Holiday Fun in Springfield IL

December 16, 2025
Mike Riefler

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The “Most Wonderful Time of the Year” is here & Springfield has so many events to celebrate the holiday season!

Click on the events for more details.

(Please remember that bad weather can cause events to be canceled or rescheduled. Check the venue's website/social media pages before attending)

(HW-Old Capitol Holiday Walk Event, SP-Shopping Event, FF-Family Fun, PF-Performance/Concert, SC-Santa Claus Appearance, CF-Holiday Crafts, HS-Historic, 21+-Adults Only)

11/14-12/31 Wintree Wonderland at White Oaks Mall (FF)

12/31 Noon Year's Eve Party at The Kidzeum of Health & Science (FF)

12/31 Skating at Union Square Park (FF)

12/31 New Year's Eve with Lick Creek at Boondocks (21+)

12/31 First Night Springfield at The Hoogland Center for the Arts/Downtown Springfield (FF, PF)

12/31 New Year's Eve Masquerade Party at 5th Street Gem (21+)

12/31 NYE Party at Motorhead's (21+)

1/1 First Day Hike at Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site

1/2 Festive Fridays at the Dana-Thomas House (HS)

1/2 New Year's Dance Party at Erin's Pavilion (FF)

1/2-1/3 Freeze Fest at the Illinois State Museum (FF)

1/3 Winter Forest Therapy at Lincoln Memorial Gardens

1/3-1/4 Illinois Governor's Mansion Holiday Tours (HS)

For more events in Springfield throughout the year click here

(Remember to keep checking back with us as the event list is updated throughout the season!)

Looking for a place to rest after all this Holiday fun? Check out our Hotel section!

---Past Events---

11/7-11/8 Hobnob Holiday Market at the Illinois State Fairgrounds (SP)

11/8 Holiday Market and Sweet Shop at the Springfield Ceramics & Crafts Club (SP)

11/9 Fall Ladies Night at SCHEELS (SP)

11/14 Santa's Grand Arrival at White Oaks Mall (FF, SC)

11/14 Winter Wonderland Launch at The Railyard

11/14-11/21 Happy Holiday Trees Exhibit at the M.G. Nelson Family Gallery

11/21 Holiday Movie Night at The Railyard (FF)

11/22 Winter Old Capitol Farmer's Market at Union Station (SP)

11/22 Mini Explorer's Club: Story Time Trail with the Gingerbread Man at the Illinois State Museum (FF)

11/22 Local First Holiday Market at Pole Barn Chic (SP, SC)

11/22-11/23 Kringle Market at Vinegar Hill Mall (SP)

11/23 Holiday Extravaganza at the Illinois State Fairgrounds (FF, SC, SP)

11/23 Pet Photos with Santa at White Oaks Mall (SC)

11/28-11/30 Holiday Zoo Lights at Henson Robinson Zoo (FF)

11/28-11/30 Light up the Park at Chatham Community Park (FF)

11/28 Santa's Workshop 2025 at Studio on 6th (FF, CF)

11/28 Light up The Gables (FF, SC, SP)

11/28 Festive Fridays at the Dana-Thomas House (HS)

11/29 Old Capitol Holiday Walks in Downtown Springfield

11/29 Springfield Holiday Historic Homes Tours at the Illinois Governor's Mansion (HS)

11/29 Santa Saturdays at the Old State Capitol (FF, SC)

11/29 Illinois Local Holiday Market at the Illinois State Fairgrounds (SP, SC, FF)

11/29 Small Business Saturday Boutique Drive at Various Locations (SP)

11/29 Cocoa with Clara & Friends a Wild Rose (SP, FF, CF)

11/29 Downtown Springfield Tree Lighting (FF, SC)

11/29-11/30 Skating at Union Square Park (FF)

11/30 Illinois Governor's Mansion: Holiday Tours (HS)

11/30 Stained Glass Christmas Beanie at B's Creative Studio (CF)

12/3 Skating at Union Square Park (FF)

12/3 Downtown Springfield Tree Lighting - *NEW DATE* (FF)

12/3 Old Capitol Holiday Walks in Downtown Springfield

12/4 "Holidays at Lincoln Home" Program at Edward's Place (HS)

12/3 & 12/7 Illinois Governor's Mansion: Holiday Tours (HS)

12/4-12/7 Holiday Zoo Lights at Henson Robinson Zoo (FF)

12/4-12/7 Light up the Park at Chatham Community Park (FF)

12/5-12/7 Illinois Product Holiday Market in Union Station *NEW LOCATION* (SP, FF)

12/5-12/7 Copper Coin Ballet Company: The Nutcracker at The Legacy Theatre (PF)

12/5 Holiday Movie Night at The Railyard on Route 66 (FF)

12/5 Festive Fridays at the Dana-Thomas House (HS)

12/5 & 12/7 Land of Lincoln Barbershop Chorus It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year at the Hoogland Center for the Arts (PF)

12/6 Old Capitol Holiday Walks in Downtown Springfield

12/6 Fresh Evergreen Wreath Making Workshop at Washington Park Botanical Gardens (CF) (Sold Out)

12/6 Christmas at the Front at the Illinois State Military Museum (HS)

12/6 Santa Saturdays at the Old State Capitol (FF, SC)

12/6 Springfield Holiday Historic Homes Tours at Governor's Mansion, Dana-Thomas House, Vachel Lindsay Home, & Elijah Iles House (HS)

12/6 Holiday Open House at Edwards Place (FF, HS, SC)

12/6 Christmas Market at the Brinkerhoff Mansion (SP)

12/6 Happy HoliGays at OUT on Second (SP)

12/6 Holiday Walk Nights at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum (FF, HS)

12/6 Holiday Lights Parade in Downtown Springfield (FF)

12/6-12/7 SYPG presents The Nutcracker at SHG Auditorium (PF)

12/6-12/7 Skating at Union Square Park (FF)

12/11 Thursday Evening Holiday Tours at the Dana-Thomas House (HS)

12/11 Holiday Music with Elvis Himselvis & Tom Irwin at It's All About Wine (PF, 21+)

12/10 & 12/14 Illinois Governor's Mansion: Holiday Tours (HS) (Sold Out)

12/11-12/13 Holiday Zoo Lights at Henson Robinson Zoo (FF)

12/11-12/14 Light up the Park at Chatham Community Park (FF)

12/12 Candlelight Tour at Lincoln Home National Historic Site (HS)

12/12 Christmas Candlelight Tour at Elijah Iles House (HS)

12/12 Festive Fridays at the Dana-Thomas House (HS)

12/12 12 Days of Christmas Dinner at The Railyard on Route 66 (CANCELED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER)

12/12-12/13 Candlelight Christmas at Clayville (FF, HS) (CANCELED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER)

12/12-12/13 A Message at Midnight at Lincoln Home National Historic Site (HS, PF)

12/12-12/14 Bows & Bells Winter Fair at SCHEELS Sports Park (SP)

12/13 Old Capitol Holiday Walks in Downtown Springfield

12/13 Breakfast with Santa at the Kidzeum (FF, SC)

12/13 SCHEELS Holiday LEGO Build Event (FF)

12/13 Gift of the Magi Holiday Tea the Edwards Place (HS) (Sold Out)

12/13 Santa Saturdays at the Old State Capitol (FF, SC)

12/13 Springfield Holiday Homes Tours at the Governor's Mansion, Dana-Thomas House, Vachel Lindsay Home, & Elijah Iles House (HS)

12/13 Holiday Ice Jamz at the Nelson Center Ice Rink (FF) (CANCELED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER)

12/13 Heart of Downtown Holiday Market at the Old State Capitol (SP, SC, FF) (CANCELED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER)

12/13 Evergreen Centerpiece Class at Creative Reuse Market at White Oaks Mall (CF)

12/13 Capital City Improve Ha Ha Holiday Show at Hoogland Center for the Arts (PF) (CANCELED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER)

12/13-12/14 Skating at Union Square Park (FF) (CANCELED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER)

12/14 Kids Holiday Craft Workshop at Lincoln Memorial Gardens (FF, CF) (CANCELED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER)

12/14 Caroling at the Carillon at the Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon (FF) (CANCELED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER)

12/14 Holiday Pops in the Heartland at the Illinois State Library (PF)

12/17 Skating at Union Square Park (FF)

12/17 Holiday Walk Nights at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum (PF, HS, FF) *RESCHEDULE FROM 12/13*

12/17 Old Capitol Holiday Walks in Downtown Springfield

12/18 Thursday Evening Holiday Tours at the Dana-Thomas House (HS)

12/18 Holiday Music with Elvis Himselvis & Tom Irwin at It's All About Wine (PF, 21+)

12/6-12/21 Winter Holiday Floral Show at the Washington Park Botanical Gardens (FF)

12/17 & 12/21 Illinois Governor's Mansion: Holiday Tours (HS) (SOLD OUT)

12/20-12/21 Holiday Zoo Lights at Henson Robinson Zoo (FF)

12/18-12/21 Light up the Park at Chatham Community Park (FF)

12/19-12/21 Dual Piano Christmas at The Hoogland Center for the Arts (PF) (SOLD OUT)

12/19 Festive Fridays at the Dana-Thomas House (HS)

12/19 Happy Hollowdays - The Deep Hollow Holiday Show at DFV (PF, 21+) *NEW DATE*

12/19 Christmas Classic on the Grand Screen - It's A Wonderful Life at The Legacy Theatre

12/19 Ugly Sweater Bash at The Railyard on Route 66

12/20 Winter Old Capitol Farmer's Market (SP)

12/20 Old Capitol Holiday Walks in Downtown Springfield

12/20 Springfield Holiday Historic Homes Tours at the Governor's Mansion, Dana-Thomas House, & Vachel Lindsay Home (HS)

12/20 Santa Saturdays at the Old State Capitol (FF, SC)

12/20 A Message at Midnight at Lincoln Home National Historic Site (PF, HS) *NEW DATE*

12/20 Tour of Downtown Food & Drink Crawl in Downtown Springfield *NEW DATE*

12/20 Cookies & Cocoa Crawl at The Railyard *NEW DATE*

12/20 Holiday Walk Nights at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum (FF, PF, HS)

12/20 1850's Carol Sing at First Presbyterian Church (HS)

12/20 Capital City Improv Ha Ha Holiday Show at The Hoogland Center for the Arts (PF) *NEW DATE*

12/20 Christmas Classic on the Grand Screen - White Christmas at The Legacy Theatre

12/20-12/21 Skating at Union Square Park (FF)

12/22 Stella Cole in Concert at The Hoogland Center for the Arts (Sold Out)

12/22 Holiday Centerpiece Floral Class at Bloom Wine Bar and Florals (21+, CF)

12/22-12/23 Holiday Zoo Lights at Henson Robinson Zoo (FF) *NEW DATES ADDED*

12/26 Festive Fridays at the Dana-Thomas House (HS)

12/26-12/28 Holiday Zoo Lights at Henson Robinson Zoo (FF) *NEW DATES ADDED*

12/27-12/28 Skating at Union Square Park (FF)

12/27 Stained Glass Christmas Night Lights at B's Creative Studio (CF)