Holiday Programs

Vietnam Christmas Remembrance

The State Historic Sites at Springfield invite you to join us for this annual ceremony to honor and remember the Illinoisans listed as prisoner of war or missing in action (POW/MIA) during the Vietnam War. The 2023 ceremony will be held Saturday, December 2 at 1:00 pm.  For more information, click here.

Holiday Crafts and Storytime 

The Vachel Lindsay Home welcomes you to enjoy making crafts and listening to holiday-themed stories from 1:00-3:00 pm on select Saturdays: November 25, December 2, December 9, and December 16. These events are free and open to all ages. Reservations are not needed; please feel free to stop in any time between 1:00 and 3:00. The Vachel Lindsay Home is located at 603 South Fifth Street, immediately south of the Illinois Governor's Mansion. Questions can be directed to DNR.historicspringfield@illinois.gov.

Evening Holiday Tours

Reservations are strongly recommended for this very popular tour; see the schedule and make your reservation at https://DanaThomasHoliday2023.eventbrite.com

The volunteers of the Springfield Civic Garden Club have once again prepared a stunning array of holiday decorations for the Dana-Thomas House. We're pleased to offer the opportunity for you to enjoy their creations in the evenings.

On select Wednesday and Friday evenings (see schedule for dates and times), your family is invited to join us for a 30-45 minute guided experience to see this year's holiday decorations.

NEW for 2023: "Festive Friday" evenings will feature addtional family fun after your tour, including a fire pit in the courtyard, make-your-own s'mores, hot cocoa and take home crafts. Weather permitting, all Friday evening tours will include these extra activities.

Holiday events are always very popular at the Dana-Thomas House, so reservations are encouraged. Guests without reservations are welcome to stop by the front door to ask about tour availability; additional guests may be added at the door if the tour has not reached capacity.  

Art Glass at Night

Returning for a second year, join expert volunteer guide Frank Marchant as he leads you through this exciting special experience - Art Glass at Night. On this guided specialty tour, you'll have the opportunity to examine the art glass in the evening light as your guide explains Wright's work in further detail and how the Dana House's iconic art glass helped create the perfect ambiance for the original homeowner's evening events.

These tours will be offered on two Saturday evenings: December 2 and December 9. The tour will last approximately one hour. Space is limited; reservations are required. Reservations can be made at https://ArtGlassAtNightDanaThomasHouse.eventbrite.com

Treasures: Wright and Japan

Join us for this special tour focusing on the connections between the Dana-Thomas House and Japan. The program will feature a presentation on Frank Lloyd Wright's Imperial Hotel project, led by Frank Marchant; a discussion of the new ikebana floral designs in the house created by the Springfield Civic Garden Club; and Japanese art from the site's collections.

There will be two sessions of the program on Sunday, December 17: 10:00 am and 1:00 pm. Space is limited to 25 guests per session, and reservations are required at https://TreasuresDecember2023.eventbrite.com

Old Capitol Holiday Walk Activities

Visit Springfield and the Old State Capitol Foundation welcome you to the Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices building for fun, family-friendly activities on select Saturdays - November 25 and December 2, 9, and 16 from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm.  For more information, please click here to see the full schedule on the Visit Springfield website.