Calendar

GRIEFSHARE grief recovery and support group will meet at the Parish Hall at Trinity Lutheran School, 515 S. MacArthur Blvd., Springfield. The fall session will begin on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm and meets weekly for 13 weeks. GriefShare features nationally recognized experts on grief recovery topics including "Is This Normal?," "The Challenges of Grief," "Grief and Your Relationships," "Why," and "Guilt and Anger." Thanks to a grant from Thrivent Financial, the workbook fees for this session will be waived.
This event is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required to ensure there are enough materials for everyone.
For more information or to pre-register, please call 217.899.9418 or register at trinitygriefshare@yahoo.com.

Join us for a month-long celebration of new vegan dishes all over Springfield! Businesses across the area will showcase exciting special vegan menu items, giving everyone the opportunity to explore creative plant-based dishes crafted by talented local chefs.

How It Works:
- Visit participating restaurants throughout Springfield
- Try their exclusive vegan offerings.
- Share your experience—vote, comment, post photos of your favorite meals, and tag us at @veganchefchallengeMW
This event is open to everyone—not just vegans! It’s about bringing our community together to celebrate incredible food and support Springfield chefs.

Get Involved:
Looking for ways to connect? Volunteer with us! We’re seeking passionate individuals to help with outreach, event promotion, and community building throughout the month. It's a great way to meet like-minded people and make a difference! Volunteer using this link: TinyURL.com/VOLVCC
Join us in making Springfield an even more inclusive, vibrant, and compassionate community.
For details on participating businesses, menus, sponsorship opportunities, and more, visit our website at veganchefchallenge.org/Springfield

Supporters of NPR Illinois and Team Lincoln – the official membership program of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum – invite you to join award-winning journalist and author Lois Romano for a conversation with NPR Illinois’ Randy Eccles about Romano's latest book, An Inconvenient Widow: The Torment, Trial, and Triumph of Mary Todd Lincoln.

Drawing on years of research, Romano and Eccles will focus on her conclusions about Mary Lincoln’s life, the many tragedies she lived through and the toll that took on her mental health. She’ll also discuss the laws that allowed Mary Lincoln’s son, Robert, to have her committed to an asylum for several months in 1875.

This special program will happen on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. in Union Theater at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. This program is free to attend but advance registration is required.

A book signing with Lois Romano will follow the discussion. You’ll have an opportunity to purchase her book and have it signed. You may also purchase a book in advance of the program when you register online, and it will be held for you.

Join us for a month-long celebration of new vegan dishes all over Springfield! Businesses across the area will showcase exciting special vegan menu items, giving everyone the opportunity to explore creative plant-based dishes crafted by talented local chefs.

How It Works:
- Visit participating restaurants throughout Springfield
- Try their exclusive vegan offerings.
- Share your experience—vote, comment, post photos of your favorite meals, and tag us at @veganchefchallengeMW
This event is open to everyone—not just vegans! It’s about bringing our community together to celebrate incredible food and support Springfield chefs.

Get Involved:
Looking for ways to connect? Volunteer with us! We’re seeking passionate individuals to help with outreach, event promotion, and community building throughout the month. It's a great way to meet like-minded people and make a difference! Volunteer using this link: TinyURL.com/VOLVCC
Join us in making Springfield an even more inclusive, vibrant, and compassionate community.
For details on participating businesses, menus, sponsorship opportunities, and more, visit our website at veganchefchallenge.org/Springfield

Art @ the Market provides a free weekly, make-it, take-it art/craft activity to the public each week. Our activity booth will be at the Bloomington Farmers' Market (near the intersection of Jefferson and Center Streets). This activity is for youth to the young-at-heart adult. Our volunteers will be there to help with the activity which will take about 15 minutes. Drop by during the scheduled time to participate. If the weather is poor, the activity will be held in the lobby just outside our gallery in the Monroe Center.

Prairie Cycle Club invites local cyclists to its Fall Metric Century Ride on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Lake of the Woods in Mahomet, Illinois. Riders may choose from a 10-mile no-drop group ride, a 35-mile route, or a 62-mile metric century route. Route maps, RideWithGPS navigation, a rest stop with snacks and water, SAG vehicle support, and Prairie Cycle Club volunteers will be provided. PCC members ride at no additional cost. Registration includes PCC membership for new members.

Details and registration: https://prairiecycleclub.org/metric-century-ride-2026-details/

Join us for a month-long celebration of new vegan dishes all over Springfield! Businesses across the area will showcase exciting special vegan menu items, giving everyone the opportunity to explore creative plant-based dishes crafted by talented local chefs.

How It Works:
- Visit participating restaurants throughout Springfield
- Try their exclusive vegan offerings.
- Share your experience—vote, comment, post photos of your favorite meals, and tag us at @veganchefchallengeMW
This event is open to everyone—not just vegans! It’s about bringing our community together to celebrate incredible food and support Springfield chefs.

Get Involved:
Looking for ways to connect? Volunteer with us! We’re seeking passionate individuals to help with outreach, event promotion, and community building throughout the month. It's a great way to meet like-minded people and make a difference! Volunteer using this link: TinyURL.com/VOLVCC
Join us in making Springfield an even more inclusive, vibrant, and compassionate community.
For details on participating businesses, menus, sponsorship opportunities, and more, visit our website at veganchefchallenge.org/Springfield

The fall artisan and antique market is back! This beloved fall market will be held at the Brinkerhoff Mansion and feature food, handmade arts and crafts, boutiques, live music, and cottage bakers! Stop by with the whole family, and even your pets!

The Annual Gem, Mineral, Fossil and Jewelry Show will be held October 3 and 4, 2026 and will be in the Orr Building at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. The theme for this year's show is "Minerals Across America".
There will be dealers, demonstrators, exhibits, kid's activities (fossil dig, spin and win, touch and feel, egg carton collection), silent auction, Springfield Maker Space, flint knapping, geode cracking, concessions, and much more.
Times are 10 - 6 on Saturday and 10 - 5 on Sunday

You are invited to join us in celebrating the end of our 18th season and learn about what is happening at Refuge Ranch!

Live music by The Juniors
Cake walk, starts on the half hour, 12:30-4:30pm
Silent auction 12-4pm

Food trucks 12pm-5pm:
-Cheesed Out
-The Daily Wrap
-Brew 66
-Corner Cup Ice Cream
-Blessings and More Bakery
-Clark's Kettle Corn

Free activities for kids:
-Airbrush tattoos sponsored by Black Cat Paints and Twists
-Pumpkin painting (while supplies last)
-Bounce house, sponsored by BounceTag and Hope Church
-Horse painting 12-4:30pm
-Animal meet and greet (see our new animal enclosures!)
-Balloon animals
-Fishing contest 12-4pm
-Horse rides (12:30-3pm)
-Camel rides by Ships of the Prairie