The International Carillon Festival, first held in 1962, is lauded as one of the world’s most important and prestigious carillon events. The Festival has earned an unsurpassed tradition of presenting the world’s finest carillonists/carillonneurs. During the past five decades, the Festival has featured carillonists from: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Portugal, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, and the United States.

The Festival is presented by the Springfield Park District with the support of The Rees Carillon Society and The Carillon Belles. Individuals and families are encouraged to bring a picnic dinner as well as lawn chairs and blankets. Several monitors will be positioned around the tower to view the playing keyboard and carillonists during the performance. All concerts are about 45 minutes in duration.

In addition to fabulous concerts each night, attendees will enjoy:

Food Trucks each night starting at 5:00pm
Free kid's activities each night
Free ice cream social on Thursday night
Free Fireworks post concert Friday night
Lincoln Library on-site signing kids and families up for library cards and for their summer reading program, 5pm-7pm on Saturday
Author D.R. Ransdell will be in the Botanical Gardens selling and signing her book “Carillon Chase”, 5:30pm-6:30pm on Saturday

6pm each night, opening performances:
Thursday - Municipal Band
Friday - Trombone Quartet
Saturday - FOURSquared Multiple Woodwind Quartet
Sunday - Trinity Wind Ensemble

This year’s carillon performers are:

Jeremy Chesmann, Springfield, MO
Toni Raats, The Netherlands
Kim Shafer, Chicago, IL
Wim van den Broeck, Belgium
Carlo van Ulft, Springfield, IL

More details come, check back!

As always this is a free event. Donations will be accepted and are very much appreciated.