Photo by 1221 Photography
The Levitt AMP Springfield Music Series, Thursday evenings, May 29 to July 31.
Summertime is the perfect opportunity to spend time with your friends and family, and there are tons of opportunities to do so right here in Springfield and the surrounding communities. But enjoying summer doesn’t have to mean spending money. Read on for some free opportunities to soak up the fun and sun with your family.
International Carillon Festival
Thursday, May 22-Sunday, May 25
The International Carillon Festival is a wonderful community event that has something for all ages, and this year is shaping up to be even bigger and better. It’s now scheduled to take place over Memorial Day weekend, a perfect way to kick off the summer.
Whether it’s free ice cream (on Thursday) and scavenger hunts, or cotton candy and balloon artists, the kids will have a blast at this weekend-long festival. And speaking of blasts, don’t miss out on Friday’s fireworks display at dusk. The Carillon Festival’s full schedule, including information about who is performing and when, can be found online at carillon-rees.org/event/carillon-festival/.
The Levitt AMP Springfield
Music Series
Thursday evenings, May 29 to July 31
The entire Levitt AMP Springfield series features family-friendly music acts taking place outdoors on the lawn at Fourth and Jackson streets in downtown Springfield. Every Thursday from 6-9 p.m., bring your lawn chairs and picnic dinners to enjoy great music of all genres in community with others. In addition to great music, the series will have games for kids, and the tents along Community Row will be run by businesses or organizations that look forward to engaging with local families. And whether you want a refreshing beverage, a snack or a dessert, there are a variety of food trucks to accommodate all tastes.
Unplug Illinois Day
Thursday, June 12
Celebrate Unplug Illinois Day with a day of free fun. Put down your screens and enjoy complimentary admission to the Nelson Center Pool and the Henson Robinson Zoo.
Lincoln New Salem Summer Frolic
Saturday, June 14
Celebrate frontier heritage with period-clothed interpreters demonstrating how life used to be in the early days of Abraham Lincoln. If anyone in your family is feeling artsy, the village will also be a host site for World Wide Knit in Public Day. Knitters of all skill levels and ages are invited to bring their lawn chairs and knit alongside the interpreters.
The Great Race Evening Stop
Monday, June 23
If you have a car-lover in your crew, join the fun as the Great Race stops at the Old State Capitol on South Sixth Street in Springfield as part of a nine-day rally from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Irmo, South Carolina. This is a free event with a family-friendly atmosphere, so bring the kids and welcome more than 140 classic cars and trucks (1974 and earlier) as they roll into town.
Artist in the Park x
Food Truck Fridays
Ongoing
Beginning May 30, enjoy free, live performances every Friday from 12-1 p.m. through Aug. 1 in Union Square Park, across from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. See music, dance and poetry from talented local performers and grab lunch from a rotating lineup of food trucks on site or bring your own picnic.
Bike and Hike Sundays at Washington Park
Ongoing
Bike and Hike Sundays run every Sunday from April through September in order to provide parkgoers with an opportunity for safe recreation by restricting car traffic. Grab the fam, some bikes and scooters and enjoy the park.
History Comes Alive
Ongoing
The Lincoln Home National Historic Site partners with the city of Springfield to offer free History Comes Alive programs throughout the summer. These events include historical reenactments, guided tours, musical performances and more. Even if you’re visited these local landmarks in the past, the History Comes Alive programs are a new a different way to experience them.
Some examples that may be attractive to families include an overview of 19th century historic toys and games with Abe and Mary Lincoln, Abe and Mary’s old-fashioned ice cream social on the porch at Edwards Place or the summer sing-along trolley tour around the historical sites. Events recur each week, and a full schedule can be found online at visitspringfieldillinois.com.
Splash pads
Ongoing
Enjoy a break from the heat at Southwind Park, 4965 S. Second St. Besides the splash pad, there are wetlands, a wind turbine, solar panels and a geothermal system. Or head to the newly renovated Comer Cox Park, 301 Martin Luther King Drive, and enjoy the splash pad and playground, plus a pump track, basketball courts and tennis courts. Plus, a new guitar-shaped splash pad is currently under construction in Sherman Village Park, 1200 Rail Fence Road, and scheduled to open this summer.
Pamela Savage is a freelance writer living in Springfield. She looks forward to enjoying the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer with her family.