Holiday Fun in Springfield IL

• October 24, 2023
•      
• Mike Riefler

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

Click on the events for more details. 

(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)

11/17-12/22 Festive Fridays (select Fridays) at the Dana-Thomas House (HS)

11/22-12/20 Holiday Walk Evening Tours (Select Wednesdays) at the Dana-Thomas House (HW, HS)

11/24-12/25 Light Up the Park Thursdays-Sundays at Chatham Community Park (FF)

11/25-12/16 Holiday Crafts & Storytime (Saturdays only) at the Vachel Lindsay Home (HW, HS, CF, FF)

11/25-12/16 LRS Ice Rink by Sangamon CEO (Wednesdays & Saturdays) at Union Station (HW, FF)

11/25-12/23 Winter Nights at the Museum (Wednesdays & Saturdays) at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum (HW, HS, FF, PF)

11/29-12/20 Illinois Governor's Mansion Tours expanded for the Holiday Walks, Wednesdays & Saturdays (HW, HS)

12/2-12/20 Winter Holiday Floral Show at Washington Park Botanical Gardens

12/2-12/23 Johnnie Owens Live at the Holidays Walks (Saturdays) outside Buzz Bomb Brewing Company (HW, PF)

12/2-12/23 Holiday Wish List Saturday Shopping Days on Saturdays at Ad Astra Wine Bar & Market (SP)

12/7-12/10 Holiday Zoo Lights at Henson Robinson Zoo (FF)

12/7-12/21 Holiday Music with Amy & Tom (Thursdays) at It's All About Wine (PF, 21+)

12/8 Santa After Dark at The Wakery (21+)

12/8: The Lala's Burlesque Holiday Show at Danenberger Family Vineyards (PF, 21+)

12/8 An Evening with Emmanuel Di Villarosa at The Pharmacy Gallery and Arts Space (PF)

12/8 Christmas Candlelight Tour at Elijah Iles House (HS)

12/8-12/9 Meet Santa at The Wakery (FF, SC)

12/8-12/9 Candlelight Christmas at Clayville Historic Site (FF, HS)

12/8-12/10 A Message at Midnight at Lincoln Home National Historic Site (HS, PF)

12/8-12/10 Holiday Inn at The Hoogland Center for the Arts (PF)

12/9 Happy HoliGays at OUT on Second (HC)

12/9 Breakfast with Santa & Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre at the Kidzeum of Health and Science (HW, SC, FF)

12/9 Meet Santa & Mrs. Claus at SCHEELS (SC)

12/9 Holiday Fest: Japanese New Year at the Illinois State Museum (HW, FF, CF)

12/9 Holiday Fun with Abe & Mary Lincoln at the Springfield Visitor Center (HW, FF, HS)

12/9 Getting Crafty at the Holiday Walks at Buzz Bomb Brewing Company (HW, FF, CF)

12/9 Christmas at the Front at the Illinois State Military Museum (HS)

12/9 Mark Twain Holiday Tea at Edward's Place (HS)

12/9 Art Glass at Night at the Dana-Thomas House (HS)

12/9 Sip, Socialize & Paint: Winter Wonderland at B's Creative Studio (CF)

12/9 Unto Us a Child is Born at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (PF)

12/10 Holiday Extravaganza at the Illinois State Fairgrounds (SP, SC)

12/10 Caroling at the Carillon & Jingle Bells Spectacular at the Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon -Washington Park (FF, SC, PF)

12/10 North Pole Party at Springfield Kerasotes YMCA (SC, FF, CF)

12/11 Resin Ornaments Night with Dabble at 7th Street Cidery (CF)

12/12 Cirque Dreams Holidaze at UIS Performing Arts Center (PF)

12/14-12-23 Holiday Zoo Lights at Henson Robinson Zoo (FF)

12/15 Christmas Classic on the Grand Screen - It's A Wonderful Life at The Legacy Theatre (FF)

12/15 Holiday Pops in the Heartland at UIS Performing Arts Center (PF)

12/15 Festive Fridays: Holiday Entertainment Series at Ad Astra Wine Bar & Market (PF)

12/15-12/17 Dual Piano Christmas at Hoogland Center for the Arts (PF)

12/16 Winter Old Capitol Farmers Market at Union Station (HW, SP)

12/16 Wreaths Across America at Camp Butler Cemetery (HS)

12/16 3rd Annual Posada Mixer at Wild Rose (SP)

12/16 Holiday Fest: Las Posadas at the Illinois State Museum (HW, FF, CF)

12/16 Holiday Fun with Abe & Mary Lincoln at the Springfield Visitor Center (HW, FF, HS)

12/16 A Very Opera Christmas with Manny at The Wakery (PF)

12/16 Christmas Classic on the Grand Screen - White Christmas at the Legacy Theatre (FF)

12/16 Capital City Improv Presents HA HA Holiday Show at Hoogland Center for the Arts (PF)

12/16 1850's Carol Sing at First Presbyterian Church (HS)

12/16 Christmas Concert Spectacular at Third Presbyterian Church (PF)

12/17 Kid's Holiday Craft Workshop at Lincoln Memorial Gardens (FF, CF)

12/17 Treasures: Wright and Japan at the Dana-Thomas House (HS)

12/17 The Highwaymen Christmas Special at Danenberger Family Vineyards (PF, 21+)

12/17 Abbey Road's Christmas with the Beatles at UIS Performing Arts Center (PF, FF)

12/21 The Prophecy Show A Tribute of Trans Siberian Orchestra at UIS Performing Arts Center (PF)

12/2 Holiday Ice Jamz at the Nelson Center (FF)

12/22 Sinatra and Friends Christmas Show at Hoogland Center for the Arts (PF)

12/22 Festive Fridays: Holiday Entertainment Series at Ad Astra Wine Bar & Market (PF)

12/23 Holiday Fun with Abe & Mary Lincoln at the Springfield Visitor Center (HW, FF, HS)

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

12/31 New Year's Eve with Dale Jones at Donnie B's adjacent to Casey's Pub (21+)

12/31 New Years Eve with Lick Creek at Boondocks (21+)

12/31 EMO New Years Party with All American Throwbacks at Danenberger Family Vineyards (21+)

12/31 Ultimate NYE Celebration at the State House Inn (21+)

1/1 New Year's Day with Olaf at Skateland South (FF)

Be sure to look for Holly, the SMTD Holiday Bus throughout the season!

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---

11/2-11/4 The Thanksgiving Play at UIS Studio Theatre (PF)

11/3-11/4 Hobnob Holiday Market at the Illinois State Fairgrounds (SP)

11/11 Pop Up at Pasfield Holiday Showcase at The Pasfield House Inn (SP)

11/11 Straight No Chaser: Sleighin' It Tour at UIS Performing Arts Center (PF)

11/14 Paint Night with Dabble at 7th Street Cidery (CF)

11/18 Winter Old Capitol Farmers Market at Union Station (SP)

11/19 2nd Annual Sip N Shop at Danenberger Family Vineyards (SP)

11/24 Light up the Gables at the The Gables shopping center (SP, FF)

11/24 Christmas Blues with Cal and Jan at The Wakery (PF)

11/24-11/26 Holiday Zoo Lights at Henson Robinson Zoo (FF)

11/25 Illinois Local Holiday Market at the Illinois State Fairgrounds (SP)

11/25 Hop & Shop on Adams Street in Downtown Springfield (SP)

11/25 Holiday Fun with Abe & Mary Lincoln at the Springfield Visitor Center (HW, FF, HS)

11/25 Lighting of the Tree in Downtown Springfield (HW, FF)

11/25-11/26 Polar Express Pajama Party at The Legacy Theatre (FF)

11/26 Thanks for the Holidays at St John's Lutheran Church (PF)

12/1 Festive Fridays: Holiday Entertainment Series at Ad Astra Wine Bar & Market (PF)

12/1-12/2 Land of Lincoln Barbershop Chorus: It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year at the Hoogland Center for the Arts (PF)

12/1-12/3 2023 Holiday Craft Fair at Jubilee Farm (SP)

12/1-12/3 Illinois Product Holiday Market in Downtown Springfield (FF, SP)

12/1-12/3 Holiday Inn at The Hoogland Center for the Arts (PF)

12/2 Holiday Embroidery at Edward's Place (CF)

12/2 Fresh Evergreen Wreath Making Workshop at Washington Park Botanical Gardens (CF)

12/2 Santa at the Patch at Bomke's Patch (SC, FF)

12/2 Christmas Market at the Brinkerhoff Mansion (SP)

12/2 Holiday Fun with Abe & Mary Lincoln at the Springfield Visitor Center (HW, FF, HS)

12/2 Holiday Open House at Edward's Place (HS, FF, SC)

12/2 Illinois Vietnam Christmas Remembrance Ceremony at the Illinois Vietnam Veterans Memorial (HS)

12/2 Witches Yule Ball at Lake Springfield Beach House (SP)

12/2 Santa at Clayville Historic Site (SC, HS, FF)

12/2 Art Glass at Night at the Dana-Thomas House (HS)

12/2 The Nutcracker by Copper Coin Ballet Company at UIS Performing Arts Center (PF)

12/2 Holiday Lights Parade in Downtown Springfield (HW, SC, FF)

12/2 Christmas with the King: A Christmas Elvis Spectacular at Danenberger Family Vineyards (PF, 21+)

12/2-12/3 The Nutcracker Ballet by SYPG at SHG Auditorium (PF)

12/3 First Sunday Midwest Bazaar at the Illinois State Fairgrounds (SP)

12/3 Stained Glass Christmas Tree Class at B's Creative Studio (CF)

12/5 Paint Night With Dabble at 7th Street Cidery (CF)