Nov. 16- Dec. 24 See Santa Claus at White Oaks Mall. Schedule is available at www.WhereIsSanta.com White Oaks Mall, Grand Center Court Website info for more.217-787-0110 Visits to Santa are free; Photo Packages available
Nov. 29 Tree Lighting at The Gables in Springfield 5:00 p.m. Santa and the Lincolns will be there too! Nov. 30- Dec. 21 Old Capitol Holiday Walks in Downtown Springfield. Every Wednesday & Saturday for details visit Downtown Springfield, Inc. website. Nov. 30 Illinois Local Small Business Saturday Holiday Market at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Expo Bldg. 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. $5 per person for ages 13 and older.
Dec. 6,7,8 Holiday Market: The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) is excited to bring back the Illinois Product Holiday Market to Downtown Springfield! The market will be held on December 6th, 7th, and 8th at the âY Block,â located north of the Governorâs Mansion. This festive market will feature a wide array of Illinois products that are perfect for everyone on your shopping list this season.
Shoppers will find a diverse range of Illinois products that are ideal for everyone on their gift list this season. The market will feature local vendors, including Rolling Lawns Farm, Jon Ellis Woodworking, 17th St BBQ, MKS Meats, Ropp Jersey Cheese, and Berries and Flour: Bakery and Harvest Goods, among many others. Visitors can indulge in a variety of delicious ready-to-eat foods, such as Kurtos pierogies and Polish sausage, while they shop for unique gifts. LINK is accepted for all eligible food items at the market.
In addition to Illinois products, there will be daily giveaways! Attendees are encouraged to stop by the Illinois Department of Agriculture tent to take the Illinois Product Pledge, which invites individuals to commit to spending $10 of their weekly grocery budget on local items. Those who participate in the pledge will receive a special Illinois Product sticker as a token of their commitment to supporting local businesses.
The Illinois Product Holiday Market is designed with families in mind. Kids can take part in a free holiday workshop where they can create festive ornaments and write letters to Santa. There will also be opportunities for children to visit Santa himself, with specific times provided at the event. Visitors will also be able to enjoy live music throughout the event All activities are free!
For those aged 21 and older, Illinois Wine will host a wine tasting experience featuring seven wineries from across the state. Admission to the wine tent is $10, which includes six tasting tickets and a special commemorative tumbler.
The market is proudly sponsored by the Illinois Department of Agriculture, Illinois Wine, Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Downtown Springfield, Inc., and Sangamon Mass Transit District.
Hours of operation for the market are as follows:
| Friday, December 6 | 4pm – 9pm | Visit Santa from 5pm-7pm |
| Saturday, December 7 | 11am – 6pm | Visit Santa from 1pm-4pm |
| Sunday, December 8 | 11am – 4pm | Visit Santa from 11am-2pm |
For a complete list of participating vendors, visit www.illinoisproductholidaymarket.com or check out the Illinois ProductFacebook page and @illinoisproducts on Instagram.
Dec. 6 and 7 Our Saviorâs LIVE NATIVITY 2645 Old Jacksonville Road, Springfield, IL 62704 Enjoy a realistic recreation of the amazing events that surround the night of our Saviorâs birth when you visit Our Saviorâs Church & Schoolâs unique drive through Live Nativity. This free event features holiday lights, choirs of angels, beautiful displays, live animals, and period dressed actors. Join us December 6th & 7th between 7:00-9:00 pm. We invite you to join others in the community who have made Our Saviorâs Live Nativity an annual tradition for their families!
Dec. 7 & 8 The Springfield Youth Performance Group Foundation (SYPG) presents The Nutcracker at Sacred Heart Griffin Auditorium, 1200 West Washington Street, Springfield. Live shows take place at 2pm and 6pm on December 7 and 2pm on December 8. Tickets are $25 per adult and $15 per child (13 and under) and may be purchased at www.sypgfoundation.org. All parking is free. Children are invited to participate in free activities and crafts in the Nutcrackerâs Workshop 30 minutes prior to the start of each show. Dec. 7 & 8 The Nutcracker performed by Copper Coin Ballet Company at UIS Performing Arts Center. A timeless holiday classic. 2:00 p.m. Cost $25-$45 Tickets online:  www.uispac.com Dec. 7 Holiday Lights Parade Downtown Springfield organized by the Springfield Jaycees starting at 5:30 p.m. Bundle up and bring your festive spirit!
Dec.8 North Pole Visit with Santa 3:00- 5:00 p.m. at the Kerasotes YMCA in Springfield. Join us for an afternoon of crafts, games, snacks, a visit with Santa, and a ride on the North Pole Train! The event is December 8th from 3-5 pm. The cost is $5 per person. Members and guests are welcome. Children under 2 are free! Advanced sign-up is encouraged, but you can also pay at the door. We encourage everyone to wear their holiday attire of any kind for photos with Santa!
Dec. 7 Cookie Walk 8:00- 11:00 a.m. at First Congregational Church 2100 S. Bates Avenue  Questions? Call 217-546-7170
NEW Every Monday evening! Healing Hearts Grief Group for children and teens ages 5-18
There is no cost to this program. Every Monday at HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Centennial Hall from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. From 5:00 to 5:30 they have a snack then they meet with their facilitator to work on a project that they make and take home or finish the next week.
The children/ teens are in age- appropriate groups to help them process their grief through activities such as different craft activities. Some of the activities include making memory boxes, bead bracelets, making memory stones, using colored pipe cleaners to make flowers or animals. The older teens might work on making wind chimes or Japanese memory boxes.
These are just a few activities that help the children/teens to talk as they make crafts in memory of their loved ones. This allows them to have a voice and talk about their loved one — not as a counseling session or to take their grief away but rather a chance for them to express their feelings and thoughts as they work and talk together with others, that they might not otherwise do at home. Questions? Contact Dr. Dee Stern at 217-494-4747, chaplain at St. John’s Hospital, a Grief Therapist and LCPC.
Dec. 14 Cookie Walk, December 14, 2024, 8 a.m. to noon, Douglas Avenue United Methodist Church 34th Annual Holiday Cookie Walk on Saturday December14,2024 from 8:00 am-noon. This is your chance to buy yummy homemade cookies, candy, and treats. Get your holiday and family favorites at DAUMC, 801 S. Douglas Ave, Springfield, IL. Come early for the best selection. douglasavenue.org
Kids ages 7-14 Sign up for the two-player basketball tournament with the YMCA! Deadline Dec. 26th for the Dec. 28th event! https://operations.daxko.com/Online/5253/ProgramsV2/Search.mvc?keywords=2+ball
Dec. 30-31 UIS Soccer Camps for Kids! A great way to liven up holiday break from school is to enroll in half day or full day soccer camps at UIS for kids age 6 through age 14. Check out the details at the link here. Half day runs 9:00 a.m.- Noon and full day runs 9:00- 3:00 p.m. Dec. 30 & 31, 2024. Parenting & Baby Classes at HSHS St. John’s Hospital
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Additional upcoming events:
UIS Performing Arts Center: Upcoming Events at PAC- Junior Blues Hockey Games are back at the Nelson Center! Now through April 5, 2025 $10 for adults and $6 for kids under age 12 when purchased in advance. View schedule and buy tickets online: www.jrblues.com
- Kidzeum: Visitation and special event details on the Kidzeum website
- Lincoln Library (located at 7th and Capitol, Downtown) for more information, visit lincolnlibrary.info
- Hoogland Center for the Arts 420 S. Sixth Street, Springfield IL Reserve tickets online
- Illinois Symphony Orchestra Upcoming Events
- Springfield Park Districtâs Henson Robinson Zoo More on their website.
- Art classes, workshops and special events at the Springfield Area Art Association springfieldart.org
- Downtown Springfield Inc, Events downtownspringfield.org
- Toddler Tunes is a NEW group designed specifically for students aged 1-5 that are interested in music! Weekly classes at Hoogland Center for the Arts will encourage all aspects of music, movement, instrumentation, story-telling, dancing and singing. Classes meet on Thursday mornings starting at 10:00am. Students can sign up for all 4 quarters, or pick and choose. No previous experience is required to participate. Learn more and register here: https://www.hcfta.org/education/toddler-tunes
Have a community calendar event to submit? Send all details including a contact email or phone number to springfieldmoms.org@gmail.com
Subject Line: Community Calendar. Please allow up to 14 days for review and approval. We share events that fit the audience of our Springfield Moms readers.
Are you a bargain hunter? Don’t miss our fan favorite Neighborhood Garage Sale Guide full of subdivision and citywide sales in the Greater Springfield Area! Send us your neighborhood garage sale and church/community garage sale dates. Email springfieldmoms.org@gmail.com at least 14 days prior to your sale date to be added to our list.
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We also have a great list of area Day Trips.
