Holiday Happenings

Knights 4th of July Celebration and Fireworks Live music, all-American cookout and fireworks.

Knights Action Park 1700 Knights Recreation Dr.. 217-546-8881.

Rock the Dock Live music, food and fireworks. Lake Springfield Marina, 17 Waters Edge.

Springfield Jaycees Fireworks Jul 4, 9:30pm Sat. Fireworks in front of the Capitol. Some streets will be closed to vehicle and foot traffic to secure the blast area. Free. Downtown.

Presidential library celebrates Fourth of July July 4, 10am Thu. Celebrating Independence Day with music, magic, theater, an appearance by President Lincoln and a reading of the Declaration of Independence.

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, 12 N. Sixth St., 217- 558-8844.

Annual Sherman Fireworks Spectacular Jul 4, 9pm Thu. Waldrop Park, East Andrew Road, Sherman.

Clara Irwin’s Annual Strawberry and Lawn Party Jul 4, 5-8pm Thu. Shortcakes and sundaes available for purchase. Music by Tom Irwin. Annual reading of the Declaration of Independence. $5. Elijah Iles House, 628 S. Seventh St., 217-492-5929.

APL’s Christmas in July Jul 6, 12-4pm Sat. Games, shelter tours, a visit from Santa himself (who is very hard to get in the off-season.) celebrity dunk tank, doggy costume contest and vendors. Animal Protective League, 1001 Taintor Road, 217-544- 7387.

Fourth of July Blast Jul 4, 6pm-10pm Thu. 217-243-5678. Nichols Park, 319 Holken Brink Dr., Jacksonville.

Springfield Jaycees’ Patriotic Dog Pageant Jul 4, 5-6pm Thu. Registration starts at 4:30pm. $10 entry fee, $5 for each additional dog from same owner. Limited to 20 canine participants. Y Block, Fourth and Jackson streets, 217-789-2000.

4th of July Bash Jul 4, 10am-10pm Thu. Military and emergency vehicles, ceremony, live music and fi reworks. Free. The Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater, 620 E. Riverside Dr., Decatur, 217-619-8025.

Fairs & Festivals

Mid-Summer Blast Jul 13, 12:30am Sat. Prop Club, 264 Maple Grove Lane, 529-4901.

Morgan County Fair Jul 9, 8am Tue. Carnival, food, talent show, pageant, livestock, tractor pulls, live entertainment and more. $4 adults, $2 kids 8-12, free for kids under 8, half-price admission for all and free to seniors on Sunday. Morgan County Fairgrounds, 110 N. Westgate, Jacksonville, 217- 245-6800.

Books & Authors

Teen Summer Writing Camp Jul 8-11, 15-17, 9am-12pm Mon-Thu. Vachel Lindsay Association poetry and fiction writing camp for students age 13 to 18. $100 members, $120 non. Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site, 603 S. Fifth St., 217-524-0901.

Theater & Comedy

Hairspray - The Musical Jul 10-14, Wed-Thu 7pm; Fri-Sat 8pm; Sun 2pm. In 1962 Baltimore, Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, has only one desire - to dance on the Corny Collins Show. $25 advance; $30 day of show. atthelegacy.com. The Legacy Theatre, 101 E. Lawrence, 800-838-3006.

Music: General Events

84 - a tribute to Van Halen Jul 6, 6pm Sat. Sherman Village Park, 1200 Rail Fence Rd., Sherman, 217-496-2621.

Levitt AMP Springfield Music Series Jul 4, 6-8:30pm Thu. Tameca Jones. Free. downtownspringfield.org 217-544-1723. Y Block, Fourth and Jackson streets, 217- 789-2000.

Messengers for Christ Jul 10, 12-1pm Wed. Gospel music. SAA’s Artist on the Plaza. Free. Old State Capitol Plaza, between Sixth and Fifth streets at Adams, 217-544-1723.

Rhodes and Battles Jul 6, 13, 10am-12pm Sat. A part of SAA’s Music at the Market series. Old Capitol Farmers Market, Fourth and Adams streets, 217-544-1723.

Springfield Municipal Band Jul 9, 11pm Tue. Old State Capitol, 1 Old State Capitol Plaza, 217-785-7960.

Springfield Municipal Band Jul 9, 7:30pm Tue. Douglas Park, 400 N. MacArthur Blvd.

Stairway to Zeppelin Jul 5, 7:30pm Fri. Rockhouse opens for this cover band from Nashville. Tickets are free in advance and are required for admission. Bank of Springfield Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, 800-745-3000.

The Whole Family of Man, Music of Lincoln’s America Jul 17, 7-8:30pm Wed. Featuring the Chicago-based ensemble Sones de Mexico. Part of a new summer concert series highlighting the diversity of Lincoln’s America. Free. Lincoln Home National Historic Site, 413 S. Eighth St., 217-391-3221.

Dance

Dance for Hope Jul 5, 7:30-10:30pm Fri. Latin dance night every first Friday of the month. $8 per person. danceforhope3111.com. Normandy Hill Plaza, 3111 Normandy Road, Suite 104, 217- 522-9106.

Art & Architecture

Art Reception Jul 6, 6-8pm Sat. Reception for local artist Kate Ridge. Light refreshments provided. Free. Prairie House, 3013 Lindbergh Blvd, 546-1770.

Artist-in-Residence Jul 6, 6-8pm Sat. Jen Santarelli. Free. Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site, 603 S. Fifth St., 217- 524-0901.

Women’s Art Alliance Jul 11-13, 15-17, 9am-5pm Mon-Fri, 10am-3pm Sat. A look back at the history of the Women’s Art Alliance in its first 10 years. Works by many of the over 70 women who exhibited in the first 10 years of the organization will be on display. Free. 217-523-2631. Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St., 217-523-2631.

Film & Television

Movies in the Park - Mary Poppins Returns Jul 12, 8pm Fri. Bring a lawn chair, sleeping bag or blankets to sit on. Movie begins at sunset, approximately 8pm. springfieldparks.org. Free. Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon, 1740 W. Fayette Ave., 217-546-3853.

The Sandlot Jul 5, 8-10:30pm Fri. Free. devonamphitheater.com. The Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater, 620 E. Riverside Dr., Decatur, 217- 619-8025.

Children’s Corner

College for Kids Jul 8, 8:30am-12:30pm Mon. For students who have completed grades K-8. $145 or $195 for the culinary session for grades 4-7. 217-786- 2432. llcc.edu. Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Road, 217-786-2200.

Extreme Explorers Summer Camp Jul 8, 8:30am-3:30pm Mon. From sculpture design to discovering glaciers, we go beyond boundaries we never imagined. Ages. 8-11. $150 members, $180 non. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St., 217-782-7386.

Flex Your Mussels Super Saturday Jul 6, 11am-3pm Sat. Learn to identify different mussel species, about their history and their different uses. Discover what makes mussels so special with crafts, games and more. Ages 5+. Museum admission. 217-782-6044. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St., 217-782-7386.

Horse Camp Jul 8 & 15, 8am-4pm Mon. Activities include horse care, riding lessons, games, crafts, hay rack rides, nature hikes and daily trail rides. Learn to groom, saddle, and ride. Fees. riversidestable.com. Riverside Stables Horse Camp, 2310 Chinchilla Lane, 217-522-7702.

Learn from the Past - Create Your Own Future Jul 8, 9am-3pm Mon. Grades 4-6. Outdoor games, costumes and characters, arts and crafts. $25 registration. Springfield and Central Illinois African-American History Museum, 1440 Monument Ave., 217-391-6323.

LLCC Volleyball Camp Jul 8, 8:30 and 12:30 sessions. Fundamentals Camp. Ages 8-14. $70. 217-786-2426. llcc.edu. Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Road, 217-786-2200.

Mocha Moms’ Summer Meet and Greet Jul 13, 3-5pm Sat. For mothers interested in learning more about Mocha Moms, Inc. and building a stronger sisterhood in the local area. Children are welcome. RSVP. 309-431-1410. The Grille at City Centre, 700 E. Adams St., 217-331-5199.

PAVE 2019 - Underwater Adventure Jul 8, 9am-4pm Mon. Kids entering 3rd-9th grades will experience what it takes to stage a live production. Finale is a free performance. Doors open 7:30-5:00 daily. $335 per session. 217-414-8905. Springfield Theatre Centre, 420 S. Sixth St., 217-523-2787.

Second Saturday Storytime Jul 13, 11:30am-12pm Sat. Join us in our community garden with a gardening-and naturethemed storytime for kids of all ages. Healthy snack provided. Free. Enos Park Community Garden, 1022 N. Fifth St., 708-580-8432.

Science

Exploring Wetlands Field Trip Jul 11, 8am-5pm Thu. On July 25, students entering grades 7-9 will travel to Dickson Mounds Museum and Emiquon Preserve for a day filled with authentic science opportunities. Free with advance reservations. 217-782-6044. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St., 217-782-7386.

Environment

Hummingbird Festival Jul 11, 4-7pm Thu. Bird bander Vern Kleen will catch and band hummingbirds. You can hold a hummingbird and learn about the birds. Bring lawn chairs and enjoy refreshments. Call for directions. Free but donations for sugar is appreciated., 217-320-9006. Terry and Debbie Engel, 2700 North County Road, Greenfield, 217-257-5321.

Tour of Carver Yocum Reserve Jul 6, 10am-12pm Sat. Easy walking, noting species present, changes in the landscape and management recommendations. Carver Yocum Reserve, Old River Rd. off Camp Butler Road, 217- 525-1410.

Lectures & Meetings

AARP Chapter 195 Jul 8, 11am Mon. Roger Whitaker of the Sangamon County Historical Society will be presenting a program about the Sangamon Ordinance Plant in Illiopolis at 1:00 p.m. 529-9763. VFW Post #755, 2211 Old Jacksonville Rd., 217-546-9515.

Adult Children of Alcoholics and Other Dysfunctional Families Jul 16, 5:15pm Tue. Weekly meetings every Tuesday. New attendees welcome. wisetruth@yahoo.com. 217-544-9049. Discovery Club, 313 W. Cook St., 217-544-9049.

Alateen and Al-Anon Jul 7, 14, 6:30pm Sun. Two separate group meetings that take place at the same time and location, but in different rooms. 691-755 or 502-6777. spi-alanon.weebly.com. Real Life Church, 2450 Taylor Ave.

Central Illinois Numismatic Association Meeting Jul 11, 7-10pm Thu. Monthly business meeting followed by an auction. Meetings are open to the public. 217-793-2178. Knights of Columbus Hall Council 4175, 2801 West St., 217-528-5740.

International Travel 101 Jul 8, 7pm Mon. Sherry Blair of World Travel Jacksonville will discuss how to prepare for your trip, traveling tips and what to know once you reach your destination. Free. Jacksonville Public Library, 201 W. College Ave., Jacksonville, 217-243- 5435.

Springfield Breakfast Optimist Club Jul 5, 12, 7am Fri. Meets every Friday. Visitors are welcome. 217-546-5021. Peace Lutheran Church, 2800 W. Jefferson St., 217-546-7646.

Bulletin Board Credit Coaching Workshops Jul 16, 12-1pm Tue. Sangamon County Community Resources is offering a free, monthly credit coaching workshop over to anyone who lives in Sangamon County. Local finance 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.

Ice Cream Social Jul 10, 11:30am-1pm Wed. Presented by the Capital Area Realtors. Senior Services of Central Illinois, 701 W. Mason St., 217-528-4035.

Land of Lincoln Honor Flight Jul 11, 12-1pm Thu. Steve Wheeler and Pat Kuster from Land of Lincoln Honor Flight will be asking for help to locate WWII and Korean Era Vets to participate in the Land of Lincoln Honor Flight. Senior Services of Central Illinois, 701 W. Mason St., 217-528-4035.

PFLAG monthly meeting Jul 15, 7-8:30pm Mon. PFLAG meets on the third Monday of every month, offering support to members of the LGBTQ community, their families and friends. Free and snacks provided. aluuc.org. 217-801-2698. Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 745 Woodside Road, 217-585-9550.

Food

Bites on the Boulevard Jul 9, 5-9pm Tue. Franklin Middle School, 1200 Outer Park Dr., 800-968-4332.

Old Capitol Farmers Market Jul 6, 10, 13, 17, 8am-12:30pm Sat, 8am-12:30pm Wed. Farmers and artisans accept cash for products. If you prefer to pay by credit card, visit the Market Booth to purchase cash tokens. There is an ATM on the Market St. Free. Old Capitol Farmers Market, Fourth and Adams streets, 217-544-1723.

History

Abe and Mary Quite Contrary Walking Tour Jul 9-10, 16-17, 10-11am Tue-Wed. A 1.5 mile, 60-minute tour that takes you on a journey through time as we explore beautiful, historic, downtown Springfield. Free. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, 212 N. Sixth St., 217-558-8844.

Illinois History Forum Jul 11, 12pm Thu. Discussion about Illinois in World War I with curator William Lear. Free. Illinois State Military Museum, 1301 N. MacArthur Blvd., 217- 761-3910.

Lincoln, Gettysburg and Smallpox Jul 12, 6:30pm Fri. Dr. Donald Graham will discuss the smallpox case of President Lincoln. Part of the Summer 2019 Civil War series offered by the Civil War Round Tables of Macoupin County and Springfield. Free. Books on the Square Springfield, 427 E. Washington St., 217-965-5443.

Objects of the Lincoln Era Jul 9, 2-2:30pm Tue. Handle Lincoln-era objects as you learn about how they were used and what they meant to the people of Lincoln’s time. All ages. Museum admission. 217-782-6044. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St., 217-782-7386.

Faith & Philosophy

Christians and Evolving Universe Retreat Jul 12-14, 5:30pm Fri-Sun. Through film, contemplation, discussion, communion with nature and creative ritual, retreatants will investigate some new discoveries by contemporary theologians in a two-part retreat with Sara Fairbanks, O.P., Ph.D. $175+. Chiara Center, 4875 Laverna Road, 217-523-0901.

Finding the Pathway to Unity Jun 28, 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.

Sports & Fitness

Illinois Aquathlon Jul 13, Sat. The longest distance aquathlon in Illinois. triharderpromotions.com. 217-341-1309. Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish & Wildlife Area, 10149 County Hwy. 11, Chandlerville.

Kidzeum workout Jul 11, 3-4pm Thu. Kids will enjoy a trainer-led workout in a health and science museum. Free. Preregister.st-johns.org/go217. Kidzeum of Health and Science Children’s Museum, 412 E. Adams St., 217-971- 4435.

SCHEELS Run Bike Club Jul 11, 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.

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

Searchable by date, venue, genre, name and more.