Capital City Parent

01/07/2026

This week, the District 186 School Board celebrated student athletics and updated the community on e-learning plan changes, upcoming school preview nights, and the superintendent search.

Watch the highlight reel here:

https://www.illinoistimes.com/watch-public-meetings/schoolboarddist186/basketball-celebrations-e-learning-changes-and-superintendent-search-updates/

01/05/2026

Preventable pregnancy-related deaths rose and stark racial disparities remained in the Illinois Department of Public Health’s most recent maternal mortality report.

Preventable pregnancy-related deaths rose and stark racial disparities remained in the Illinois Department of Public Health’s most recent maternal mortality report. The report studied 219 deaths that occurred in Illinois in 2021 and 2022 during or within one year of pregnancy. The two committees ...

01/03/2026

Step inside Andy’s room for "Toy Story" — a contemporary retelling of the beloved Pixar adventure through dance. See it at the Hoogland Center for the Arts at 1 p.m. or 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 4.

https://community.illinoistimes.com/springfield/toy-story/Event?oid=20880245

12/31/2025

The Illinois State Museum will host Freeze Fest on Friday, Jan. 2, and Saturday, Jan. 3, from 10 a.m.–3 p.m., a two-day celebration of all things frosty.

Launch snowballs, test a blubber glove in icy water, explore the northern lights and warm up with hot chocolate. Admission is free, so bring the whole family to shake off the winter blues and enjoy frosty fun indoors at ISM.

12/31/2025

Kick off the new year with a Stone Soup Hike, organized by the Sierra Club Sangamon Valley Group.

Meet at the stone shelter inside Lincoln Memorial Garden's entrance at 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 1 for an easy one to two mile walk over mostly woodchipped paths and then return to eat and socialize.

12/30/2025

Start the new year with a First Day Hike at a state park on New Year's Day.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is hosting self-guided hikes at 17 state parks on Jan. 1. These free, family-friendly hikes are available to the public.

Last year, more than 50 hikers of all ages, along with some adorable dogs, kicked off the new year on the trails of Lincoln 's New Salem State Historic Site.

For a full list of participating parks and trail maps:
https://dnr.illinois.gov/calendar/page.first-day-hikes-at-illinois-state-parks.html

12/29/2025

Are your kids' toys leading to a lot of clutter in your house?

Here’s how to teach organization and time management life skills to preschoolers, and reclaim your own balance at the same time:

Corners and countertops are cluttered, you’ve stepped barefoot on a Lego again and you just found your crumpled fun fair assignment in the bottom of a backpack, due tomorrow.  Happens all the time. Take a breath and listen to Joe Scruggs’ delightful song “By the Way” from Deep in the Jungle...

12/28/2025

First Night Springfield takes place downtown on Dec. 31.

Enjoy children's activities, skating at Union Square Park, special tours with live music at the Dana-Thomas House and more, capped off with fireworks at 8 p.m.

First Night Springfield Look for children's activities and special around-the-world midnight countdown with confetti cannons at ALPLM, ice skating at Union Square Park, special open house tours with live music at the Dana-Thomas House and a fireworks spectacular.

12/27/2025

Ring in the new year a little early at Kidzeum’s Noon Year’s Eve celebration on Dec. 31.

Kids get to enjoy a traditional New Year's Eve countdown, all without missing bedtime - ball drops at noon. Event is free with paid admission.

12/22/2025

12/19/2025

Celebrate Christmas at the Farm this weekend at Indian Creek Farmstead in Petersburg.

Enjoy a festival of trees, photos with Santa, storytelling, children's crafts and cookie decorating, sing-along and more:

Christmas at the Farm Festival of Christmas Trees. Includes photos with Santa (Dec. 20-21, 2:30-4:30pm), storytelling, children's crafts and cookie decorating, sing-along with Amy Benton, food and cider and more. Also has a church service Dec. 21, brunch and gospel music. See page for more....