Holiday Happenings

Boo Crew Haunted House Oct 5-6, 7pm Fri, 7-12pm Sat. Ranked in the top five scariest haunted houses in Illinois. Children’s matinee Oct 20 from 3-6pm. $17 general, $20 blackout, $30 VIP. boocrew.com. Boo Crew Haunted House, 11083 Buckhart Road, Mechanicsburg.

Extreme Haunted Hayrides and Zombie Paintball Oct 5-6, 7pm Fri-Sat. riversidestable.com. Riverside Park, 4105 Sand Hill Road.

Holiday Craft Sale Oct 5-6, 9am-6pm Fri-Sat. Featuring a vast array of fall, winter and Christmas decorations and home-crafted Santas, snowmen, angels, hand-painted gourds, slates and signs from local artists and artisans. Free. Craft Studio - Salisbury, 5889 Grigsby Lane, Pleasant Plains, 626- 1738.

Trail of Terror Oct 6, 7-11pm Sat. Haunt is spread out across nearly 10 acres of wooded landscape in the Haunted Woods of Creek Hill. $5 nightly pass; $10 fast pass. Mt. Auburn.

Fairs & Festivals

Downtown Springfield Family FunFest Oct 6, 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. Washington street between Fifth and Sixth streets, 1 Old Capitol Plaza N., 522-1129.

Fall Festival Oct 7, 10am-3pm Sun. Featuring a 50/50 drawing, raffles, silent auction items, vendor and craft booths, face painting, hula hoop contest and more. Hosted by Operation Hometown Santa. Free admission. operationhometownsanta.com. Rochester Illinois Masonic Lodge 635, 121 E. Main St., Rochester, 299- 7913.

First Sunday Midwest Bazaar Oct 7, 8am-4pm Sun. Rain-or-shine event featuring arts, crafts, decor, jewelry, food, furniture, antiques and vintage, and much more. $4 per person, free to ages 12 and under. Menard County Fairgrounds, 18450 Fairgrounds, Petersburg.

Indian Summer Festival Oct 6-7, 10am-4pm Sat-Sun. Featuring craft vendors, live music, a fairy woodland, fairy house and tree troll crafts, hands-on crafts and face-painting for children, a food tent and more. $8 for ages 11+; free to ages 10 and under. lincolnmemorialgarden.org. Lincoln Memorial Garden, 2301 E. Lake Shore Dr., 529-1111.

LOESS Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show Oct 6-7, 10am-6pm Sat, 10am-5pm Sun. Featuring mineral, fossil and gem dealers with demonstrations, displays and more. Theme is “Prehistoric Predators.” $2 adults, $1 ages 65+, free to ages 12 and under. loess.org. 622-3484. Orr Building, Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave., 725-8047.

Youth Charity Horse Show Oct 5-7, 8am-10pm Fri-Sat, 8am- 6pm Sun. Annual horse show features competitive showmanship and comradery from riders ages 18 and under. Free. youthcharityhorseshow.com. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave., 782- 6661.

Books & Authors Friends of UIS Brookens Library Book Sale Oct 4, 10am-6pm Thu. Great selection of books of all types, DVDs and CDs. Free admission. 206-6597. UIS Brookens Library, 1 University Plaza, 206-6605.

Poets in the Parlor and Open Mic Oct 7, 2-4pm Sun. Featuring Gale Renee Walden, author of two poetry books: Same Blue Chevy and Where The Time Goes. Free. vachellindsay. org. Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site, 603 S. Fifth St., 524-0901.

SPW Anniversary Reception Oct 6, 5-7pm Sat. A reception for members and friends of Springfield Poets and Writers. Featuring a short program and complimentary hors d’oeuvres. Free, but donations encouraged. springfieldpoetsandwriters.com. 544-3611. Robbie’s, 4 S. Old State Capitol Plaza, 528-1901.

Spoken Word Readings and Open Mic Oct 6, 1-3pm Sat. Featuring readings by members and a public open mic. Free. springfieldpoetsandwriters.com. 544-3611. Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site, 603 S. Fifth St., 524-0901.

Writers and Outdoor Art Oct 6, 3-5pm Sat. Enjoy a walking tour of selected downtown outdoor artworks, with readings by Springfield Poets and Writers members and other writers of poetry and prose written about the art. Free. springfieldpoetsandwriters.com. 544-3611. Downtown Springfield.

Theater & Comedy 1776 Oct 5-7, 8pm Fri-Sat, 2pm Sun. A historically-accurate musical that brings John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and the rest of the Second Continental Congress to life. $20, $25, $30. hcfta.org. Old State Capitol, 1 Old State Capitol Plaza, 785-7960.

Violet - The Broadway Musical Oct 4-7, 7pm Thu, 8pm Fri-Sat, 2pm Sun. Featuring music ranging from bluegrass to gospel to rockabilly. $25 advance, $30 day of. atthelegacy.com. The Legacy Theatre, 101 E. Lawrence, 800-838-3006.

Whose Live Anyways? Oct 6, 8-10pm Sat. 90 minutes of hilarious improvised comedy and song, all based on audience suggestions. $35- $69. sangamonauditorium.org. Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, 1 University Plaza, 206-6160.

Music: General Events Atlanta Library Dinner Program Oct 6, 5:30-8pm Sat. Dinner catered by the Palms Grill Cafe at 5:30; performance by the Illinois Symphony Orchestra Woodwind Quintet at 7pm. Reservations required. atlantapld.org. Union Hall Building, 114 SW Arch St., Atlanta, 648-5077.

Escape Night Oct 5, 7-10pm Fri. An evening of music and video featuring Unkn0wn S1gn, Kristin Walker and Immanuel B. Ahiable. $5 advance; $7 at door. The Studio, 401.5 S. Grand Ave. W., 670-3473.

Glory Way Quartet Oct 6, 6:30pm Sat. Glory Way Quartet in concert. Salisbury Baptist Church, Byron Street off Rt. 97, Pleasant Plains, 361-6590.

Music at the Market Oct 6, 10am-12pm Sat. Entertainment provided by local performers. Free. springfieldartsco.org. 753-3519. Old Capitol Farmers Market, Fourth and Adams streets, 544- 1723.

The Christian Gospel Singers Oct 10, 10am Wed. Every Wednesday. All are welcome. 303-2422. Senior Services of Central Illinois, 701 W. Mason St., 528-4035.

Triumphant Quartet Oct 8, 7-7:30pm Mon. Concert by the Grammy-nominated Grammy Nominated Triumphant Quartet. Free-will offering. 825-3817. First Christian Church of Petersburg, 210 S. Eighth St., Petersburg, 632-2533.

Dance Dance for Hope Oct 5, 7:30-10:30pm Fri. Latin dance night every first 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 Art and Wine Fair Oct 7, 11am-5pm Sun. Featuring a a variety of local artists, including painters, jewelry makers, sculptures, metal workers and more. Free. Walnut Street Winery, 309 S. Walnut St., Rochester, 498-9800.

Art of Illinois Exhibition Tour Oct 4-10, 3-4:30pm Thu-Wed. Co-curated by Wendy Greenhouse and Sharon Darling, Art of Illinois features pieces dating back 750 years through the present day. Registration. Free. illinoismansion. org. Illinois Governor’s Mansion, 410 E. Jackson St., 782-6450.

First Friday Gallery Walk Oct 5, 5-7:30pm Fri. Featuring exhibitions, music and talks at Gallery 510, Blue Connection and Illinois Art Gallery. Funded in part by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency. Free. decaturarts. org. 423-3189. Downtown Decatur.

Grand Opening Event Oct 6-7, 9am-8pm Sat, 9am-6pm Sun. Featuring artisans, food and more. Free. Hello Sunshine Makery and Marketplace LLC, 116 E. Sangamon St., Petersburg, 414-1713.

Pharmacy Gallery Continuing Exhibit Oct 5-6, 12-6pm Fri-Sat. View interpretations by artist members on the theme of “Mother Road.” On display through Nov 17. Free. pharmacygallery.com. The Pharmacy Gallery and Art Space, 711 S. Fifth St., 801-810-9278.

Redefining Oct 4-6, 10am-5pm Tue-Wed, 12- 7pm Thu-Sat. Exhibit features the work of Dick Folse, Sheri Ramsey and Bob Dixon. On display through Nov. 1. Free. springfieldart.org. SAA Collective Gallery, 420 S. Sixth St., 544-2787.

Sacred Time, Sacred Space Oct 7, 11am-3pm Sun. Featuring chapel tours, kids activities, a lecture on chapel art and architecture by Anthony Rubano, and a solemn evening prayer. Tickets recommended. Free. springfieldop.org. 787-0481. Sacred Heart Convent Chapel, 1237 W. Monroe.

The Art and Architecture of Sacred Heart Convent Chapel Oct 7, 5:30-6:15pm Sun. See Sacred Heart Convent Chapel through the perceptive eyes of Springfield’s master historian of modern architecture Anthony Rubano. Tickets. Free. springfieldop.org. 787-0481. Sacred Heart Convent Chapel, 1237 W. Monroe.

Children’s Corner Healthy Kids Running Series Oct 7, 4:30pm Sun. A positive, educational and fun introduction to running for ages 2-14. 50-yard dash, 75-yard dash, 1/4-mile, 1/2-mile and 1-mile options available by age. $35 for five Sundays. Registration. runsignup.com. 725-5968. Williamsville Park, Williamsville.

Pumpkins Story Time Oct 9, 10-11am Tue. Learn all about pumpkins with stories and a craft. For children ages 3-5 and their caregivers. Free with museum admission. illinoisstatemuseum.org. 558-6696. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St., 782-7386.

Rock, Mineral, or Fossil? Super Saturday Oct 6, 11am-3pm Sat. Families can make their own fossil, discover fossils, rocks and minerals found in Illinois, and much more. Free with museum admission. illinoisstatemuseum.org. 558-6696. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St., 782-7386.

Science Friday Night Star Parties Oct 5, 8-10pm Fri. Presentation and viewing of skies hosted by John Martin. Free. Weather questions, 206-8342 at 7pm or @ UISObservatory on Twitter. uis.edu. UIS Brookens Library, 1 University Plaza, 206-6605.

Nature Bird Banding Oct 6, 8am-2pm Sat. See Tony Rothering demonstrate and teach the science of bird banding. Free. jubileefarm.info. Jubilee Farm, 6760 Old Jacksonville Road, 787- 6927.

Bird Hike Oct 6, 8-9:30am Sat. Join local birder Kevin Veara for seasonal migratory bird hikes. Open to birders of all skill levels. Free. Lincoln Memorial Garden, 2301 E. Lake Shore Dr., 529-1111.

Enos Park Community Garden Night Oct 10, 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 A Mexicana-Chicana Cultural Worker’s LGBTQ Experience Oct 8, 6pm Mon. Discussion led by Diana Solis on the history and struggles of Mexican immigrants in Chicago. Free. uis.edu. 206- 8171. UIS Brookens Auditorium, 1 University Plaza, 206-6073.

AARP Chapter 195 Oct 8, 11am Mon. Featuring representatives from Senior Services of Central Illinois discussing and taking questions on Medicare and Medicaid. Business meeting at 2pm. Lunch available for $6. 529-9763. VFW Post #755, 2211 Old Jacksonville Road, 546- 9515.

Adult Children of Alcoholics and other Dysfunctional Families Oct 9, 5:15pm Tue. Weekly meetings every Tuesday. New attendees welcome. wisetruth@ yahoo.com. Discovery Club, 313 W. Cook St., 544-9049.

Breakfast Optimist Club Oct 5, 7am Fri. Every Friday. Visitors welcome. 546-5021. Peace Lutheran Church, 2800 W. Jefferson St., 546-7646.

Breast Cancer Support Group Oct 9, 5pm Tue. Meets second Tuesday of the month. Topic: Breast Self-Exam and Skin Care. Clarke Conference Room (E-118), 757- 7684. Memorial Medical Center, 701 N. First St.

Celebrate Recovery Oct 5, 6:30-8:30pm Fri. Every Friday. A Christ-centered recovery program for hurts, habits and hangups. livingfaithbaptist.org. Living Faith Baptist Church, 7575 W. Outer Road, Sherman, 496-2590.

Colleges that Change Lives Oct 10, 6:30-7:30pm Wed. A presentation for high school students, their families, counselors and the public. Sponsored by Nelson Resource Center. Free. nelsonresourcecenter.org. 553- 7779. Springfield High School, 101 S. Lewis St., 525-3100.

Does That Even Make Sense? Oct 4, 3-4pm Thu. Genealogy talk by Dan Lilienkamp, history and genealogy reference specialist with the St. Louis County Library. Free. chathamlib.org. Chatham Area Public Library, 600 E. Spruce, Chatham, 483-2713.

Education Meeting Oct 9, 6pm Tue. Meetings held on the second Tuesday of every month. Hosted by Faith Coalition for the Common Good. faithcoalition-il.org. 717-1525. Union Baptist Church, 1405 E. Monroe St., 544-8115.

Emotional Support Group Oct 8, 6-7pm Mon. Meets every other Monday. Free. burstingbubbles.org. 335-2961. Memorial’s Center for Learning and Innovation, 228 W. Miller, 545-6314.

Financial Peace University Oct 10, 6:30-8pm Wed. Nineweek study by Dave Ramsey teaches participants the basics of budgeting, dumping debt, planning for the future and more. $109. athenschristian.net. Athens Christian Church, 1411 E. Route 29, Athens, 636-8463.

Finding Your Ancestors in German Church Records Oct 4, 6-7pm Thu. Presentation by Dan Lilienkamp, history and genealogy reference specialist with the St. Louis County Library. Free. chathamlib.org. Chatham Area Public Library, 600 E. Spruce, Chatham, 483-2713.

GriefShare Grief Recovery Program Oct 10, 6:30-8pm Wed. A 14-week, Christ-centered, Bible-based support group seminar open to those who have lost a spouse, child, family member or friend through death. Cost of book. griefshare.org. Athens Christian Church, 1411 E. Route 29, Athens, 636-8463.

Trade, Tariffs and Tidlewave Oct 10, 7pm Wed. Jim Ryan, international trade specialist at Bradley University’s Illinois SBDC International Trade Center and coordinator for Foster College of Business Global Scholars Program, explains global trade functions and the impact of tariffs on trade. Free. 245-6177. Lincoln Land Community College - Jacksonville, 32 N. Central Park Plaza, Jacksonville, 243-6699.

Voter Engagement Meeting Oct 4, 6pm Thu. Meetings held on the first 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.

Bulletin Board 1,000 Women Strong Kickoff Event Oct 4, 5:30-7pm Thu. Open to anyone interested in learning about 1,000 Women Strong- Habitat Sangamon. No prior construction skills are required. Free. 523-2710, ext. 222. habitatsangamon.com. Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 2744 S. Sixth St., 787-7209.

Bingo Oct 10, 7-9pm Wed. Enjoy nine games of X-Treme Bar Bingo. Maddy’s Tavern, 228 S. First St., Divernon, 628-8046.

Campus Visit Day Oct 8, 10am-12pm and 5-7pm. For prospective students and their families. Free. llcc.edu. 786-2577. Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Road, 786-2200.

Drinkin Lincoln Craft Beer Walk Oct 5-6, 7pm Fri, 2pm Sat. Journey through the downtown historic Levy District, walking in Lincoln’s footsteps as we explore Springfield’s growing craft beer scene. Ages 21+. $45 per person. springfieldwalks.com. 502-8687. Old State Capitol, 1 Old State Capitol Plaza, 785-7960.

Homecoming and Family Weekend Oct 5-7, Fri-Sun. Events and activities in celebration of current students, alumni and friends of Milikin. Theme is “Old, New, Big Blue.” millikin.edu. Millikin University, 1184 W. Main St. Decatur.

Homecoming Week Oct 8-10, Mon-Wed. Featuring a traditional parade, athletic contests, reunions and more. Theme is “True Blue Forever.” ic.edu. Illinois College, 1101 W. College Ave., Jacksonville, 245- 3000.

Leading from the Middle Oct 4, 6pm Thu. Led by Kevin Purcell, UIS adjunct faculty member and retired Microsoft senior manager of organization development. A UIS ECCE Speaker Series presentation. Registration. Free. uis.edu. 206-8507. UIS Public Affairs Center (PAC), 1 University Plaza, 206-6073.

Ride in Honor Oct 7, 12-5pm Sun. Stops include Spaulding Veterans Memorial, Camp Butler National Cemetery, War Memorials at Oak Ridge Cemetery, New Berlin Area Veterans Memorial and Danenberger Family Vineyards. Cars and trucks are welcome, too. $10 per bike; $5 per co-rider. rideinhonor.com. Staab Funeral Home, 1109 S. Fifth St., 528- 6461.

Springfield Breweriana Bonanza Oct 6, 9am-2pm Sat. 20th annual beer can and brewery collectibles show. $2 admission. Route 66 Hotel and Conference Center, 625 E. Saint Joseph St., 529-6626.

Young at Heart Oct 9, 9:30-11:30am Tue. Featuring a program, short devotion and complimentary lunch. Open to all area seniors. Free. athenschristian.net. Athens Christian Church, 1411 E. Route 29, Athens, 636-8463.

Food Appetite on the Avenue Oct 9, 4:30-8pm Tue. A food truck event sponsored by The Avenue: North Grand Improvement Association. 528-0200. Shop ‘n Save Parking Lot, 200 N. Grand Ave.

Book Exchange and Chilli Day Oct 7, 11am-4pm Sun. Hosted by the LLCC Academy of Lifelong Learning. $8 per person; free to ages 8 and under. 786-2432. Temple B’rith Sholom, 1004 S. Fourth St., 525-1360.

BrewVino Picnic Oct 7, 12-5pm Sun. Hosted by Hill Prairie Winery with Hand of Fate Brewery and Rennecker BBQ. Food available from 2-4pm. Live music from 2-5pm. $30 per plate advance, $35 day of (limited availability). illinoistimestix.com. Hill Prairie Winery, 23753 Lounsberry Road,

Oakford, 635-9900. Illinois Products Farmers Market Oct 4, 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 Oct 4-10, 9am-4:30pm Mon-Sat, 12-4:30pm Sun. Major exhibition features rare and rarely-seen artifacts from the Museum’s 13.5-million-object Illinois Legacy Collection to highlight the dynamic story of Illinois. $5 adults; free to members, youth, seniors, military and veterans. illinoisstatemuseum.org. 558-6696. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St., 782- 7386.

Candlelight Tour Oct 5-7, 7-9pm, 7-9pm Fri-Sun. See Lincoln’s New Salem at night. Staff and volunteers in period clothing discuss life in 19th century Illinois. lincolnsnewsalem. com. Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site, 15588 History Lane, Petersburg, 632-4000.

Civil War Music Oct 10, 12:30pm Wed. Christian McWhirter will discuss Civil War music ranging from romantic ballads to patriotic marches to funeral dirges and a violinist will play selections from the songs. Free. PresidentLincoln.Illinois. gov. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, 112 N. Sixth St., 558-8844.

Conference on Illinois History Oct 4-5, Thu-Fri. Registration. $90 for both days; $50 single day; $15 luncheon sessions. PresidentLincoln. illinois.gov. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, 212 N. Sixth St., 558-8844.

Fall Fireside Chats Oct 10, 5:30-6:30pm Wed. Featuring speaker Mayor Mike Houston on the theme “Growing Up in Springfield.” ileshouse.org. Elijah Iles House, 628 S. Seventh St., 492-5929.

Family History Craft Oct 9, 6-7pm Tue. Create your very own family tree brooch. All materials provided. Registration. Free. chathamlib.org. Chatham Area Public Library, 600 E. Spruce, Chatham, 483-2713.

History Happy Hour: Rum Oct 6, 7-9pm Sat. A tasting event about rum, including its history and a tasting guide. $20; $15 SAA members. edwardsplace.org. Edwards Place, Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St., 523-2631.

Lincoln’s Ghost Walk Oct 4-6, 9-10, 7:30-9pm Thu-Sat and Tue-Wed. A lantern-lit five block walking tour using the Lincoln sites as the backdrop for strange and bizarre stories surrounding Lincoln’s life and death. Suitable for all ages. $15 adults; $12 seniors and military; $8 ages 7-17. springfieldwalks.com. 502-8687. Old State Capitol Plaza, between Sixth and Fifth streets at Adams.

Oak Ridge Cemetery Walk Oct 7, 2-3:30pm Sun. Learn about Victorian mourning practices and tombstone symbolism and hear the stories of people woven into the local history. $15 adults; $12 seniors and military; $8 ages 7-17. springfieldwalks.com. Oak Ridge Cemetery, GAR Mound behind the Tomb, 1441 Monument Ave., 502- 8687.

Faith & Philosophy Fireside: Tests, Trials and Divine Intervention Oct 5, 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.

Wednesday Night Connection Oct 10, 5:45-7:30pm Wed. Free. athenschristian.net. Athens Christian Church, 1411 E. Route 29, Athens, 636-8463.

Sports & Fitness

As Far As The Bastards Are Going Oct 6, 9:30am Sat. A 6-mile ruck march followed by an after party at 11am. BYO pack with 40 lbs of weight. $25-$65. GetMeRegistered. com. 381-2831. Chatham VFW, 501 W. Mulberry St., Chatham, 483- 4613.

Morgan Horse Demonstration Oct 6, 1pm-12am Sat. Mississippi Valley Morgan Horse Club presents demonstrations and horse activities, educational materials for adults and kids and time to visit with MVMHC members and horses. lincolnsnewsalem.com. Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site, 15588 History Lane, Petersburg, 632-4000.

More events, more details in our online calendar at illinoistimes.com.

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