Entertainment & Shopping

Whatever your taste in entertainment, there's a lot to do in Springfield. The city has a symphony orchestra, a ballet company and a number of theatre companies presenting serious and comedic works as well as productions for kids. Hoogland Center for the Arts, located right downtown, commonly has several shows running at once. Sangamon Auditorium, on the University of Illinois campus in southeastern Springfield, hosts more than 300 events per year, from concerts, plays and dance performances to Broadway musicals and famous comedians. Large-scale events such as rock concerts are staged at the Prairie Capital Convention Center and the State Fairgrounds (listed under Family Fun). In summer two outdoor theatres, The Muni and Theatre in the Park, add their productions to the mix. Springfield also has three multiplex cinemas and a drive-in theatre with twin screens. Numerous nightclubs feature live music and a comedy club, Donnie B's, presents shows on Friday and Saturday nights.

This is also a great city for shopping. Springfield has a full range of shopping centers and specialty boutiques, from discount to high end. White Oaks Mall alone has over 115 stores and restaurants. There are also numerous galleries, gift shops and other family-owned stores in the Historic Downtown District where curb cuts and well-maintained sidewalks make it easy to get around. For a more extensive list of downtown retailers, visit www.downtownspringfield.org/Shops.htm.