Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How will Springfield’s new arts leader reshape downtown music and culture?
Coming up: Springfield Oyster & Beer Festival on the Springfield Patch calendar
Hello Springfield! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- How will Springfield's new arts leader reshape downtown music and culture?
- When and how to catch UIS's free fall Star Parties
- What makes this weekend's Springfield Mile such a legendary racing showdown?
Today's riddle: What has 2 arms and a neck but no head? 🤔 (Answer below!)
From our Partner
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- Thursday: Near-record temperatures, with a high of 97 and low of 75 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
- Friday: A couple of morning t-storms, temps: high: 98, low: 73.
- Saturday: A thunderstorm, with a high of 97 and low of 70 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. New program director hired at Springfield Area Arts Council (sj-r.com) — Springfield residents have a new leader for the Levitt AMP Springfield Music Series and other major arts programs, as Andrew Schneider steps in as program director at the Springfield Area Arts Council. He'll help shape projects like the Y Block amphitheater, First Night Springfield, and local arts grants, tying creative events to downtown redevelopment and Route 66-related investments. 
2. UIS Friday Night Star Parties return for fall season (springfieldherald.news) — Springfield residents can enjoy free Friday Night Star Parties at the University of Illinois Springfield Observatory from 8–10 p.m. on select dates through October, with walk-up access and no registration needed. Special nights will honor founder Charles Schweighauser, celebrate a Tsukimi Harvest Moon, and tie into UIS Homecoming, with weather updates available by phone and social media.
3. Springfield Mile returns to Illinois State Fairgrounds this weekend (capitolcitynow.com) — Springfield racing fans can catch the iconic Springfield Mile at the Illinois State Fairgrounds this Saturday and Sunday, featuring high-speed dirt-track motorcycle races up to 140 mph. As the final two rounds of a national flat-track series, the weekend includes youth activities, smaller competitions, and ticketed main events that cement Springfield's reputation as a premier racing destination.
4. Water main break floods Springfield bar hours before grand opening (wandtv.com) — A downtown Springfield bar called The Bus Stop saw its basement flooded by a Monroe Street water main break just 23 hours before its planned grand opening, forcing cancellation and major losses. Alderwoman Lakeisha Purchase is helping organize a Friday evening fundraiser so the owners can replace damaged equipment, restore electricity, and decide whether they must relocate.
📸 Around Springfield
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Springfield
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Springfield Oyster & Beer Festival →
Inn At 835 Boutique Hotel, 835 S 2nd St, Springfield
12:00 pm
Saturday September 5
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Labor Day - No School
Ball-Chatham CUSD 5 201 W. Mulberry, Chatham, IL 62629
Monday September 7
📣 Springfield Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Boys Varsity Golf @ Lincoln H. S.
Springfield Southeast High Sch 1000 Primm Rd, Lincoln IL 62656-3198
4:00 pm - Boys JV Soccer vs Peoria Notre Dame High School
Springfield High School 1201 Bunn St, Springfield, IL 62703, Springfield Illinois 627
4:30 pm - Softball SRC Tournament at Peru
John F Kennedy Elem School Peru
4:30 pm - Middle School Baseball vs Glenwood
U S Grant Middle School 3751 Imagineer Dr, Springfield, IL 62704, USA
4:30 pm - Girls Freshman Volleyball @ University High School-Normal
Springfield High School ISU Campus Box 7100 500 Gregory Street, Normal Illinois 61790-7
5:00 pm - Boys Varsity Soccer vs Peoria Notre Dame High School
Springfield High School 1201 Bunn St, Springfield, IL 62703, Springfield Illinois 627
6:00 pm - Girls JV Volleyball @ University High School-Normal
Springfield High School ISU Campus Box 7100 500 Gregory Street, Normal Illinois 61790-7
6:00 pm - Girls Varsity Volleyball @ University High School-Normal
Springfield High School ISU Campus Box 7100 500 Gregory Street, Normal Illinois 61790-7
7:00 pm - Boys Varsity Soccer
Springfield High School 1002 S Race Street, Urbana Illinois 61801-4998
4:00 pm - Boys Varsity Football @ Quincy Notre Dame High School
Lanphier High School 1400 South 11th Street, Quincy Illinois 62301-7299
7:00 pm
Thursday September 3
Friday September 4
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Springfield labor leader Bob Guy named Grand Marshal of historic Galesburg Labor Day Parade —Nicole Andas Read on Patch
- Tonight is the last HONOR FLIGHT of the year.
Please come out and support our veterans return to Springfield! (Nextdoor Laketown) - Dog grooming
I have been grooming dogs for the past 7 years at home. This is a peaceful environment for your pets as they won't be caged or around any other dogs… (Nextdoor Woodside)
- Teleperformance USA posted a job opening for Payroll Tax Processor - Remote in Springfield. Apply here.
- Maurices posted a job opening for Retail Assistant Manager - Full-Time in Springfield. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Springfield here.
Ok Springfield! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A shirt (Thank you Dianna H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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