Holiday Happenings
Christmas Coffee and Pastries Sun., Dec. 22, 8:15-10am. A time of fellowship over coffee and pastries between our 8:00 and 10:15 services. Free. Athens Christian Church, Athens, 1411 E. Route 29, 217-636-8463.
Christmas Tree Display and Open House Sun., Dec. 22, 1-4pm. Trees decorated with White House ornaments and those reflecting the Lincoln era. Civil War era Santa display. Light refreshments. Free. Pasfield House, 525 S. Pasfield St.
Downtown Holiday Walk Wednesdays, Saturdays. A variety of events through the season through Dec. 21. downtownspringfield.org. Downtown Springfield.
Gingerbread House Decorating Class Sat., Dec. 21, 1pm. Learn how to decorate a festive gingerbread house. This program is free and all materials are provided. Registration is required. free. Jacksonville Public Library, Jacksonville, 201 W. College Ave., 217-243-5435.
Holiday Card Making Sat., Dec. 21, 1pm and Sun., Dec. 22, 1pm. Create a handmade holiday or seasonal card. Supplies will be provided. Part of the Old Capitol Holiday Walks. Take the Santa Van from downtown Springfield to the museum from 1:00 to 4:00 pm or park in the lots near the museum for free on Saturdays.. $5 adults ages 19-64. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St., 217-782-6044.
Holiday POP! Shop Sat., Dec. 21, 3-8pm. Local artists and local musicians. Kids crafts and photos with Santa. Free. Anvil and Forge Brewing and Distilling Company, 619 E Washington St, 217-494-7520.
New Year’s Eve Countdown Tue., Dec. 31, 10am. Appetizers, sparkling grape juice, word games and easy-listening music. 11:59am countdown. 12pm pledge and special prayer. Senior Services of Central Illinois, 701 W. Mason St., 217-528-4035.
Santa Visits the House Thu. and Fri., Dec. 19 and 20, 11am-12pm. Come visit with Santa at the House of Music. House of Music, Third and North Grand, 217-522-4488.
Winterland Holiday Zoo Lights Fridays-Sundays, 5-9pm. Stroll through the zoo as you admire the light displays. Enjoy some hot beverages or fresh sweets while you warm up near the bonfire. There will be caroling, performances and, of course, a visit from the big guy. $7 adults, $5 children 3-12, age 2 and under are free. Henson Robinson Zoo, 1100 E. Lake Shore Dr., 217-585-1821.
Theater & Comedy
Clay Foley Tue., Dec. 31, 8-9:30pm. $12.50. Mason City Limits Comedy Club, Mason City, 114 E. Chestnut St., 217-482-5233.
Dr. Gonzo Fri., Dec. 27, 8-9:30pm and Sat., Dec. 28, 7-8:30pm. No coupons or passes accepted for this show. $15 general, $17.50 VIP. Mason City Limits Comedy Club, Mason City, 114 E. Chestnut St., 217-482-5233.
A Message at Midnight Dec. 20-21, 7pm. A one-act play set on Christmas Eve of 1864 as Gen. Grant and President Lincoln await the news from Gen. Sherman as he marches towards Savannah. Based on a play by Ken Bradbury Lincoln Home NHS Visitors Center, 426 S. Seventh St., 217-391-3221.
Mike Armstrong Dec. 20-21, 7:30 and 9:30pm. Tickets $15 and $17. Donnie B’s Comedy Club, 3455 Freedom Dr., 217-391-JOKE.
Murder Mystery Dinner Theater Fri., Dec. 20, 6-9:30pm. Silence of the Elves. $55 advance tickets (plus tax). hillprairiewinery.com. Hill Prairie Winery, Oakford, 23753 Lounsberry Rd., 217-635-9900.
Reena Calm Fri., Dec. 20, 8-9:30pm and Sat., Dec. 21, 7-8:30pm. Reena is a featured regular at the Laugh Factor.. $12.50. Mason City Limits Comedy Club, Mason City, 114 E. Chestnut St., 217-482-5233.
Sister’s Christmas Catechism Thu., Dec. 19, 7:30pm, Fri., Dec. 20, 8pm and Sat., Dec. 21, 2pm. A mystery extravaganza from the author of Late Nite Catechism. Sister takes on a mystery that has intrigued historians throughout the ages. $35 in advance, $40 day of show. UIS Performing Arts Center, One University Plaza, 217-206-6160.
Special Music Events
Christmas Around the World Thu., Dec. 19, 6-7pm. Wildwood Strings and Friends will be preforming Christmas music to brighten the holiday season. Free. Prairie Skies Public Library Pleasant Plains, Pleasant Plains, 555 Buckeye Road, 217-626-1553.
Christmastime in Soy City Sat., Dec. 21, 7pm. A rockin’ musical revue. $15. Decatur Civic Center, Decatur, 1 Gary K Anderson Plaza, 217-422-7300.
The Dual Piano Christmas Show Dec. 20-21, 7pm and Sun., Dec. 22, 2pm. Some of your holiday favorites coming from two pianos, four hands and two creative brains that let loose for an evening of fun. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St., 217-523-2787.
Old State Capitol Holiday Music Performances Sat., Dec. 21, 2:30pm. Christian Trade Gospel Singers. Hosted by the Ill. Dept. of Natural Resources. Free. Old State Capitol, 1 Old State Capitol Plaza, 217-785-7960.
Holiday Pops in the Heartland Sat., Dec. 21, 7:30pm. Celebrate the holidays with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra. Admission. ilsymphony.org. UIS Performing Arts Center, One University Plaza, 217-206-6160.
Rock and Rolled Mondays-Saturdays, 9am- 4:30pm and Sundays, 12-4:30pm. A celebration of music that has defined the culture combined with timeless geological specimens embodying the structure of the earth from our permanent collection. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St., 217-782-7386.
T-Bone & DeWolf Variety Show Christmas Special Fri., Dec. 20, 7pm. Featuring The Gibson Girls, Tyler Maul and Leviana Moody, and DeWolf’s Way-Back-When Machine. Tickets at Jacksonville County Market and Our Town Books. $15 and $20. Lovejoy Hall, Jacksonville, 520 West College, 707-349-7790.
Art & Architecture
Annual Membership Exhibition Thursdays-Saturdays, 12-7pm. The gallery will be filled with new works by all the SAA Collective artists. Artists have also included holiday-inspired art in our annual holiday shop. Free. SAA Collective Gallery, 420 S. Sixth St., 217-544-2787.
Art glass tour Thu., Dec. 19, 5:15 and 6:30pm. The house, built between 1902 and 1904, has more than 400 pieces of specially made art glass and original furnishings. Reservations are required. Dana-Thomas House, 301 E. Lawrence Ave., 217-782-6776.
Design Concept Tour Fri., Dec. 20, 5:15 and 6:30pm. Reservations are required. Dana-Thomas House, 301 E. Lawrence Ave., 217-782-6776.
Holiday Art Show Fri., Dec. 20, 7-10pm. Various media of art, living art, Christmas snacks and candies and music. Free. Buzz Bomb Brewing Co., 406 E. Adams St.
Eleanor Spiess-Ferris: Daphne’s Sister Mondays-Saturdays, 9am-4:30pm and Sundays, 12-4:30pm. Paintings and drawings trace the development of the artist’s distinctive figures across her career. Curated by Doug Stapleton. Museum admission. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St., 217-782-7386.
Faux Real Exhibition Saturdays, 10am-3pm and Mondays-Fridays, 9am-5pm. Mixed media pieces by artist Anna Kell, an associate professor of Art and Art History at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA. Free. M.G. Nelson Family Gallery, 700 N. Fourth Street, 217-523-2631.
Glass Blown Ornament Workshop Thu., Dec. 19, 6-9pm. Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St., 217-523-2631.
Holiday Art Show Thursdays-Saturdays, 12-6pm. Art inspired by and celebrating the winter holiday season. This exhibition runs through December 31. Refreshments. Free. The Pharmacy Gallery and Art Space, 623 E. Adams St., 801-810-9278.
Film & Television
Christmas Classics on the Grand Screen Dec. 20-21, 7pm. Friday showing It’s a Wonderful Life and Saturday showing Meet Me in St. Louis. $10 at the door or $5 with a food bank donation. The Legacy Theatre, 101 E. Lawrence, 800-838-3006.
Children’s Corner
North Mac Moms Storytime Mon., Dec. 23, 4pm. Guests read stories for kids. Free. No registration. The Sly Fox Bookstore, Virden, 123 N. Springfield St., 965-3641.
Santa House Saturdays, Sundays, 11am-6pm and Mondays-Fridays, 5-8pm. This is a great opportunity for the kids to see Santa. Snap a photo yourself for free or let us take one for you for only $5.00. You can bring your pups, too so they can get a photo with Santa as well. Robin Roberts Stadium, 1415 N. Grand Ave. E., 217-753-0700.
Nature, Science & Environment
Springfield Audubon - 3rd Thursday Program Thu., Dec. 19, 6-7:30pm. Tony Rothering will present the scientific value of bird banding and will also give an update on bird banding projects in the Springfield area. Free and open to the public. Adams Wildlife Sanctuary, 2315 E. Clear Lake Ave., 217-899-6150.
Stone Soup Hike Wed., Jan. 1, 10amnoon. Bring an ingredient for the vegetable or meat and vegetable soups and your own utensils and bowl. Precook any items that need long cooking times. Soup cooks while you hike. Enjoy it on your return. Free. Lincoln Memorial Garden, 2301 E. Lake Shore Dr., 217-529-1111.
Winter Holiday Floral Show Saturdays, Sundays, 12-5pm and Mondays-Fridays, 12-4pm. Washington Park Botanical Garden, 1740 W. Fayette Ave., 217-546-4116.
Lectures & Meetings
Alateen and Al-Anon Sundays, 6:30pm. Two separate group meetings that take place at the same time and location, but in different rooms. 217-502-6777. spialanon.weebly.com. Real Life Church, 2701 Hermitage Rd.
Family and Friends of Prisoners Support Group Last Tuesday of every month, 6pm. King of Kings Christian Assembly, 520 S. Livingston, 217-525-2337.
Springfield Breakfast Optimist Club Fridays, 7am. Meets every Friday. Visitors are welcome. 217-546-5021. Peace Lutheran Church, 2800 W. Jefferson St., 217-546-7646.
Bulletin Board
APL Pet Adoptions Saturdays, 11am-4pm and Sundays, 12-3pm. All animals will be spayed or neutered, microchipped and will have received all age-appropriate vaccinations by the time of their adoption. PetSmart, 3183 S. Veterans Pkwy, 217-544-7387.
APL Vaccine Clinic Sat.-Tue., Dec. 21-24, 10am. In an effort to keep pets healthy, APL is offering monthly low-cost vaccine clinics. These clinics are not meant to take the place of a yearly wellness exam by your veterinarian. aplshelter.org. Animal Protective League, 1001 Taintor Road, 217-544-7387.
Credit coaching workshops Fri., Dec. 20, 12-1pm. Sangamon County Community Resources offers free monthly credit coaching workshops to county residents. Presented by finance professionals. Free. Sangamon County Department of Public Health, 2833 South Grand Ave. E., 217-535-3100 or 888-217-3505.
Sex Addicts Anonymous Mondays, Thursdays, 6-7pm. A 12-step meeting for those seeking freedom from addictive or compulsive sexual behavior. Confidentiality assured. Email [email protected] or call 217-306-7335 for meeting location.
Faith & Philosophy
Christmas Eve Service Tue., Dec. 24, 5pm. Celebrate Christmas with a candlelight service. First Presbyterian Church, 321 S. Seventh St., 217-528-4311.
Christmas Eve Vespers Service Tue., Dec. 24, 6-7pm. A casual service that will include music, prayer and quiet time. Light refreshments immediately following the service. Love offering. Unity of Springfield, 417 Cordelia, 523-5897.
Christmas Worship Services Tue., Dec. 24 and Wed., Dec. 25. Everyone is welcome for both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services. Nursery will be available for 4:30 and 7:30 Christmas Eve services. Call for service times. St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2477 W. Washington Street, 793-3933.
A Course in Miracles Tuesdays, 6-7:30pm. Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 745 Woodside Road, 217-585-9550.
Holiday Interfaith Breakfast Wed., Dec. 25, 8:30amnoon. Enjoy a hot breakfast in a comfortable and cordial atmosphere. All proceeds benefit Helping Hands of Springfield. $8 for adults, $1 for children under 10. Temple B’rith Sholom, 1004 S. Fourth St., 217-525-1360.
New Year’s Crystal Bowl Meditation Wed., Jan. 1, 6-7pm. Soothing vibrations of the frequencies of seven crystal singing bowls. Send healing prayers/ intentions to ourselves, our community and our world. Bring a mat to lay on the floor, if you choose. Love offering. Unity of Springfield, 417 Cordelia, 523-5897.
Public Hanukkah Menorah Lighting Thu., Dec. 26, 5:30-7pm. Join us for a Chanukah celebration including fresh jelly doughnuts, hot laktes, the lighting of a giant menorah and other festivities. Free. White Oaks Mall, 2501 Wabash Ave., 773-870-7770.
Winter Solstice Evening Sat., Dec. 21, 6:30pm. An opportunity to contemplate the goodness of the seasons and how their rhythms form our sense of life’s journey with wonder. $20. Includes a meal of soup and bread. Chiara Center, 4875 Laverna Road, 217-523-0901.
Health
Community Yoga Mondays, 5:15-6:30pm. Wear comfortable clothes and bring a mat. A few mats are available to borrow. Open to any adult and all skill levels, but the class is geared toward beginners. Free, but donations to the instructor are welcome. Family Service Center, 710 E. Vine St., 217-528-8406.
More events, more details in our online calendar at illinoistimes.com.
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