Stacie Lewis

Copy Editor and Editorial Assistant at Springfield Business Journal

Featured in: Favicon

sbj.net

theguardian.com Favicon

independent.co.uk Favicon

babycenter.com Favicon

illinoistimes.com

Articles

Celebrate Juneteenth

1 week ago | illinoistimes.com | Stacie Lewis

Thursday, June 19 Lincoln Land Community College will host the third annual Freedom Walk at 8:30 a.m. The self-guided walk around the Springfield campus includes tributes to the timeline of events leading up to Juneteenth's Freedom Day. Participants are encouraged to wear Juneteenth colors of red, green, gold or black. Afterward, enjoy a light breakfast and pick up some Juneteenth swag. The college will also present the documentary Juneteenth: 1865-2021 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. in A.
Celebrate Juneteenth with these community activities

2 weeks ago | illinoistimes.com | Stacie Lewis

Since 2021, when Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill to commemorate June 19, 1865, the date when the last enslaved Black people in the U.S. learned that they were free, the annual Juneteenth holiday in Springfield has continued to grow. With each passing year, new participating organizations join the festivities. Activities during the weeklong celebration helps Juneteenth, Inc.
Shop these area vendor fairs

Mar 20, 2025 | illinoistimes.com | Stacie Lewis

"Let's root for each other and watch each other grow." That motto of the Small Town Dreamers Market seems fitting with many specialized vendor fairs and small-town outdoor markets. The vendor fairs bring together like-minded people to share their passions and buy and sell their goods. Small town markets are outlets for local farmers and artisans to sell their products, making the markets some of the best ways to keep your purchases local, and put a face to an online business name.
Head downtown for the holidays

Nov 26, 2024 | illinoistimes.com | Stacie Lewis

The sidewalks of downtown Springfield will be busy again when the excitement of the holiday season returns with a whirlwind of activities and shopping during the Old Capitol Holiday Walks. The festivities begin on Saturday, Nov. 30, during Small Business Saturday. You'll find downtown storefronts of locally owned businesses, restaurants and bars beautifully decorated in traditional and contemporary Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and Christmas decorations.
On the stage this fall

Aug 21, 2024 | illinoistimes.com | Stacie Lewis

The entertainment on stage this fall includes magic, musicals, murders and a lot of comic relief. With shows for the whole family to those for more mature audiences, everyone will find a favorite on Springfield's stages. The MuniAlthough summer is coming to a close, The Muni is giving us one more opportunity to enjoy its outdoor theater on Sept. 7.
Fall music on the horizon

Aug 21, 2024 | illinoistimes.com | Stacie Lewis

After a great summer of outdoor music fests, it's time to bring the most of the shows indoors for the autumn and winter season. And, when indoor concerts take place on the grand curtained stage of the oldest theater in town, in a Greek Revival cathedral, under a sea of lights of a modern stage or in an abandoned flour mill, they can be fairly spine-tingling. The UIS Performing Arts Center, 1 University Plaza, has a fresh lineup of wonderful music shows that hit on everyone's favorite genres.
More than just a party in the park

Jun 12, 2024 | illinoistimes.com | Stacie Lewis

Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill in 2021 to commemorate June 19, 1865, the date when the last enslaved Black people in the U.S. learned that they were free. It is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States, and it is celebrated in most cities and many smaller communities with food festivals, park parties and historical reenactments.
Listen to live music this summer

May 22, 2024 | illinoistimes.com | Stacie Lewis

Outdoor music on a Midwestern summer day or night is always worth the winter's wait. Any self-respecting community festival will have live music, and almost every day, bars and restaurants open their patios for local musicians to showcase their talents. Of course, music festivals are the powerhouse entertainment sources around here, and the perennial local favorites are ready to play again this year.
So many shows

May 22, 2024 | illinoistimes.com | Stacie Lewis

Something about an al fresco theater performance changes everything – the spatial relationship between the actors and the audience, the unpredictable lighting, the sound or how a slight breeze can be worked into an ad lib moment. For those passionate about theater, it all adds to the experience. We in the Springfield area are fortunate in that we have two outdoor theaters to feed that passion, and they both have exciting shows waiting in the wings for the summer.
Liturgical Arts Festival returns to Springfield

May 1, 2024 | illinoistimes.com | Stacie Lewis

The study of religion is fascinating because it is inherently the study of all the social sciences. But it is the many living, breathing faith traditions that show us the beauty of belief and our shared commonalities in life. These vibrant faith traditions help us to understand the relationship between human life and the natural world. Art, be it a visual medium, music, dance or the spoken word, helps us to communicate that understanding to others.