What’s Happening

You’ll find date-specific and ongoing events on this page. Pro-tip! Follow us on facebook and instagram for timely event reminders and additional events.

It’s pumpkin patch season! Don’t miss our popular Pumpkin Patch guide for locations all around Central Illinois!

We also have a great list of area Day Trips for fall adventures!

Parenting & Baby Classes at HSHS St. John’s Hospital	Dates: See Full Schedule Online	Time	Link
The Birth Circle	10/30, 11/20	6-7:30 pm	Sign Up:
First Steps Mother and Baby Breastfeeding Support Group	Every Wednesday	12 – 1:30 pm	Sign Up:
Preparing for Childbirth	10/15, 11/11	4:30 PM	Sign Up:
Baby Basics (in person)	10/7, 11/4	6 – 8 PM	Sign Up:
Baby Basics (virtual)	10/21, 11/25	11 am – 1 pm	Sign Up:
Breastfeeding and Your Baby	10/10, 11/18	6 – 8 PM	Sign Up:
Breastfeeding and Your Baby (Virtual)	10/22, 11/26	11 am- 1 pm	Sign Up:
Daddy Boot Camp	10/24	6 – 8 pm	Sign Up:
All About Car Seats	10/22	6 – 7:30 pm	Sign Up:
Women and Infants Tours	10/8, 11/4, 11/7, 11/12, 11/20	5 – 6 pm	Sign Up:
The Joy of Grandparenting	9/12;	5:30 PM	Sign Up:

Kidzeum: Sensory Friendly Visits Every first Sunday morning of the month from 9:00-11:00 a.m, we are turning down our lights and noises to make the museum more comfortable for visitors with sensory differences so they can explore and discover the galleries at their own pace. Headphones are available for loan at the Admissions Desk.

Nov 1 and Nov. 2 JUNKIN MARKET DAYS FALL MARKET: What do we love about Fall?  It’s sweater weather, drinking pumpkin lattes, smelling holiday candles, and attending the JUNKIN’ MARKET DAYS FALL MARKET at the Orr Building. The event features local small business owners as well as businesses from the surrounding states selling seasonal décor, boutique clothes, jewelry, home décor, candles, gourmet treats and much more! Join us on November 1-2 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Orr Building in Springfield on Friday from 4-7 pm and Saturday from 9-4 pm. Show this coupon for a special Buy One/Get One Admission offer!  Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for a sneak peek of the products awaiting you. For more info, visit www.junkinmarketdays.com. Let the Fall shopping begin! 

Nov. 9 Girls on the Run 5K Event 9:00 am – Fun activities for the whole family! 10:00 am – 5K begins

Early Bird Registration thru 10/26: $30 adult | $20 12 & under, Standard Registration from 10/27 – 11/8: $35 adult | $25 12 & under. This fun, non-competitive 5K is the culminating event of our Girls on the Run program! Join us on Saturday, November 9 at LLCC as nearly 300 girls line up at the starting line and demonstrate all that they have learned this season. Family, friends, and community members of all ages are invited! Don’t miss this exciting day where we come together to celebrate everything our girls have achieved.  

Even if running isn’t for you, we invite you to bring the whole family to enjoy our fun pre-5K activities like temporary tattoos, colored hair spray, our booth sponsors, music, food, and more!Visit our website to register and to find more information www.gotrcentralillinois.org/5k or contact Darian Brown at darian@GOTRcentralillinois.org or 217-726-9808 with questions. 

Nov. 12, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Little Lincoln’s Fireside Tales: Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Are there books you read with your kids that you loved as a child? Join the ALPLM’s Education Team on Tuesday, November 12th at 10:00 AM at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library as we share stories and activities that highlight classic books – old and new! This is a free program, but advance registration is required.

Nov. 16, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Little Lincoln’s Fireside Tales: Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Join us as we partner with the Springfield Art Association for this sculpting class for kids. We will take a brief look at the sculptures on display in the Richard Hunt exhibit and then staff from the SAA will give a lesson on sculpture and you will get to try your hand at creating your own sculpture! This program has limited seats so reserve yours soon! The project will be based on Hunt’s Sculptures using air dry clay to create his shapes and forms. Each participant will have a marble base with an armature, where you will build from with the air-dry clay.

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 “Y Block,” located north of the Governor’s 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:

For a complete list of participating vendors, visit www.illinoisproductholidaymarket.com or check out the Illinois ProductFacebook page and @illinoisproducts on Instagram.

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 Nutcracker’s 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.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. 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. 31 & 31, 2024.

You can register online here.

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 District’s 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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