EVENTS

CARRIAGE RIDES

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES WITH THE LINCOLNS 

Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln will offer several children activities, as well as photo opportunities, in the Tinsley Gift Shop at the Springfield Visitor’s Center on the Old State Capitol Plaza. Rotating children’s activities with the Lincolns include playing with toys, reading holiday stories, and discussing a day in the life of the Lincolns. 

When: Saturdays Nov. 27 – Dec. 18 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

ENTERTAINMENT ON OLD STATE CAPITOL PLAZA

Free entertainment presented by local groups and individuals.

When: Wednesdays 4 p.m., 6 p.m. & Saturdays 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m.

FOOD, DRINKS AND SHOPPING

Downtown Springfield’s locally owned businesses, restaurants and bars will offer unique gifts and special treats throughout the holiday season. The shelves are brimming with gifts that will delight anyone on your list. See the lists of downtown retail, dining and drink establishments here. Several businesses are also participating in the Parklet Passport program (see below).

GINGERBREAD HOUSES

Memorial Holiday Fest’s Gingerbread Village will be on display in the lobby of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, 212 N. Sixth St. Admission to the Gingerbread House event is FREE at all times. As for the museum, there will be free admission on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 4pm-7pm with a donation of personal care items.

When: Wednesdays 4pm. – 7 p.m. & Saturdays 4 – 7 p.m.

HOLIDAY FARMERS MARKETS

DSI will be hosting two Farmers Markets in association with the Old Capitol Holiday Walks. The markets will be held indoors and outdoors on Union Station. Customers can park at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library parking garage.

When: Saturday, Nov. 20 8 a.m. – noon & Saturday, Dec. 18 8 a.m. – noon

HOLIDAY TREE PROVIDED BY ACE SIGN CO

View the beautiful tree on the east side of the Old State Capitol Plaza at 6th. Join us for the Christmas tree lighting at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 27 (Small Business Saturday).

ICE SKATING RINK PRESENTED BY SANGAMON CEO

The LRS Ice Rink is an outdoor rink located on the lawn of the Old State Capitol. Sangamon CEO high school students manage the project. Learn more about skate rentals and passes.

When: Wednesdays/Fridays 5 – 8 p.m. & Saturdays/Sundays  11 – 7 p.m.

ILLINOIS PRODUCTS HOLIDAY MARKET

The Illinois Department of Agriculture’s holiday market will feature a variety of products made in Illinois, along with food, entertainment and children’s activities. More information is available at Illinois Product Holiday Market – Illinois Products Expo.  The market will be on the lot north of the Governor’s Mansion. 

When: Saturday, Dec. 4 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. & Sunday, Dec. 5 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

ILLINOIS STATE MUSEUM 

Memorial Holiday Fest decorated wreaths will be on display, The museum is offering “Winter Holidays Around the World” children’s activities. Admission and activities are free.

• Nov. 27 – Diwali crafts 
• Dec. 8 – Hanukkah crafts 
• Dec. 11 – Historical Christmas crafts
• Dec. 18 – Kwanza crafts

When: Wednesdays and Saturdays 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

KIDZEUM CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES AND HOLIDAY DECORATIONS

The Kidzeum at 412 East Adams, is offering two activities that are free with paid admission:

Handprint potholders (first floor); Sock skating rink (third floor)

When: Saturdays 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. & Wednesday 4 – 7 p.m.

JAYCEES HOLIDAY LIGHTS PARADE

The Springfield Jaycees Holiday Lights Parade kicks off Dec. 4 at 5:30 p.m. The parade will begin at 7th and Jefferson, head south on 5th Street, go west on Monroe and head north on 6th Street. 

LINCOLN LIBRARY BOOK TREE AND CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES

Lincoln Library (7th and Capitol) is displaying a book tree and offering a variety of activities throughout the holiday season.

• Nov. 27 – Makerspace: Light Up Snow Globes (All Day) Brighten the dark nights with one of these festive snow globes! Come up to the library’s 2nd floor anytime during open hours and make one at your leisure (while supplies last).
• Dec. 1 – Winter Tea with the Uketopians (6 p.m.) Come in from the cold for some warming tea, and the sweet sounds of Springfield’s own Uketopians.  
• Dec. 8 – Children’s Craft: Holiday Candle Holders with Miss Lisa (4 p.m.) Create a one-of-a-kind candle holder. 
• Dec. 11 – For the Birds with Cinda Klickna (11 a.m.) Join us for a visit from local author Cinda Klickna, then stick around to make your own pine cone bird feeder.
• Dec. 11 – History and Folklore of Santa Claus (2 p.m.) via Zoom Many folks know that our modern-day Santa Claus had his start as St. Nicholas, but what happened on the journey to make us think of a “jolly old elf” rather than a pious Christian bishop? This illustrated lecture is well-researched, with details on the journey Bishop Nicholas made to become our current-day Santa Claus. It also includes many recognizable images and poems. For more information, visit www.lincolnlibrary.info. 
• Dec. 15 – Children’s Craft: Design Your Own Hot Cocoa Mug with Miss Stefanie (4:30 p.m.) Come in and design your own hot cocoa mug to bring home for the winter! Makes a great holiday gift!
• Dec. 18 – Holiday Craft Extravaganza (All Day) A spectacular series of wintery, do-it-yourself crafts for children and their families set up throughout Youth Services. 

LIVING WINDOWS AND CAROLERS AT THE HOOGLAND

The Hoogland Teens will create a living window display at the Hoogland Center for the Arts (420 S. 6th St.) based on Disney’s Frozen. It will feature the beloved characters of Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Sven the Reindeer and Kristoff. Carolers will sing outside the Hoogland for individuals dropping off their Polar Passports.

When: Saturdays 2 p.m., 3 p.m. 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m. & Wednesdays 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m.

MEMORIAL’S HOLIDAY FEST TREES AND DECORATIONS

Memorial Holiday Fest trees and other holiday decor will be displayed throughout Downtown Springfield and will be available to view online at Memorial Holiday Fest’s Facebook page with People’s Choice voting available. Voting opens on Nov. 27 and continues until the winner is announced online on Dec. 6.

In addition, Holiday Fest trees decorated by middle and high school students will be on display throughout the holiday season at INB, 4th and Capitol and wreaths will be on display at the Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring Street.

MENORAH 

Chabad Springfield will once again have a Menorah on the west side of Old State Capitol. An additional light will light up each day at 3:45 p.m. between Nov. 28 – Dec. 6.

When: Sunday, Nov. 28 – Monday, Dec. 6 & Sunday, Dec. 5 4 p.m. – Menorah Car Parade

*Menorah Car Parade will begin at 2467 S. MacArthur and end at the Menorah site around 4:30 p.m. 

MISTLETOE MARKET

Shoppers can find gifts and food items from a changing variety of retailers at the new Mistletoe Market, located on Washington Street across from the Old State Capitol. 

When: Wednesdays 4-7 p.m. & Saturdays 2-7 p.m. (no Mistletoe Market on Dec. 4th)

PARKLET PASSPORT – HOLIDAY WALK EDITION

New parklets are now available at Anvil and Forge, Buzz Bomb, Celtic Mist, Clique, Custom Cup, Frankie’s Brewhaus, Gin Mill, Hair of the Dog, J.P. Kelly’s and Maldaner’s. Visit the 10 parklets, as well as Obed and Isaac’s beer garden, and receive a stamp for buying special holiday treats or catching live performances made possible by Groupon. Collect 10 stamps between Nov. 27th-Dec 22nd, submit your completed card to the DSI office, and receive an additional 10 entries to the Red Ticket Giveaway. Passports can be found at each participating location.

Check daily schedule for entertainment and activities

POLAR PASSPORT FOR CHILDREN

Children can receive stamps on a Polar Passport for a chance to win Kidzeum passes. Polar Passports are available at the Old State Capitol, ALPLM, Illinois State Museum and Kidzeum. Completed Polar Passports must be turned in at the Hoogland Center for the Arts.

RED TICKET GIVEAWAY

Shoppers at participating downtown businesses  will receive a Red Ticket for every $10 purchase. Keep your Red Tickets to see if you win in the drawing at the Old State Capitol Plaza on Dec. 22. (Winning ticket numbers also will be posted on the DSI website at www.downtownspringfield.org). Three numbers will be drawn to receive $1,000, $500 and $250 respectively. Prizes must be claimed by Dec. 23 at 5 pm. Call 217-544-1723 if your name is drawn.

RED TICKET WINNERS

SANTA

Visits and free photos with the Memorial Holiday Fest Santa Claus will be held on the lawn of the Old State Capitol. Children visiting Santa will receive a grab bag of prizes. The Santa Mailbox designed by Springfield Art Association will be on the Old State Capitol Plaza so that good girls and boys can also put their wish list down on paper. Please follow the sidewalk stickers for proper COVID spacing while in line.

When: Saturdays 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., 1:30 – 4:30 p.m., 5 – 7 p.m. & Wednesdays 4 – 7 p.m.

STUFF THE SLEIGH FOR SPRINGFIELD

The Springfield Jaycees’ Santa sleigh will be parked at 4th and Adams on Wednesday during the Holiday Walks with the goal to “Stuff the Sleigh for Springfield.” People can drive-up for no-contact drop-off of donations, such as gently-used and new books, new still-packaged toys, and new cold-weather gear for local organizations, as well as canned goods and other non-perishable food items for distribution to local micro pantries. Monetary donations can be made via PayPal at https://paypal.me/SpringfieldJayceesIL. 

When: Wednesdays Dec. 1-Dec. 22

WARMING TREE

The Warming Tree, located at the Springfield YMCA – Downtown, (601 N. Fourth St.) will be decorated with scarves, hats and mittens. 

WINTER HOLIDAYS DISPLAYS

A Hanukkah celebration scene provided by the Jewish Federation and a Kwanzaa scene provided by the Central Illinois African American History Museum will be on display at the PNC Bank Building on the north side of the Old State Capitol.

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