Fairs & Festivals

Art Spectacular Sep 8-9, 10am-5pm Sat, 10am- 4pm Sun. A multi-experience festival consisting of art, music and children’s programs. Featuring 50 regional and national artists. Free admission; kids’ place costs $2 per child. carillon-rees.org. 217-787-3532. Washington Park Botanical Garden, 1740 W. Fayette Ave., 217-546-4116.

Atlanta Fall Festival Sep 6, 8-7, 12am Thu, 12am Sat-Fri. Downtown, Atlanta, IL, 103 SW Arch St., Atlanta, 

Decatur Craft Beer Festival Sep 8, 1-7pm Sat. Featuring more than 100 unique craft beers and ciders, live music and food trucks. Hosted by MRI and the Decatur Area Arts Council. Admission: $30 per person; $10 per designated driver. decaturcraftbeerfestival.com. Decatur Area Arts Council, 125 N. Water St., Decatur, 217-423-3189.

Decatur Craft Beer Festival VIP Event Sep 7, 7-10pm Fri. Featuring rare and hard-to-fi nd beers and ciders not available at the festival, hors d’oeuvres, plus receive entrance into Saturday’s festival plus other complimentary goodies. VIP tickets: $100 each. decaturcraftbeerfestival.com. Decatur Area Arts Council, 125 N. Water St., Decatur, 217-423-3189.

Downtown Springfield Family FunFest Sep 8, 10am-5pm Sat. Featuring inflatable obstacle courses and bounce houses, games and activities, food trucks, character appearances and main-stage entertainment. $10 per person, free to ages 2 and under. Hosted by Prevent Child Abuse Illinois. springfieldfunfest.org. 217-522-1129. Washington street between Fifth and Sixth streets, 1 Old Capitol Plaza N, 522- 1129.

Glenwood Homecoming Parade Sep 12, 5:30-6:30pm Wed. Familyfriendly parade features Glenwood High School and Glenwood Middle School athletic teams, bands and more. 217- 483-2424. Glenwood High School, 1501 Plummer Boulevard, Chatham, 217-483- 2424.

Labor Day Parade Sep 3, 10-11am Mon. A celebration of the achievements of working people throughout the year. downtownspringfield.org. 544-1723. Downtown Springfield,

Prairie Days Sep 8-9, 10am-3pm Sat-Sun. Featuring period demonstrators, artisans, vendors, live music, tours of the historical buildings, butter churning, candle dipping, food, fun, games and more. Admission by donation. christiancountyhistorical.com. 217- 824-6922. Christian County Historical Museum, Near IL Routes 29 and 48 on Morrison Dr., Taylorville, 824-6922.

Second Annual Oktoberfest Sep 8, 12-10:30pm Sat. Featuring German bands, food, crafts and games. Hosted by Knights of Columbus Council 364. $5 per person. 691-1506. 217- 691-1506. Knights of Columbus 364, 2200 S. Meadowbrook Road, 217-787- 2360.

Springfield Oyster and Beer Festival Sep 1, 12-5pm Sat. Featuring more than 30 brands of craft beer, gourmet oyster dishes, food trucks, live music and more. $25-$65. sobfestival.com. The Inn at 835, 835 S. Second St., 217-523-4466.

Traditional Music Festival Sep 8-9, 10am-4pm Sat-Sun. Midwest performers entertain on instruments such as mountain dulcimers, bones, autoharps, fiddles, banjos and guitars. lincolnsnewsalem.com. 217-632-4000. Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site, 15588 History Lane, Petersburg, 217- 632-4000.

Books & Authors Author Bill Gainer Sep 7, 5pm Fri. Book signing and reading with Bill Gainer, author of The Mysterious Book of Old Man Poets. Free. 217-491-8747. Our Town Books, 64 East Central Park Plaza, Jacksonville, 217- 245-2665.

Author Colson Whitehead Sep 12, 5-6:30pm Wed. Meet and greet reception for Colson Whitehead, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Underground Railroad, winner of the 2017 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction and the 2016 National Book Award, and an official selection of Oprah’s Book Club. Free. ic.edu. Jacksonville Public Library, 201 W. College Ave., Jacksonville, 243-5435.

Author William T. Smith Sep 1, 1-3pm Sat. Book signing for author William T. Smith. Free. The Book Rack, 2943 West White Oaks Dr., 217-241-2102.

Hamilton and History VIP Dinner Sep 6, 6:30pm Thu. A VIP event featuring New York Times bestselling author Jeremy McCarter, who co-authored Hamilton: The Revolution along with Lin Manuel-Miranda. $35, $45. hcfta.org. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St., 217- 523-2787.

Theater & Comedy

Comedian Pat Godwin Sep 8, 7-8:45pm Sat. Heard on Philadelphia’s “Morning Zoo,” “The Bob & Tom Show” and both of Howard Stern’s radio and TV shows. $15. mclimits.com. 217- 899-7128. Mason City Limits Comedy Club, 114 E. Chestnut St., Mason City, 217-482-5233.

Spoon River Anthology Aug 30, Sep 1, 8pm Thu-Sat. 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, 217-632-5440.

The Enchanted Bookshop Aug 31, Sep 1-2, 7pm Fri-Sat, 2pm Sat-Sun. A charming, comedic play that celebrates the joy of reading in a fresh, fun-filled way. Presented by M.A.S.S. Media. Sensory-friendly performance is Sept 1 at 2pm. $12, $15. hcfta.com. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St., 217-523-2787.

Music: General Events Bluegrass Concerts Sep 7-8, 6-10pm Fri-Sat. Featuring performers from all over the Midwest. lincolnsnewsalem.com. Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site, 15588 History Lane, Petersburg, 217-632-4000.

Jerry Garcia Tribute Sep 9, 12-9pm Sun. 24th annual Penny Lane Jerry Garcia tribute featuring Perfunctory, Pimpin Henry and Sunshine Daydream. Free. Douglas Park, 400 N. MacArthur Blvd, Music at the Museum: The OK Factor Sep 13, 7-9pm Thu. A monthly concert series produced by Chris Vallillo featuring the best in contemporary and traditional folk music plus acoustic music of all styles. $10 adults; $8 museum members and children. illinoisstatemuseum.org. 217-558-6696. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St., 217-782-7386.

Songwriting Sessions Sep 4, 11, 6pm Tue, 6pm Tue. Hosted by local musician Tom Irwin, in collaboration with the Springfield Area Arts Council. $100 covers four two-hour sessions. 217-753-3519. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St., 217- 523-2787.

UIS Orchestra Aug 30, 5:40-7:30pm Thu. Open to all students, faculty, alumni and community members. uis. edu. 217-206-6240. University of Illinois at Springfield, 1 University Plaza, 217-206-6073.

Art & Architecture

Kyle Anderson Artist Reception Aug 30, 5:30-7:30pm Thu. Reception for “Decompose” by ceramic artist Kyle Anderson. Exhibition on display through Sept 13. llcc.edu. LLCC James S. Murray Gallery, 5250 Shepherd Road, 217-786-4967.

Night Gallery: In Black and White Aug 30, 7-9pm Thu. Gallery tour led by Corrin McWhirter features an in-depth discussion of some of the pieces on display. Plus readings of prose inspired by artworks on display and music by Eric Rogers. Free. springfieldart. org. 217-544-2787. SAA Collective Gallery, 420 S. Sixth St., 217-544- 2787.

Public Art, Public Spaces Sep 12, 7pm Wed. John McClarey, Troy Freeman, Allison Lacher, and Corrin McWhirter. Moderated by Betsy Dollar. Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St., 217-523-2631.

Redefining Opening Reception Sep 7, 5-7pm Fri. Exhibition features art by Dick Folse, Bob Dixon and Sheri Ramsey, plus new work by the membership of the SAA Collective. On display through Nov 1. Free. 217-544- 2787. SAA Collective Gallery, 420 S. Sixth St., 217-544-2787.

Shapes of Influence Aug 30-31, 9am-5pm Thu-Fri. Exhibition featuring contemporary ceramics from all over North America. On display through Sept 1. Free. springfieldart.org. 217-523-2631. Springfi eld Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St., 217-523-2631.

Vachel Lindsay: Poet, Artist, Visionary Sep 7, 5:30-7:30pm Fri. Exhibition features rarely seen examples of Vachel Lindsay’s artwork and poetry along with related photos and artifacts. Free. springfi eldart. org. 217-523-2631. Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St., 217-523-2631.

Washington Park Historic Photography Display Aug 30, Sep 1-2, 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. springfi eldparks.org. Washington Park Botanical Garden Exhibit Hall, 1740 W. Fayette Ave., 217-546- 4116.

Film & Television Film Screening: Reinventing Power Sep 6, 6:30-8pm Thu. Film screening followed by a discussion facilitated by Amy McEuen, associate professor of biology at UIS. Free. illinoisstatemuseum.org. 217-558-6696. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St., 217- 782-7386.

Science Rochester STEM Fair Sep 5, 6:30-8pm Wed. A regional event open to students in grades K-12, their families, and teachers and school administrators throughout central Illinois. Free. Rochester High School, 3 Rocket Dr., Rochester, 217-498-9761.

Nature 2nd Saturday Workshop Sep 8, 10-11am Sat. Create your own unique terrarium. $25. greenview.com. 309-243-7761. GreenView Nursery, 3000 W. Jefferson St., 217-787-4700.

Oak Ridge Tree Tour Sep 8, 1-4pm Sat. A celebration of some of the oldest cemetery’s trees and tree stones. il200springfield.org. Oak Ridge Cemetery, 1441 Monument Ave., 217-789-2340.

Environment Listen, Lead, Share Community Dialogue Sep 12, 6:30-8pm Wed. Join the Sangamon Valley Group of the Illinois Sierra Club for a community conversation on clean energy policy. Free. 217-899-9996. Lincoln Library, 326 S. Seventh St., 217-753-4900.

Reinventing Power Documentary Screening + Discussion Sep 6, 6:30-8pm Thu. Screening followed by discussion, facilitated by Professor Amy McEuen, asssociate professor of biology at UIS. Co-sponsored by Springfield CLEAN and the Sierra Club. Free. 208-818-4626. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St., 217- 782-7386.

Lectures & Meetings The Movements of the ‘60s: A Legacy for Today Sep 13, 6pm Thu. Free. UIS Student Union, One William Maxwell Lane, 217-206-4782.

UIS Speaker Series: Diane Nash Sep 13, 6pm Thu. Diane Nash was prominently involved in some the most consequential campaigns in nonviolent civil rights movements. Nash will relate her experience at the center of the U.S. civil rights struggle, the grassroots movements that powered social change and the relevance of those lessons for a nation facing renewed challenges. For a list of other upcoming ECCE Speaker Series events, visit www.uis.edu/speakerseries/. UIS Student Union, One William Maxwell Lane, 217- 206-4782.

Bulletin Board Springfield Southeast 50th Anniversary Gala Sep 1, 5:30-11pm Sat. All graduating classes are invited. RSVP deadline is Aug 18. sps186.org. 217-899-5404. Crowne Plaza Springfield, 3000 S. Dirksen Pkwy, 217-529-7777.

History Bicentennial and Beyond: The Illinois Legacy Collection Aug 30-31, 9am-4:30pm Thu-Fri. 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. 217-558- 6696. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St., 217-782-7386.

Oral History Blagojevich Sep 12, 12am Wed. Moderated by Mark DePue. Part of the ALPLM and ISM’s “Tales from the Vault” program series. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, 112 N. Sixth St., 217-558-8844.

Health Informational Fair and Prairie Days Celebration Sep 8, 1-4pm Sat. Local agencies will be onsite to answer questions about Alzheimer’s and dementia, plus a small festival featuring field games ($0.25 per game) and face painting and snacks ($1). Proceeds support the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Free admission. Mill Creek Alzheimer’s Special Care Center, 3319 Ginger Creek Dr., 717- 2075.

Faith & Philosophy A Spirituality of Dogs Aug 30, 12am Thu. First in a series of four Food and Faith evenings offering guests dinner and a discussion to consider how joy is manifest in ordinary ways. Chiara Center, 4875 Laverna Road, 217-523-0901.

The Spirit of the Labor Movement Sep 2, 10:30-11:30am Sun. Presented by Susan Solon, Member International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Free. aluuc.org. 217-585-9550. Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 745 Woodside Road, 217-585-9550.

Sports & Fitness 2018 Prarie Star 5K Sep 8, 8:30-11:30am Sat. Family-friendly 5K race winds through the beautiful UIS campus. Yard games, music and balloon animals at finish line. In support of Girls on the Run of Central Illinois. $8 UIS students; $13 community members.uis.edu. 217-206-7103. The Recreation and Athletic Center (TRAC), 2171 University Dr., 217-206-7103.

Pickleball for Beginners Sep 5, 12, 5:30-10pm Wed, 5:30-10pm Wed. Learn the basics of pickleball from the Springfield Pickleball Club. Paddles and balls provided. For ages 12+. Free. springfieldparks.org. 544-1751 x 1012. Iles Park, Sixth and Ash streets.