Holiday Happenings

Mother’s Day Celebration May 10, 12-1pm Fri. All ladies will receive a special gift and have an opportunity to register for additional door prizes. Music by pianist Ed Clark. Senior Services of Central Illinois, 701 W. Mason St., 217-528-4035.

Books & Authors

Springfield’s Horseshoes May 15, 5-6:30pm Wed. Historians and authors Carolyn Harmon and Tony Leone will share anecdotes about Springfield’s celebrated horseshoe sandwich. The Alamo will provide samples of the Mo’shoe. Free. Books on the Square Springfield, 427 E. Washington St., 217-965-5443.

Spoken Word

Poetry Open Mic May 15, 6-8pm Wed. Sign up to read some poetry, prose, nonfiction or just relax and listen. springfieldpoetsandwriters.com. 217-725-9058. Robbie’s, 4 S. Old State Capitol Plaza, 217-528-1901.

Theater & Comedy

42nd Street May 10-12, 17-19, 8pm Fri- Sat, 2pm Sun. Admission. springfieldtheatrecentre.com. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St., 217-523-2787.

Jeff Dunham’s Passively Aggressive Tour May 11, 3-5pm Sat. Admission. uispac.com. Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, 1 University Plaza, 217-206-6160.

One Funny Mother Christine Stedman May 11, 7-8:30pm Sat. $12.50 prepaid or cash only at the door. mclimits.com. Mason City Limits Comedy Club, 114 E. Chestnut St., Mason City, 217-482- 5233.

Music: General Events

6th Annual Mardi Gras in May May 10, 6-10pm Fri. A celebration of ICADV’s 40th anniversary featuring New Orleans vocal artist Charmaine Neville. $50 includes music, food and dancing. ilcadv.org. Artisans Building, Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave., 544-7702.

Music at the Museum: Joel Mabus May 9, 7-9pm Thu. Singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist. $8 members, $10 non. 217-558-6696. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St., 217-782- 7386.

Songs of Sinatra and More May 15, 11:30am-12:30pm Wed. Phil Steinberg will perform a variety of Frank Sinatra’s best known songs at the Senior Celebration at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Orr Bldg. 217- 698-5662. Orr Building, Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave., 217-725-8047.

Art & Architecture

Constructed Comfort Reception May 10, 5:30-7:30pm Fri. Refreshments will be provided as well as an artist talk at 6:45pm with Jessica Bingham and Carrie Gillen. Free. springfieldart.org. Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St., 217-523-2631.

Coptic Book Workshop May 9, 1-4pm Thu. Learn how to create a coptic book bind that is great for a journal. Ages 16+. Supplies provided. $30 members, $40 non. Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St., 217-523-2631.

One Nighter: Endangered Species Sculptures May 11, 6-8pm Sat. Learn basics of hand building and create a piece. Pieces will be glazed and fired. Limited seating. Ages 12+. $20 members, $30 non. Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St., 217-523-2631.

Praxis Exhibition Reception May 10, 5-7pm Fri. Free. SAA Collective Gallery, 420 S. Sixth St., 217-544-2787.

Children’s Corner

Go Batty for Bats May 10, 7:30-9pm Fri. An outdoor presentation followed by an after-dark walk through the gardens surveying for bats using an ultrasonic microphone. lincolnmemorialgarden.org. Non-members $2, $5 families. Lincoln Memorial Garden, 2301 E. Lake Shore Dr., 217-529- 1111.

National Missing Children’s Awareness Day May 11, 9am-2pm Sat. Color 2K run/walk. All ages. Individuals and teams. Bring your family for child ID kits administered by the Illinois State Police and receive literature. Participants $20, age 18 and under $15. Visitors $5. 312-620-0788. Washington Park Pavilion, 1400 Williams Blvd., 217-544-1751.

Sensory-Friendly Horseback Riding May 11, 10am-12pm Sat. Bright Star Equestrian Centre, 13922 State Highway 97 (near New Salem State Park), Petersburg, 217-502-2737.

Nature

Iris Society Plant Show May 11, 12pm Sat. Judged exhibition of different varieties of irises. Sponsored by Sangamon Valley Iris Society. Washington Park Botanical Garden Exhibit Hall, 1740 W. Fayette Ave., 217-546-4116.

Prairie Wildflower Sale May 11-12, 9am-4pm Sat, 1-4pm Sun. Head on out to the garden for a selection of sun loving prairie plants available for sale. lincolnmemorialgarden.org. Lincoln Memorial Garden, 2301 E. Lake Shore Dr., 217-529-1111.

Summer Star Party May 11, 8-10pm Sat. A telescope viewing event to celebrate International Astronomy Day. Free. Centennial Park, Bunker Hill Road and Lenhart Road, 753-0700.

Lectures & Meetings

AARP Chapter 195 Meeting May 13, 11am Mon. Sue Litterly of the U. S. Postal Service will speak. Lunch is available for $6 around noon. Business meeting around 2:00 p.m. 529-9763. The public is invited. VFW Post #755, 2211 Old Jacksonville Rd., 217-546- 9515.

North End Association Take Two May 13, 6-6:45pm Mon. Open to all who have an interest in improving the north end. Free. 217-502-8265. Fulgenzi’s Pizza and Pasta, 1168 E. Sangamon Ave., 217-544-8520.

Special Policy Breakfast May 10, 7:30am Fri. Come learn about and provide input into University of Illinois Springfield’s newest collaborative endeavors to catalyze innovation and economic growth in Springfield and throughout the state. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St., 217-523-2787.

Springfield Breakfast Optimist Club May 10, 7am Fri. Meets every Friday. Visitors are welcome. 217-546-5021. Peace Lutheran Church, 2800 W. Jefferson St., 217-546-7646.

Bulletin Board

2019 Habitat Homeowners Program Informational Sessions May 16, 12pm Thu. Learn about the program, how to qualify and how to apply. 2019 applications will be accepted through May 31. You must attend a session to apply to the program. Reservations. Free. habitatsangamon.com. 523-2710. Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 2744 S. Sixth St., 787-7209.

APL Foster Care May 9, 12-2pm Thu. Meet with the APL foster coordinator about pet adoption. Senior Services of Central Illinois, 701 W. Mason St., 217-528-4035.

APL Pet Adoptions May 11, 11-3pm Sat. All animals will be have been spayed or neutered, microchipped and received all vaccinations prior to adoption. aplshelter.org. Cricket Wireless, 3429 Freedom Dr., Suite D, 217-679-2208.

Credit Coaching Workshops May 21, 12-1pm Tue. Sangamon County Community Resources is offering a free, monthly credit coaching workshop over to anyone who lives in Sangamon County. Local fi nance professionals will present the information and work with participants to obtain their credit report, assist them in interpreting it and suggesting methods to improve the score. Free. Sangamon County Department of Public Health, 2833 South Grand Avenue East, 217-535- 3100 or 888-217-3505.

Moonlight Market May 15, 6-9pm Wed. Highlighting local artists, artisans, crafters and vendors from around the Springfield and central Illinois area. All vendors fees are donated to a selected charities. 217-522-3123. Obed and Isaacs, 500 S. Sixth St., 217-670-0627.

Food

Planning Successful Vegan Meals May 14, 6:30-8pm Tue. Video presentation by Mary McDougall explains how to easily prepare good tasting, nutritious, low-cost vegetarian meals that promote good health. springfieldvegetarian.org. Free. 217-546-9171. Lincoln Library, 326 S. Seventh St., 217-753-4900.

Slow Food Springfield Morel Mushroom Dinner and Silent Auction May 10, 5:45-9pm Fri. A four-course dinner with meat and vegetarian options. Limited seating. Tickets $75. slowfoodspringfield.org. 217-341-0398. Maldaner’s, 222 S. Sixth St., 522-4313.

Politics

The European Union and Its Neighborhood May 9, 7:30pm Thu. Presented by Konstantinos Kourtikakis. Free. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St., 217-523-2787.

History

All Aboard: America's Love of Railroads May 10, 10pm Fri. A family-friendly look at railroad history and celebrating the 150th anniversary of the first transcontinental railroad. Admission. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, 212 N. Sixth St., 217-558-8844.

Hammer In May 11, 9am-3pm Sat. Come watch the blacksmiths at work. Inn and cabin open for tours. Beverage services. Free, but donations welcome. clayville.org. Clayville, Route 125, Pleasant Plains, 217-572-4984.

Homesteading: The Free Land Idea May 15, 12-1pm Wed. Homesteading, extolled and romanticized in history, was not the rosy dream portrayed in popular literature and film. Presented by Lorna Shuman. Free. 217-558-6696. Illinois State Museum Research and Collections Center, 1011 E. Ash St., 217- 785-0037.

Lincoln in the Illinois Legislature May 15, 6:30-8pm Wed. Local historian, teacher and author Ron J. Keller will discuss his new book. Rep. Tim Butler will provide the introduction. Free. Books on the Square Springfield, 427 E. Washington St., 217-965-5443.

Resolutions, Reconstruction and Renewal May 13, 7pm Mon. Portrayal of the 1869 Village of Rochester board of trustees. President Grant will extend his congratulations, outline his plan for Reconstruction and greet Civil War veterans. Free. Rochester United Methodist Church, 555 S. Walnut St., Rochester, 217-498-7179.

Faith & Philosophy

Finding the Pathway to Unity May 10, 7-8:30pm Fri. Presentation and discussion. Light refreshments and fellowship follow. Free. 217- 546-9171. Springfield Baha’i Center, 1131 S. Eighth St., 217- 544-9595.

Mother’s Day Celebration May 12, 8-9am Sun. Mother’s Day celebration. Free. Athens Christian Church, 1411 E. Route 29, Athens, 217-636-8463.

Mother’s Day Remembrance Tribute Service May 11, 10-11am Sat. A brief ceremony will be led by certified celebrant, Judy Woerner, and a special tribute keepsake will be given in honor of your loved one. Light refreshments will be served. Roselawn Memorial Park, 1735 S. Camp Butler Road, 525-1661.

RU Universalist Unitarian or UU? May 12, 10:30-11:30am Sun. Half a century after the merger of two distinct streams within liberal religion, the older labels seem to be in decline. Yet, there are some that emphasize one identity over another. Free. Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 745 Woodside Road, 217-585-9550.

True Love Church Interfaith Service May 9, 6:30-8pm Thu. 6:30 PM fellowship & refreshments, 7:00 PM worship. Cook-Diller Lounge. 217-546-9171. First Presbyterian Church, 321 S. Seventh St., 217-528-4311.

Sports & Fitness

Fat Ass 5k May 11, 10am Sat. 5K race includes food, beer and entertainment along race route. Saturday street party featuring hog roast and live band to follow race. Registration. fatass5k.com. Downtown Springfield.

Gold Cup Qualifier BMX Race May 11, 3-8pm Sat. All ages. Free. Riverside Park, 4105 Sand Hill Road, 217-431-2680.

Grand Wrestling Spectacle IX May 11, 7-10pm Sat. A night of professional wrestling featuring former WWE Superstar “Big Poppa Pump” Scott Steiner. $15, kids 6-12 $12, 5 and under free. 217-891-4679. The 8th Street Gym, 1401 N. Eighth St., 217-753-1406.

Illinois State Qualifier BMX Race May 12, 3-8pm Sun. All ages. Free. Riverside Park, 4105 Sand Hill Road, 217-931-2680.

SCHEELS Run Bike Club May 9, 16, 5:45-8pm Thu. All levels of riders and runners are welcome. All ages welcome. 17 or under must have a parent present. Free. Scheels, 3801 S. MacArthur Blvd., 217-726-6330.