Holidays in Springfield | Springfield, Illinois | Visit Springfield

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


Holidays mean that it is also time to shop! Consider browsing through the 2022 Illinois Made Holiday Gift Guide for ideas with a local flare!  Three local partners were selected this year for the guide. Sangamon Reclaimed, Cocoa Blue Chocolates, and Danenberger Family Vineyards, congrats!


Click on the event for more details. 

(SP-Shopping Event, FF-Family Fun, PF-Performance/Concert, SC-Santa Claus Appearance, CF-Holiday Crafts, HS-Historic)




For more events in Springfield throughout the year click here


-----------Past Events-----------


11/11-11/12: Hobnob Holiday Market at the Illinois State Fairgrounds (SP)


11/11: Baby Shark Live! The Christmas Show at UIS Performing Arts Center (FF, PF)


11/15: Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis at UIS Performing Arts Center (PF)


11/18-11/20: Holiday Market at Lincoln Memorial Gardens (SP)


11/19: Christmas at the Brinkerhoff Mansion (SP)


11/19, 11/20, & 11/23: Eating Well and Giving Thanks: A History of the American Thanksgiving at Lincoln Home National Historic Site (HS)


11/23: Million Dollar Quartet Christmas at UIS Performing Arts Center (PF)


11/25: Light Up the Gables at The Gables shopping center (SP, SC, FF)


11/26: Holiday Fest: Home for the Holidays at Illinois State Museum (FF, CF)


11/26: Illinois Local Holiday Market at the Illinois State Fairgrounds (SP)


11/26: Memorial Holiday Fest & Tree Lighting Downtown Springfield (FF)


11/26: Holiday Fun with Abe and Mary Lincoln at the Springfield Visitors Center (FF, HS)


11/26-11/27: Polar Express Pajama Party at the Legacy Theatre (FF)


11/26: John Denver's Rocky Mountain Christmas at the Hoogland Center for the Arts (PF)


11/27: Spirit of Christmas - A Season of Compassion and Hope at St. John's Lutheran Church (PF)


11/30: Holiday Fest: Japanese New Year at Illinois State Museum (FF, CF)


12/1: Tales From The Vault: Season's Greetings Illinois Past at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (HS)


12/2-12/3: Land of Lincoln Barbershop Chorus presents: It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year at the Hoogland Center for the Arts (PF)


12/2-12/4: Illinois Product Holiday Market at the Y Block Downtown Springfield (SP)


12/2-12/4: Miracle on 34th Street at the Hoogland Center for the Arts (PF)


12/3: Santa at Clayville Historic Site (SC, FF)


12/3: Christmas Remembrance Ceremony at the Illinois Vietnam Veterans Memorial


12/3: Holiday Fest: Japanese New Year at Illinois State Museum (FF, CF)


12/3: Meet St. Nicholas, The real Santa at The Cathedral Church of Saint Paul (FF, SC)


12/3: Fresh Evergreen Wreath Making Workshop at Washington Park Botanical Gardens (CF)


12/3: Meet Santa & Mrs. Claus at Scheels (SC)


12/3: Obed's Kringle Christmas Market outside Obed & Isaac's Microbrewery & Eatery (SP)


12/3: Holiday Open House at Edward's Place (HS, SC)


12/3: Holiday Fun with Abe and Mary Lincoln at the Springfield Visitors Center (FF, HS)


12/3: Springfield Jaycee's Holiday Lights Parade Downtown Springfield (FF)


12/3: Candlelight Christmas at Clayville Historic Site (HS, FF)


12/3: DIY Holiday Card Printing Workshop at the Kidzeum of Health and Science (FF, CF)


12/3-12/4:Songs of Home: Folk Songs & Holiday Tunes of Lincoln’s America at Lincoln Home National Historic Site (HS, FF)


12/4: First Sunday Midwest Bazaar at the Illinois State Fairgrounds (SP)


12/4: Kid's Holiday Craft Workshop at Lincoln Memorial Garden (CF, FF)


12/7: Holiday Fest: Hanukkah at Illinois State Museum (FF, CF)


12/7: Advent Lessons & Carols at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (PF)


11/28-12/10: Holiday Craft Fair at Jubilee Farms (CF, SP)

12/8, 12/9 &12/11: A Message at Midnight at Lincoln Home National Historic Site (HS, PF)


12/9-12/10: Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair at Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation (SP)


12/9-12/11: Miracle on 34th Street at the Hoogland Center for the Arts (PF)


12/10: 12 Days of Soul Food Christmas Book Signing at the Springfield & Central IL African American History Museum (FF)


12/10: Winter Center Piece Workshop at Washington Park Botanical Gardens (CF)


12/10-12/11: Springfield Ballet Company Presents The Nutcracker at UIS Performing Arts Center (PF, FF)


12/10: Christmas Candlelight Tour at Elijah Iles House (HS)


12/10: Holiday Fun with Abe and Mary Lincoln at the Springfield Visitors Center (FF, HS)


12/10: Candlelight Tour of Lincoln's Home at Lincoln Home National Historic Site (HS)


12/10: Holiday Fest: Land of the Sweets at Illinois State Museum (FF, CF)


12/10: A Visit from St. Nicholas: Edwards Place Holiday Tea at Edwards Place (HS)


12/10: 1850s Carol Sing at First Presbyterian Church (PF, HS)


12/10: The Nutcracker: Land of Sweets at SHG Auditorium (FF, PF)


12/10: Desserts with the Sugar Plum Fairy at Illinois State Museum (FF, CF)


12/11: Holiday Extravaganza at the Illinois State Fairgrounds (SP)


12/11: Annual Christmas Party at the Inn at 835


12/11: Jingle Bells Spectacular at Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon (FF, PF, SC)


12/14: Christmas with the Alley Cats at the Hoogland Center for the Arts (PF)


12/14: The Prophecy Show The Music of Trans Siberian Orchestra at the UIS Performing Arts Center (PF)


12/14: Holiday Fest: Las Posadas at Illinois State Museum (FF, CF)


11/26-12/17: Family Story Program at the Dana-Thomas House (FF)


11/26-12/17: Craft in the Carriage House at the Dana-Thomas House (FF, CF)


12/3-12/18: Snug Stoneys, Cozy Cards: Games in Wintertime Springfield at Lincoln Home National Historic Site (FF, HS)


12/16-12/18: Dual Piano Christmas at the Hoogland Center for the Arts  (PF)


12/16: Illinois Symphony Orchestra Holiday Pops in the Heartland at UIS Performing Arts Center (PF)


12/16: It's a Wonderful Life at The Legacy Theatre (FF)


12/16: Christmas with Johnnie Owens at Buzz Bomb Brewing Company (PF)


12/17: The Knight Family Christmas Show at the Hoogland Center for the Arts (PF)


12/17: 19th Century Christmas Traditions at Lincoln Home National Historic Site (HS)


12/17: Holiday Fun with Abe and Mary Lincoln at the Springfield Visitors Center (FF, HS)


12/17: Holiday Fest: Las Posadas at Illinois State Museum (FF, CF)


12/17: It Happened on 5th Avenue at The Legacy Theatre (FF)


12/17: Wreaths Across America at Camp Butler Cemetery 


12/18: Deriving Good: A Christmas Carol at Lincoln Home National Historic Site (HS)


12/18: The 5th Annual Ha Ha Holiday Show at the Hoogland Center for the Arts (PF)


11/16-12/21: Luminary Nights at the Dana Thomas House (HS)


11/23-12/21: LRS Ice Rink by Sangamon CEO on the Old State Capitol Lawn (FF)


11/26-12/21: Old Capitol Holiday Walks various locations in Downtown Springfield (SP, FF, SC, PF)


11/26-12/21: Santa in Downtown Springfield at the Old State Capitol Plaza (SC, FF)


12/3-12/21: Annual Winter Holiday Floral Show at the Washington Park Botanical Gardens (FF)


12/7-12/21: What's on Lincoln's Christmas List? at the Springfield Visitor Center (HS)


12/21: Holiday Fest: Holiday Mash Up at Illinois State Museum (FF, CF)


11/25-12/25: Light up the Park at Chatham Community Park (FF)


12/22: Nutty Nutcracker at UIS Performing Arts Center (PF)


12/23: Christmas Cabaret at The Grant Conservatory of Music and Dance (PF)


12/26: Carols at Noon at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (PF)


12/28: STEAMy Winter at Illinois State Museum (FF)


11/25-12/30: Holiday Zoo Lights at Henson Robinson Zoo (FF)


12/31: Noon Year's Eve Celebration at the Kidzeum of Health and Science (FF)


12/31: First Night Springfield in Downtown Springfield (FF, PF)