Calendar

Moana - the Disney classic musical of an adventurous teenager who sails out on a daring mission to save her people. Brought to Theatre in the Park’s stage starring students of Studio on the Square's Music Theatre program. www.studioonthesquare.com This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.

Moana - the Disney classic musical of an adventurous teenager who sails out on a daring mission to save her people. Brought to Theatre in the Park’s stage starring students of Studio on the Square's Music Theatre program. www.studioonthesquare.com This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.

Join us for a thought-provoking conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and creator of The 1619 Project, Nikole Hannah-Jones, as she explores Juneteenth and the enduring legacy of slavery in America.

This special event will explore commonly held myths about American freedom and examine the ongoing struggle for racial justice and equity.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from one of the leading voices in American journalism on Tuesday, May 17 in Union Theater at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. The program will begin at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free, but advance registration is required.

This special evening is a community collaboration between Springfield’s annual Juneteenth Celebration, the University of Illinois-Springfield Center for Lincoln Studies, and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Nikole Hannah-Jones has spent her career investigating racial inequality and injustice, and her reporting has earned her the MacArthur Fellowship, known as the “Genius Grant,” a Peabody Award, two George Polk Awards and the National Magazine Award three times. She is the host and an executive producer of the 1619 Project Hulu docuseries, which won the 2024 Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series.

This Pride Month, join us at Lincoln Library for a free walking tour of historic LGBTQ+ sites in Downtown Springfield. From Ethel Mars to Smokey’s Den to The Prairie Flame to PrideFest, we have a lot to be proud of. Come see Springfield through rainbow-colored glasses!

Join us for a free, family-friendly outdoor concert in front of the Illinois Governor’s Mansion. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and picnics—we’ll provide the vibes! There will also be food & drink for purchase.

We are excited that Levitt AMP Springfield is on the schedule tonight as part of Juneteenth Inc. – Springfield’s 8-day celebration!

Headliner: The Rumble ft. Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr. –
New Orleans Funk
The Rumble, fronted by Big Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr. of the Young Eagles Black Masking Indian tribe, the band seamlessly blends past, present, and future elements of New Orleans culture into their sound. The Rumble features an exceptional lineup of musicians: Aurélien Barnes on trumpet/percussion, José Maize Jr. on trombone, TJ Norris on bass, Ari Teitel on guitar, Andriu Yanovski on keys, and Trenton O’Neal on drums. Each member brings unique influences ranging from funk to hiphop to brass band, gospel, jazz, and classical.

Event Schedule:
• 6:00 PM – Lawn opens (open seating — don’t forget your chairs!)
• 6:30 PM – Welcome, National Anthems, and Kid’s Kickoff
• 7:00 PM – Opening Act (to be announced soon!)
• 8:00 PM – The Rumble ft. Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr. takes the stage

Come early, get comfy, and soak in the summer evening with incredible live music and community energy!

Moccasin Creek Festival is an annual 4-day music festival which takes place at beautiful Lake Sara just west of Effingham, Illinois. The lake was created in the 1950's from five creeks that run through the basin. One of those creeks was named Moccasin Creek by a surveyor named Griffin Tipsword in the 1850's, because of moccasin tracks he found on the banks.

The founder of Moccasin Creek Festival is Bill (Poss) Passalacqua, an Effingham native who has built his life around writing, performing and promoting music. The Passalacqua family has a rich musical history, and Bill has three brothers, all of whom are musicians. Each of them have followed in father Larry's musical footsteps. Folk, bluegrass, alt country, roots rock, and blues - "Americana" music. This is what MCF is all about - in the shade of a hickory grove, next to a lake, at the onset of summer.

Food and beverages sold on site. Kids shows/activities. Camping is next door to the festival venue, as well as cabins for rent. There is a free beach and disc golf course within walking distance and a golf course just up the road. Boats, canoes and kayaks for rent. Effingham is only 5 miles away, and has thousands of hotel rooms available, as well as a plethora of restaurants catering to almost any taste.

The Nature of Freedom: A literary commemoration of Juneteenth is a readers theater piece; a style of theater in which the actors present the script without costumes, scenery, or special lighting. Actors use only scripts and vocal expression to help the audience understand and follow the story. Sources are cited throughout the 30-minute act and include: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Langston Hughes, Harriet Tubman, Dr. Maya Angelou, Robert Smalls, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Henry Bibb. The play is directed by Reggie Guyton, with script by Ed MacMurdo.

There are multiple opportunities for you to experience this inspiring production.

Thursday, June 12, at 12:00 p.m.
Friday, June 13, at 12:00 p.m.
Wednesday, June 18, at 12:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 19, at 12:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 19, at 6:30 p.m.
The daytime performances are included with your regular museum admission.

The evening event is free, but does require advance ticketing.

The American Heart Association’s Springfield Heart and Stroke Walk
Sunday, June 22, 2025
Erin’s Pavilion at Southwind Park
Free event
1 pm Family activities and check-in
1:30pm Walk Kicks off
1 or 2 mile fun walk, with balloon animals for kids, fruit bar, EMT’s showing CPR, and more!

Tickets are now on sale for the Illinois Stewardship Alliance’s Summer Solstice Celebration fundraiser and farm-to-table dinner, celebrating more than 50-years of the non-profit’s work across the state. The Solstice Celebration will be held on Sunday, June 22nd from 5pm to 8pm at Indian Creek Farmstead located in Petersburg. The event will celebrate local food and will feature an authentic farm-to-table dinner, live music, a silent auction, and fellowship amongst friends.

A fresh new menu will be crafted by long-term local food advocate and Alliance friend, Chef Joe Standley of Proud Richard’s restaurant in Jacksonville. Standley has worked in the culinary industry for over a decade and has developed his craft while working for outstanding Chicago eateries including Goose Island, Mindy’s Hot Chocolate and the Purple Pig.

Chef Standley will add a new twist to this year’s menu by tackling a 100-mile challenge in sourcing ingredients for this farm-to-table meal from Illinois farms within 100 miles of Petersburg. It will be a one-of-a-kind meal that exemplifies the non-profit’s work to grow a vibrant local food system.

This event builds on the 16-year tradition established by the former Harvest Celebration previously held in September. In the spirit of promoting local food, proceeds from this premiere fundraiser support the Alliance’s mission to bring farmers, eaters, and food system leaders together to shape a stronger and more resilient local food and farm system.

The Illinois Stewardship Alliance is the only statewide organization that works solely on food and farm policy and advocacy. The organization continues to build its 50 year legacy of change-making by expanding its statewide membership base.

Join the ALPLM’s Education Team on Tuesday, June 24th at 10:00 AM at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library as we share stories and activities as we will celebrate the special bond of family where kids will learn about the importance of family connections, love, and teamwork.

This is a free program, but advance registration is required.