomas House Foundation. $60, includes food and drink. 788-9452. Dana- Thomas House, 301 E. Lawrence Ave., 782-6776.

Music at the Market Aug 18, 10am-12pm Sat. Entertainment provided by local performers. Free. springfieldartsco.org. 753-3519. Old Capitol Farmers Market, Fourth and Adams streets, 544- 1723.

Powerlight Christian Music Festival Aug 19, 12-9pm Sun. Featuring Chosen Generation, Slingshot 57, Zach Williams and more. Free after State Fair admission. 553-5271. Illinois State Fair Lincoln Stage.

Dance Dance for Hope Aug 17, 7:30-10:30pm Fri. West coast swing dances every third Friday of the month. $8 per person. Free admission to one dance of your choosing during your birth month. danceforhope3111.com. Normandy Hill Plaza, 3111 Normandy Road, Suite 104, 522- 9106.

Art & Architecture Crafter’s Treasure Sale Aug 24-25, 8am-8pm Fri, 8am- 12pm Sat. Craft supplies for sale. Some fixed price items. Fill a bag for $10 per bag. 793-2178. Springfield Ceramics and Crafts Club, 2626 S. Pasfield St.

Jan Sorenson Hill Art Exhibition Aug 16-24. Theme is “Journey through space.” On display through Aug. 31. Sangamo Club, 227 E. Adams St., 544-1793.

Washington Park Historic Photography Display Aug 18-24, 12-4pm Mon-Fri, 12-5pm Sat-Sun. Annual photo display features images of Washington Park dating back to the park’s creation in 1902. Free. springfieldparks.org. Washington Park Botanical Garden Exhibit Hall, 1740 W. Fayette Ave., 546- 4116.

Film & Television Before ‘I Do’ Aug 23, 7-10pm Thu. A fastpaced, colorful drama with a splash of comedy and myriad surprises. Written, directed, and produced by Springfield’s own Kimberley Conner. $5. route66filmfestival.net. 725- 9058. Route 66 Hotel and Conference Center, 625 E. Saint Joseph St., 529-6626.

Nature

Enos Park Community Garden Night Aug 22, 6-8pm Wed. Every Wednesday. Help garden and share the vegetable harvest. Free. Enos Park Community Garden, 1022 N. Fifth St., 847- 341-0591.

Lectures & Meetings Abe and Mary Quite Contrary Walking Tour Aug 21, 10-11am Tue, 1:30- 2:30pm Tue. A 1.5-mile, 60-minute walking tour that takes you on a journey through historic downtown Springfield.Registration.aarp.cvent.com. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, 112 N. Sixth St., 558- 8844.

Adult Children of Alcoholics and other Dysfunctional Families Aug 21, 5:30pm Tue. Weekly meetings every Tuesday. New attendees welcome. wisetruth@yahoo.com. Discovery Club, 313 W. Cook St., 544-9049.

Advanced Beyond the Basics iPhone and iPad Training Aug 16, 6-8pm Thu. Bring yourself, your iPhone and/or iPad.Register.aarp.cvent.com. Wanless Elementary School, 2120 E. Reservoir St., 525-3272.

Backing Up Your Data Aug 22, 6-7:30pm Wed. Learn how to back up your electronic data from your computer, tablet or smartphone. Presentation by Darrell Fortae, owner of Everlast Software. Free. chathamlib.org. Chatham Area Public Library, 600 E. Spruce, Chatham, 483-2713.

Breakfast Optimist Club Aug 17, 24, 7am Fri. Every Friday. Visitors welcome. 546- 5021. Peace Lutheran Church, 2800 W. Jefferson St., 546-7646.

Celebrate Recovery Aug 24, 6:30-8:30pm Fri. Every Friday. A Christcentered recovery program for hurts, habits and hang-ups. livingfaithbaptist.org. Living Faith Baptist Church, 7575 W. Outer Road, Sherman, 496-2590.

Got Scraps? Aug 18, 10am-2:30pm Sat. Lecture on scrap quilts presented by Teajuana Mahone of Teaquilts. Reservations. $25, includes box lunch and drinks. 309-678-7716. Jacksonville Moose Lodge, Jacksonville.

Heads Up Group Aug 19, 2-4pm Sun. Support group for individuals with traumatic head injuries. Speaker is Lyle Vandeventer from the Home Services Program, Brain Injury Unit. Free. scil. org. Springfield Center for Independent Living, 330 S. Grand Ave. W., 523-2587.

Intro to Windows Aug 23, 2-4pm Thu. Learn about Windows systems. Registration. aarp.cvent.com. Lincoln Library, 326 S. Seventh St., 753-4900.

Jobs and Job Training for Minorities and Women Meeting Aug 20, 12pm Mon. Held on the third Monday of every month. Hosted by Faith Coalition for the Common Good. faithcoalition-il.org. 717-1525. Calvary Baptist Church, 2208 E. Kansas St., 544-1424.

Ntosake Aug 23, 6pm Thu. Women’s leadership team meetings held on the fourth Thursday of every month. Hosted by Faith Coalition for the Common Good. faithcoalition-il.org. 717-1525. Calvary Baptist Church, 2208 E. Kansas St., 544-1424.

PFLAG Monthly Meeting Aug 21, 7-8:30pm Tue. Meets the third Thursday of each month. Group offers support to members of the LGBTQ community, their families and friends. Free. Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 745 Woodside Road, 585-9550.

Restorative Justice Meeting Aug 16, 6:30pm Thu. Held on the third Thursday of every month. A partnership between the Faith Coalition for the Common Good and the Sangamon County Juvenile Detention Center. faithcoalition-il.org. 717-1525. Calvary Baptist Church, 2208 E. Kansas St., 544-1424.

Stamp Collecting Club Aug 20, 7pm Mon. Meetings held on the third Monday of every month. Visitors welcome. 546-5021. Peace Lutheran Church, 2800 W. Jefferson St., 546-7646.

Bulletin Board Bingo Aug 22, 7-9pm Wed. Enjoy nine games of X-Treme Bar Bingo. Maddy’s Tavern, 228 S. First St., Divernon, 628-8046.

Citizens Club Policy Breakfast Aug 24, 8-9am Fri. Program features Chief Kenny Winslow of the Springfi eld Police Department. Coffee reception at 7:30am. Free. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St., 523-2787.

Dog Jumping Competition Aug 24-26, 10am Fri, 9am Sat- Sun. Watch the dogs fly or bring your dog and have them show off their jumping skills. Hosted by DockDogs. Free admission. Registration: $27 in advance; $30 on site. dockdogs.com. Scheels, 3801 S. MacArthur Blvd., 726-6330.

Party on the Patio Aug 18, Sat. Blue Ridge Club, 411 E. Lake Shore Dr., 529- 1431.

Springfield Christian Women’s Connection Luncheon Aug 22, 11am-1pm Wed. Presentation by Cathy Harvey titled “From Depression to a Life of Purpose.” $15. 303- 9768. Northfield Inn, Suites and Conference Center, 3280 Northfield Dr., 523-7900.

Food Illinois Products Farmers Market Aug 23, 4-7pm Thu. Shopping, health and wellness information, live entertainment and more in a street party atmosphere. Free. agr.state.il.us/nightmarket. 524- 3297. Illinois State Fairgrounds, The Shed, 801 Sangamon Ave.

History Bicentennial and Beyond: The Illinois Legacy Collection Aug 16-24, 9am-4:30pm Mon- Sat, 12-4:30pm Sun. Featuring rare and rarely-seen artifacts from the museum’s Illinois Legacy Collection to highlight the dynamic story of Illinois. Free with museum admission. illinoisstatemuseum.org. 558- 6696. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St., 782-7386.

Edwards Place Garden Party Aug 18, 1-4pm Sat. Featuring live entertainment, lemonade and peach desserts, mint juleps for ages 21+, and lawn games and crafts popular in the 19th century. $20 adults; $5 children. edwardsplace.org.

Edwards Place, Springfi eld Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St., 523-2631.

Farming in the Great Corn Belt Aug 19, 2-3pm Sun. Presentation titled “Farming in the Great Corn Belt: 200 Years of Challenges, Choices and Changes” by Don Meyer, an agriculture instructor and FFA advisor. Free. 782-0979. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St., 782-7386.

Illinois Terminal Railway Presentation Aug 18, 1pm Sat. Presentation by Dale Jenkins, the current president of the Illinois Traction Society. tricity.lib.il.us. Tri-City Public Library, 600 S. Main St., Buffalo, 364-8181.

Lincoln as Commander in Chief Aug 23, 6:30-8pm Thu. Twelfth in a series of 12 programs about Illinois and the Civil War. Sponsored by the Civil War Roundtables of Macoupin County and Springfi eld. Free. booksonthesquare.com. Books on the Square Springfi eld, 427 E. Washington St., 965-5443.

Original Illinois Civil War Flags Aug 16, 6:30-8:30pm Thu. Eleventh in a series of 12 programs about Illinois and the Civil War. Sponsored by the Civil War Roundtables of Macoupin County and Springfi eld. Free. booksonthesquare.com. Books on the Square Springfi eld, 427 E. Washington St., 965-5443.

Walk and Talk: Bicentennial and Beyond! Aug 17, 10am and 2pm Fri. Journey through 200 years of Illinois history on this curator-led gallery walk through “Bicentennial and Beyond: The Illinois Legacy Collection” exhibition. Free with museum admission. illinoisstatemuseum.org. 558- 6696. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St., 782-7386.

Health Nutrition 201 Aug 21, 6:10-7pm Tue. Learn fast, easy and healthy recipes. Free. frisinafamilychiropractic.com. Frisina Family Chiropractic, 1533 S. MacArthur Blvd., 787-4345.

Revive! Aug 18, 8:30am-5pm Sat. Learn to overcome past struggles with breakthrough exercises, meditation, Holy Yoga, and spa sessions to revive your mind, body and spirit. $75. eventbrite.com. 801-7464. Chiara Center, 4875 Laverna Road, 523- 0901.

Faith & Philosophy Choosing Hope is Hard Aug 19, 10:30-11:30am Sun. Presented by Sheila Quirke, freelance writer. Ice cream social to follow presentation. Free. aluuc.org. Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 745 Woodside Road, 585-9550.

Fireside: Tests, Trials and Divine Intervention Aug 17, 7-8:30pm Fri. An open discussion on elevated subjects of a spiritual nature. Light refreshments and fellowship to follow. Free. 546-9171. Springfield Baha’i Center, 1131 S. Eighth St., 544-9595.

Sports & Fitness Abe’s Amble 10K Run/ Walk Aug 19, 7:30-10am Sun. Race begins at the Illinois State Fairgrounds near the Grandstand and winds through Lincoln Park, Oak Ridge Cemetery and back to the fairgrounds. Registration. $35 through Aug 17; $40 after. srrc.net. 971-1656. Illinois State Fairgrounds Commodities Pavilion, 801 E. Sangamon Ave., 782-6661.

ARCA Racing Series 100 Sportsman Nationals Aug 19, 1:30pm Sun. Advance: $25 adults, $10 ages 11 and under. Day of: $30 adults, $10 ages 11 and under. illinois.gov/statefair. Illinois State Fair Grandstand, 801 E. Sangamon Ave., 782-6661.

Family Archery Day Aug 18, 8:30am-5pm Sat. For novice shooters, seasoned bow hunters and target experts. $20 per person; $80 family max. lscacamp.org. Lake Springfield Christian Assembly, 1674 Lick Creek Lane, Chatham, 529-2625.

Meet the Titans Aug 17, 5:30-8:30pm Fri. Event highlights GHS athletes who compete in fall sports and the GHS Marching Titans. Free. glenwoodtitans.org. Glenwood High School, 1501 Plummer Boulevard, Chatham, 483-2424.

Softball Tournament Aug 24-26, Fri-Sun. Aqua Sports Club, 1 Club Area, 529- 2431.

USAC Silver Crown Bettenhausen 100 Aug 18, 12:30pm Sat. Advance: $25 adults, $10 ages 11 and under. Day of: $30 adults, $10 ages 11 and under. illinois.gov/statefair. Illinois State Fair Grandstand, 801 E. Sangamon Ave., 782- 6661.

Yoga Aug 21, 5:30pm Tue. Six-week session led by Megan Cox. $10 per session. tricity.lib.il.us. Tri-City Public Library, 600 S. Main St., Buffalo, 364- 8181.