5 things – other than the Illinois State Fair – to do this weekend in Springfield
Almost everyone in Springfield knows this weekend is the first of two weekends at the Illinois State Fair. For those visiting – or for those not quite as excited about the fair – there's plenty more to do this weekend in the capital city that doesn't involve corn dogs, Tilt-A-Whirls or Sam Hunt.
Here are five things to do in Springfield this weekend outside of the fairgrounds.
Dual Piano: Best of the '60s, '70s and '80s
Time: 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Aug. 12-13, 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 14.
Location: LRS Theatre at the Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St.
Tickets: $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and children younger than 18 years old.
Description: Local musicians Damian Kaplan and Mark Gifford, with the help of two Steinway Grand Pianos, provide a colorful and funny take on some of the biggest hits of the 1960s, '70s, and '80s. Be prepared to have a good time.
Perseid meteor shower Star Party
Time: 8:30-10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12
Location: Lincoln Memorial Garden, 2301 East Lake Shore Drive
Tickets: Free
Description: The finale of the University of Illinois Springfield's Summer Star Parties, this event allows people to view the Perseid meteor shower in a picturesque and peaceful environment. John Martin, a UIS professor of astronomy and physics, will be available to answer any questions, if one was curious as to the significance of Perseid.
Theatre in the Park presents 'Inherit the Wind'
Time: Dusk Friday-Sunday, Aug. 12-14
Location: Theatre in the Park at Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site, 15588 History Lane, Petersburg
Tickets: $15 for adults, $13 for seniors, $12 for children younger than 12
Description: A dramatized account of the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial, examining what led to the conviction of a Tennessee high school teacher for teaching the theory of evolution.
Springfield Dance Theatre presents 'Aladdin'
Time: 1, 3 and 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13
Location: The Legacy Theatre, 101 E. Lawrence Ave.
Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 on the day of the show
Description: A family-friendly dance performance of the tale from "One Thousand and One Nights," a young, street-smart teen meets a princess and stumbles upon a lamp with a genie, who provides him with the standard three wishes while helping him stop an evil sorcerer.
'Making Up Funny: My Life in Improv'
Time: 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13
Location: Club Room at the Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St.
Tickets: $15
Description: Presented by Capital City Improv, this show presents some of the favorite games and performances from local comics as they provide people with a glimpse of why they went into performing and improv in the first place.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: 5 things - other than the fair - to do this weekend in Springfield, IL
