Holiday Happenings

45th Annual Winter Holiday Floral Show Dec 20, 12-4pm Thu. View a stunning display of poinsettias, tropical plants and evergreens. Free. springfieldparks.org. Washington Park Botanical Garden Exhibit Hall, 1740 W. Fayette Ave., 546-4116.

Advent Worship Celebration Dec 23, 9:30-10:30am Sun. A family and children-focused worship event in honor of the third Sunday of Advent. chathampresbyterian.com. Chatham Presbyterian Church, 1835 E. Walnut St., Chatham, 483-4204.

Candlelight and Communion Services Dec 24, 2pm, 4pm and 6pm Mon. Free. athenschristian.net. Athens Christian Church, 1411 E. Route 29, Athens, 636-8463.

Christmas Card Lane Dec 20-30. An outdoor exhibit/ competition comprised of larger-thanlife “cards” created by local artists and groups based on the theme “Holiday Season Around the World.” Hosted by the Decatur Area Arts Council. decaturarts.org.

Downtown Decatur.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship Celebration Dec 24, 7-8pm Mon. Worship plus a very meaningful candlelight service. chathampresbyterian.com. Chatham Presbyterian Church, 1835 E. Walnut St., Chatham, 483-4204.

Christmas Eve Services Dec 24, 3pm Mon. Free. springfieldfirst.org. Springfield First United Methodist Church - Sanctuary, 2941 S. Koke Mill Road, 793-9760.

Christmas Fellowship Brunch Dec 23, 9:15-10am Sun. Enjoy fellowship and a complimentary holiday breakfast. Free. athenschristian.net. Athens Christian Church, 1411 E. Route 29, Athens, 636-8463.

Cowboy Church Dec 23, 6-7:30pm Sun. Live music featuring Christmas songs and more. Atterberry Community Baptist Church, 20808 Atterberry St., Petersburg, 652- 8600.

Downtown Springfield Inc. Holiday Walks Dec 22, 12-5pm Sat. Featuring carolers, a 16-foot Christmas tree on the plaza, Santa, horse-drawn carriage rides, performers and more. downtownspringfield.org. 544-1723. Downtown Springfield.

First Night Springfield Kids Activities Dec 31, 1-4pm Mon. Complimentary entertainment and hands-on activities for kids, including table crafts, clay sculpture, wood-craft kits, face painting plus a puppet show and harmonica lessons. Free. springfieldartsco.org. Springfield High School, 101 S. Lewis St., 525-3100.

Holiday Crafts Dec 22-23, 1-3pm Sat-Sun. Make a holiday craft then stay and play in the museum. Free with admission. kidzeum.org. Kidzeum of Health and Science Children’s Museum, 412 E. Adams St., 971-4435.

Holiday Hockey Clinic Dec 27-28, 5:45-7:15pm Thu-Fri. Improve hockey techniques and abilities in the areas of skating, shooting and puck handling. $70 residents, $80 non. springfieldparks.org. 753-2800. Nelson Center Ice Arena, Lincoln Park, 1601 N. Fifth St., 525-2589.

Holiday Interfaith Breakfast Dec 25, 8:30am-12pm Tue. 15th annual event. $7 adults, $1 children under 12. Temple B’rith Sholom, 1004 S. Fourth St., 525-1360.

Holidays at the White House Dec 20-24, Dec 26-Jan 3, 9am-5pm Mon-Sun. Featuring cards, documents and photos from Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and George H. W. Bush. Free with museum admission. presidentlincoln. illinois.gov. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, 212 N. Sixth St., 558-8844.

Mrs. Claus in the House Dec 22, 10am-2pm Sat. In support of the Boys and Girls Club of Central Illinois. bunngourmet.com. Pease’s at Bunn Gourmet, 2941 Plaza Dr., 793-1840.

Santa House Dec 20-22, 5-8pm Thu- Fri, 11am-6pm Sat. Meet and have photos taken with Santa. Free admission. No charge for photos taken with own camera; $5 for souvenir photo. springfi eldparks.org. 544- 1751. Robin Roberts Stadium, 1415 N. Grand Ave. E., 753- 0700.

Santa Visit Dec 20, 5:30-7pm Thu. Free. Gus and Flora Kerasotes YMCA, 4550 West Iles Ave., 679-1625.

Springfield Holiday Farmers Market Dec 22, 9am-1pm Sat. A one-stop shop for holiday feasts and winter meals. Free admission. 528-1563. The State House Inn, 101 E. Adams St., 528-5100.

Winterland Holiday Zoo Lights Dec 20-23, 28-30, 5-9pm Thu- Sun, 5-9pm Fri-Sun. Behold the splendor of hundreds of colorful twinkling lights as you stroll through the pathways around the zoo. $7 adults, $5 ages 3-12, and free to ages 2 and under. springfieldparks.org. enson Robinson Zoo, 1100 E. Lake Shore Dr., 585-1821.

Fairs & Festivals

First Night Springfield Dec 31, 1-11:15pm Mon. Complimentary afternoon activities for kids at Springfield High School from 1-4pm. Ticketed shows feature evening music, dance and more at various downtown locations at night. Fireworks at 8pm. $18 advance, $20 day of. springfieldartsco.org. 753-3519. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St., 523-2787.

Music: General Events

Celtic Woman: Best of Christmas Symphony Tour Dec 20, 7:30pm Thu. A captivating concert by multiplatinum international music sensation Celtic Woman. $49- $99. sangamonauditorium.org. Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, 1 University Plaza, 206-6160.

Fall Carillon Concert Dec 26, 12pm Wed. Featuring classical, folk and popular music. Free. springfi eldparks. org. Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon, 1740 W. Fayette Ave., 546-3853.

The Christian Gospel Singers Dec 26, Jan 2, 10am Wed. Every Wednesday. All are welcome. 303-2422. Senior Services of Central Illinois, 701 W. Mason St., 528-4035.

Dance

Dance for Hope Dec 21, 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.

Dance for Hope Dec 28, 7:30-10:30pm Fri. All styles of dance every fourth 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.

Ice Jamz Dec 21, 7-9pm Fri. Featuring a light show, music, games, giveaways and more. Ages 10 and under must be accompanied by an adult. $11 with rental skates, $9 without rental skates. springfieldparks.org. 753-2800. Nelson Center Ice Arena, Lincoln Park, 1601 N. Fifth St., 525-2589.

Art & Architecture Art of Illinois Exhibition Tour Dec 20-23, 26-31. 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.

GLASS! Exhibition Dec 20-22, 9am-5pm Thu-Fri, 10am-3pm Sat. An exhibition featuring glasswork by many regional artists. On display through Dec. 22. Free. springfieldart.org. Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St., 523-2631.

Pop Up Art Show! Dec 20, 7-10pm Thu. Free. buzzbombbrewingco.com. Buzz Bomb Brewing Co, 406 E. Adams, 679-4157.

SAA Collective Members Exhibition Dec 20-21, 12-7pm Thu-Fri. Featuring new works by SAA Collective member artists. Free. springfieldart.org. SAA Collective Gallery, 420 S. Sixth St., 544-2787.

Film & Television

It’s a Wonderful Life Dec 21, 7pm Fri. Film screening. $10 at door, $5 with a Kumler Food Pantry donation. atthelegacy.com. The Legacy Theatre, 101 E. Lawrence, 800- 838-3006.

Love, Actually Dec 23, 7pm Sun. Film screening. $10 at door, $5 with a Kumler Food Pantry donation. atthelegacy.com. The Legacy Theatre, 101 E. Lawrence, 800-838-3006.

White Christmas Dec 22, 7pm Sat. Film screening. $10 at door, $5 with a Kumler Food Pantry donation. atthelegacy.com. The Legacy Theatre, 101 E. Lawrence, 800-838-3006.

Children’s Corner

Sesame Street Live! Make Your Magic Dec 22-23, 10:30am and 2:30pm Sat-Sun. A live performance where Elmo learns that you can do anything you set your mind to if you just keep trying. $15+. theboscenter.com. Bank of Springfield Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, 800- 745-3000.

Winter Camp Dec 21, 24, 26-28, 31, Jan 2, 7:30am-5:30pm daily. $26 per day for residents, $32 per day for non. springfieldparks.org. 503- 4576. Nelson Center, 1601 N. Fifth St., 525-2589.

Nature Junior Bird Feeder Challenge Dec 22, 11am Sat. Open to students of all ages. Free. jaxpl.org. Jacksonville Public Library, 201 W. College Ave., Jacksonville, 243-5435.

Lectures & Meetings

Adult Children of Alcoholics and other Dysfunctional Families Jan 1, 5:15pm Tue. Weekly meetings every Tuesday. New attendees welcome. [email protected]. Discovery Club, 313 W. Cook St., 544-9049.

Breakfast Optimist Club Dec 21, 28, 7am Fri. Every Friday. Visitors welcome. 546- 5021. Peace Lutheran Church, 2800 W. Jefferson St., 546- 7646.

Ntosake Dec 27, 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.

Paul Mickey Learning Series: Dendrochronology Jan 2, 7-8:30pm Wed. Presentation by by Dr. Glen Freimuth about dendrochronology, commonly known as tree ring dating. Free. illinoisstatemuseum.org. 558-6696. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St., 782-7386.

Restorative Justice Meeting Dec 20, 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. faithcoalitionil.org. 717-1525. Calvary Baptist Church, 2208 E. Kansas St., 544-1424.

Bulletin Board Citizens Club Policy Breakfast Dec 21, 8-9am Fri. Program is titled “2018 Sangamon County Community Health Needs Assessment: Outcomes and Next Steps.” Coffee reception at 7:30am. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St., 523-2787.

Drinkin Lincoln Craft Beer Walk Dec 22, 26, 7-10pm Sat, 7-10pm Wed. 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.

Service of Remembrance Dec 31, 7pm Mon. mtpulaskiil.com. Mount Pulaski Courthouse State Historic Site, 113 S. Washington St., Mount Pulaski, 792-3919.

History Bicentennial and Beyond! The Illinois Legacy Collection Dec 20-24, 26-31, Jan 1-2, 9am-4:30pm Mon-Sat, 12- 4:30pm Sun. Exhibition in celebration of the state’s 200th birthday features rare and rarely-seen artifacts from the Museum’s 13.5-million-object Illinois Legacy Collection to highlight the dynamic story of Illinois. illinoisstatemuseum.org. 558-6696. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St., 782-7386.

Tales from the Vault: Marshall Field’s Christmas Dec 20, 12:30-1:30pm Thu. Learn about the Marshall Field’s holiday artifacts in the museum’s collection with Betsy Dollar, director of the Springfield Art Association, who worked at the store making ornaments in the 1970s. Free. illinoisstatemuseum.org. 558- 6696. Illinois State Museum Research and Collections Center, 1011 E. Ash St., 785- 0037.

Faith & Philosophy Acrimony in the Airwaves Dec 30, 10:30-11:30am Sun. Featuring WMAY news director and radio talk show host Jim Leach with a presentation titled “Acrimony in the Airwaves.” Free. aluuc.org. Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 745 Woodside Road, 585-9550.

Christmas at St. John’s Dec 24-25, 3pm, 4:30pm, 7:30pm and 11pm Mon; 3pm Tue. stjohns-springfield.org. St. John’s Lutheran Church, 2477 W. Washington St., 793-3933.

Christmas Eve Service Dec 24, 5-6pm Mon. Receive the sacrament, celebrate an “open table,” sing carols, listen to the nativity story and consider how God is being born in our lives today. lincolnschurch.org. First Presbyterian Church, 321 S. Seventh St., 528-4311.

Christmas Eve Service: Candles and Carols Dec 24, 10:30-11:30am Mon. A celebration featuring music and metaphor, candlelight and fellowship plus laughter and silence. Free. aluuc.org. Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 745 Woodside Road, 585-9550.

The Tipping Point of the Season Dec 23, 10:30-11:30am Sun. Rev. Martin Woulfe relates how he used to be a Grinch but has softened his view of the holidays. Free. aluuc.org. Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 745 Woodside Road, 585-9550.

Sports & Fitness

Couples’ Massage Class Dec 29, 7-8pm Sat. Learn techniques to massage your partner’s sore muscles and help them feel less stress. $100 per couple. puresynergyspringfield.org. Pure Synergy, 2201 W. White Oaks Dr., 679-3156.