- Saturdays: 2 pm - 5 pm
- Wednesdays: 5 pm - 8 pm
- Give your list to Santa while Mrs. Claus hands out candy canes
- While you wait, facepainting by Our Vibrant Community & children’s crafts
Santa Mailbox
- Located at the corner of 5th and Adams
- We’ll make sure your letters are delivered to Santa on time
- Thanks to the Springfield Art Association for creating the mailbox in 2016
Horse-Drawn Carriage by Red Gate Farm
- Saturdays: 1 pm - 4 pm
- 12/2 no carriage
- 12/16 from Noon -3 pm
- Wednesdays: 5 pm - 8 pm
- Free rides, first come, first served
- Pick up on 6th St. – Location TBA
- About a 10 minute ride
- Route goes north on 6th, to Washington, south on 5th, to Monroe
SYPG Elves on the Plaza
- Saturdays starting 12/2: 2 pm - 5 pm
- Wednesdays: 5 pm - 7 pm
- Say hello and watch the antics of the Springfield Youth Performance Group
Find Elf on the Shelf
- All days
- Participating downtown locations have hidden the tattle-tale elf. Where is he and what could he be up to? You’ll have to visit to find out!
- Locations include Arlington’s, Augie’s Front Burner, Cafe Moxo, Cold Stone Creamery, Daisy Jane’s, Milk & Honey Fresh Market, Murphy’s Loft, Recycled Records, Springfield Vintage, Springfield YMCA, Studio on 6th, The Roost, urban sassafras, and Wild Rose.
Chestnuts Roasting
- Dates and Times TBA
- Allow the warm and toasty smell of fresh roasted chestnuts to lead you to Old Capitol Farmers Market vendor Suttill’s Gardens, roasting chestnuts on the Old State Capitol Plaza.
- For a small fee, you can enjoy some–either as a tasty treat or as an old-fashioned hand warmer!
Musical Performances
Located in the Old State Capitol (OSC) or on the Old State Capitol Plaza (OSCP)
- Wednesday, 11/29 at 6:30 pm:
- Lanphier High School Choir (OSC)
- Saturday, December 2 at 1 pm:
- Saturday, December 2 at 4 pm:
- Springfield Dance Theatre (OSCP)
- Wednesday, December 6 at 6 pm:
- UIS String Quartet & UIS Chorus (OSC)
- Saturday, December 9 at 1 pm:
- Wednesday, December 13 at 6 pm:
- Rochester High School Choir (OSC)
- Saturday, December 16 at 1 pm:
- Saturday, December 16 at 2 pm:
- Springfield Showstoppers (OSC)
- Saturday, December 16 at 4 pm:
- Sacred Heart Griffin Band (OSCP)
- Wednesday, December 20 at 6 pm:
- Wednesday, December 20 at 7 pm:
- Sound Celebration Chorus (OSC)
Located in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum
Special Holiday Events
Located at various Historic Sites
- Wednesday, 11/29, 3 pm - 8 pm:
- Dana Thomas House Evening Tours & Treats
- Saturday, 12/2, 11 am - 3 pm:
- Illinois State Museum Super Saturday
- Saturday, 12/2, Noon – 4 pm:
- Elijah Iles House Decorating
- Wednesday, 12/6, 5 pm – 8 pm:
- Elijah Iles House Candlelight Open House
- Wednesday, 12/6, 3 pm - 8 pm:
- Dana Thomas House Evening Tours & Treats
- Saturday, 12/9, 6 pm:
- 1850s Carols at First Presbyterian Church
- Saturday, 12/9, 1 pm - 4 pm:
- Saturday, 12/9, 1 pm - 4 pm:
- African American History Museum’s Holiday & Historic Crafts for All Ages
- Saturday, 12/9, 4 pm - 8:30 pm:
- Wednesday, 12/13, 6 pm and 7:30 pm:
- Wednesday, 12/13, 3 pm - 8 pm:
- Dana Thomas House Evening Tours & Treats
- Wednesday, 12/13, 5 pm - 8 pm:
- Elijah Iles House Candlelight Open House
- Saturday, 12/16, 2 pm:
- Victorian Christmas Tea at the Edwards Place
- Saturday, 12/16:
- Elijah Iles House Children’s Activities
- Wednesday, 12/20, 3 pm - 8 pm:
- Dana Thomas House Evening Tours & Treats
President Lincoln & Mary
- Saturdays, Noon – 6 pm
- You’ll find the President and his wife, who always liked beautiful things, walking around the downtown shops and historic sites. Grab a Presidential Selfie when you can!
Free Bus Transportation
- Saturdays, Noon – 6 pm
- Wednesdays, 5 pm - 8 pm
- Catch a free ride on a special Holiday Route bus, which takes you from downtown and back to several historic sites decorated for the holiday season and with special holiday activities.
- Check out the map (coming soon) for the stops. The bus will circulate at all stops every 20 minutes (EXCEPT 12/2 & 9 due to longer routes those specific days).
Lighted Bus Selfie Station
- SMTD staff’s decorated one of the buses again this year, and it’s so bright you’ll want to wear shades!
- Find it and grab a memorable picture with your family and friends!
- Don’t forget the hashtag #merryandmischief
Hoogland Center for the Arts
- Saturday, 11/25 at 7 pm:
- Watch the movie “Elf” starring Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf
- Wednesday, 12/6 at 7 pm:
- Christmas with The Alley Cats
- Saturday, 12/9 & 12/16 at 7 pm:
- A Charlie Brown Christmas Live! on Stage
- Saturday, 12/16 at 7 pm:
- The Dual Piano Christmas Show