Good morning, Springfield.

Wenonah Bish, Illinois’ oldest living resident and the world’s 19th oldest person, will celebrate her 113th birthday with family and friends on Oct.

2 at The Villas Senior Care Community in Sherman—she was born in Springfield and is recognized by the Gerontology Research Group. This celebration marks a rare milestone in local history.

Springfield will host a BUILD outreach event on Oct 4 at Bunn Field from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. where residents can enjoy free haircuts, health checks, a Touch-a-Truck experience and complimentary BBQ — along with exhibits from community partners.

Make-A-Wish and Rader Family Farms held an event on September 28th that brought children and families together at the farm—organizers provided fun activities to create lasting memories.

On Sept. 27, Springfield hosted the International Route 66 Mother Road Festival to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Route 66 and offered vintage car displays along with family activities.

Visitors enjoyed rare cars such as a 1970 Chevy Chevelle and a 1964 Ford Thunderbird—showing a blend of history and local community fun.

Today is National Coffee Day and local shops mark the occasion by offering fresh coffee and tasty treats.

Hae’s Bakery & Custom Cup Coffee in downtown Springfield serve lattes and baked goods while Grab-A-Java and Scoop Du Jour in Chatham provide drive-thru options and unique drinks.

LLCC will host a free campus visit day on Monday, October 13 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at its Springfield campus on 5250 Shepherd Rd—attendees can join breakout sessions, tours, and student panels to learn about programs and support services.

Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Housing Development Authority announced that over 530 homebuyers have received 30-year fixed rate mortgages with up to $40,000 in student loan relief under the SmartBuy program, which eliminated $16 million in student debt in the past twelve weeks—applications for the program are closed for this year while the IHDA’s Access Mortgage program remains open.

Residents can plan a weekend getaway to Eureka Springs, known for its Victorian architecture, quirky shops, and scenic hiking trails.

Visitors from Springfield will drive about 4 hours by taking I-44 to Joplin and heading south on US-71 + Route 62 into the town center.

Fifteen high school athletes have been named as nominees for SJ-R's midseason volleyball player of the year and Springfield voters can choose up to two candidates before the poll closes at noon on Oct.

3 — the deadline. The announcement comes as the season heats up with key local matchups scheduled soon.

At the Lucian Rosa Invite on Saturday morning, the UIS women's cross country team placed 11th of 23 teams at Wisconsin-Parkside and finished ahead of No. 10 Southwest Baptist + No. 5-ranked Parkside.

Senior Madelyn Miller-Ross led the team in a 6K run with a time of 21:38 and UIS will compete next at the Lewis Crossover on Oct. 11.

The UIS men's cross country team placed 15th among 24 teams at the Lucian Rosa Invite on Saturday morning with 375 points.

Head coach Emmons King said he will work with underclassmen to improve scoring as the team prepares for the Lewis Crossover on Oct. 11—one of the largest Division II meets in the country.

Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show

10 AM – 6 PM — Illinois State Fair Campground — Free Parking — Explore a dazzling array of gems, minerals, and fossils with activities for all ages.

Carve for the Carillon

11 a.m. – 4 p.m. — Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon — Free admission — Celebrate fall by carving pumpkins in a community tradition with laughter and creativity.

2025 GSDCA National Specialty Show

Event duration: Oct 17-25 — Illinois State Fairground — Entry fees vary — Celebrate the love of German Shepherds with competitions and exhibitions.

Dads to Doulas Workshop

3-8 p.m. — 3000 S Dirksen Pkwy, Springfield, IL — Free entry — Empower fathers with vital knowledge for maternal health and infant advocacy.

Wicked Which? Paint Night with Ashley Blake

1-3 p.m. — Harvest Market — All ages welcome — Unleash your creativity at a Halloween-themed paint night with Ashley Blake.