Directions From County Market Sherman to Hoogland Center for the Arts

PHOTOS COURTESY SPRINGFIELD AREA ARTS Council

Springfield Ballet Company performs at 6 p.1000. in LRS Theater, Hoogland Center for the Arts

Springfield Ballet Visitor performs at 6 p.chiliad. in LRS Theater, Hoogland Eye for the Arts

PHOTOS COURTESY SPRINGFIELD Expanse ARTS Quango

Springfield Area Arts Council welcomes and encourages yous to make the arts part of your program for this year's New year's day'south Eve. The arts are more than pleasure for the soul. The arts are innovators of humanity and architects of society.

SAAC's First Dark is jubilant the promise of a new year filled with this brilliance of fine art past hosting a dark filled with enriching and delightful amusement planned to take place at several downtown locations.

First, the party kicks off early on this year, two days early, on Lord's day, Dec. 29, with something new and different. A family unit-friendly 5K walk, run and stroll, the SAAC calls "the stART of something new," takes place kickoff at xi a.thou. at Scheels, 3810 South MacArthur Boulevard. Participants in the run/walk volition receive a discount on Kickoff Nighttime buttons and are invited to an after-party at Quaker Steak and Lube, 12:30-three:30 p.m., where participants will get a sneak peek of Start Dark amusement.

Also before the main party begins the evening of Wed., Dec. 31, there's fun for kids and families at Springfield High School during the day. Kids tin can participate in hands-on fine art activities from one p.1000. to 4. In addition, Cowboy Randy, the Showstoppers and the Springfield Youth Operation Grouping volition be performing. Then Mark Gifford will perform on the Barton organ at 4:15 p.1000. in the SHS Schnirring Auditorium. The cost to hear Gifford is $5 or free admission with a First Dark button.

The First Night commemoration starts at 5 p.m. and runs through 11:15. For the first time, a cafe dinner volition be offered at the Hoogland Centre for the Arts. The scrumptious meal will exist served v-vii p.m. and costs $thirty. Yous must have a reservation and a First Night push so phone today or annals online.

PHOTOS COURTESY SPRINGFIELD Expanse ARTS COUNCIL

Blackness Magic Johnson plays the blues at Illinois Historic Preservation Building

Blackness Magic Johnson plays the blues at Illinois Celebrated Preservation Building

PHOTOS COURTESY SPRINGFIELD AREA ARTS Quango

Evening entertainment begins at five p.one thousand. this year. First Night committee chair Craig Williams says at that place are "10 stages … 40 performances … one fabled night." Performances start each 60 minutes and last for 45 minutes. Early family unit acts include a wizard, juggler and dancers. The cute Prairie Art Brotherhood'southward H. D. Smith Gallery, on the first floor of the Hoogland Eye for the Arts, will be open from 5-9 p.m. displaying and selling the astonishing art produced by its local member artists.

New Start Night acts this year include the engaging musician/performer/playwright Ken Bradbury, local Celtic grouping Mulligan Munro, the young sweetness sounds of the Becca Young Jazz Audio, Shakespeare Shorts and opera performances. Drummer Ben Jacobs will pb a multimedia production and DJ Yanix will host a trip the light fantastic political party.

Popular returning performers include folk vocalist/songwriter Ben Bedford, jazz marvel Frank Trompeter, comedian Grace Hughes and the admired Dual Pianos featuring Damien Kaplan and Mark Gifford.

Performances take place in the Hoogland Center for the Arts, Lincoln Library, First Presbyterian Church Sanctuary, Grace Lutheran Church building Sanctuary, and new this yr, in the Great Hall of the Illinois Historic Preservation Building, 313 S. Sixth.

The beloved fireworks display begins at 8 p.thousand. at Quaternary and Capitol streets with the annual foam ball boom for cash prizes. The fireworks are designed by Nostalgia Pyrotechnics nether the direction of Carl Steinmacher and sponsored by Horace Mann.

Admission buttons for this year's First Night are $18 or $15 in accelerate when purchased at whatsoever Springfield Schnucks or Canton Market location.

More data on First Night is available past calling 217-753-3519. A complete schedule of performances and general information is at springfieldartsco.org. At this site, you tin can too learn more nigh the Springfield Area Arts Quango and the good work they do for our customs.

Contact Anita Stienstra at astienstra@illinoistimes.com.

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Source: https://www.illinoistimes.com/springfield/first-night-puts-the-art-in-party/Content?oid=11452291