Good morning, Springfield.

Families are carving pumpkins today at the Thomas Rees Carillon in Washington Park for a free event leading up to the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular later this month.

The Rees Carillon Society and Springfield Park District will offer over 2,000 pumpkins—food trucks and expert carving tips add to the day.

State Representatives Mike Coffey and Wayne Rosenthal have partnered with Toys for Tots to hold a holiday drive that will collect new, unwrapped toys at their Springfield office at 401 S.

Spring Street until December 20 for children in Sangamon County. They said the drive is meant to help families facing high gas and utility bills — inviting local donors to share in the Christmas spirit.

Hospital Sisters Health System has partnered with Chapter to offer free Medicare consultations for patients 65 and older to help choose a plan—covering Medicare Supplement, Advantage and prescription drug options—with appointments available online or by phone before open enrollment begins Oct. 15. The service will continue through Dec. 7 for patients seeking guidance in selecting the best coverage.

A local organization held the 'Out of the Darkness' walk on Oct.

10 to raise suicide prevention awareness—bringing community members together to access support resources. Organizers said the event aimed to reduce stigma and encourage those in need to seek help.

The Springfield Prairie Stars men's tennis team played Chicago State on Oct.

10 at 2:00 p.m. CT and will face Purdue Northwest today at 9:00 a.m. CT. The team won titles at the ITA Regional Championships in Allendale—boosting its momentum for the spring championship season.

The Springfield High Senators lost 56—33 to the SHG Cyclones at Ken Leonard Field on Friday night when errors like blocked punts and an injured long snapper hurt their play.

The Cyclones clinched the division title and will face Chatham Glenwood later while the Senators work to improve their mistakes.

The UIS women's cross country team is traveling to Romeoville for the Lewis Crossover race today at 9:45 a.m.—the race starts with a hill before opening into a fast course that previews the GLVC championship layout.

The team, ranked 8th in the Midwest after a historic 11th finish out of 23 teams last week, will compete against top DII programs to measure their progress heading into championship season.

Springfield high school football enters Week 7 on Friday, Oct.

10 and Saturday, Oct. 11 with a full schedule featuring matchups such as Springfield High at Sacred Heart-Griffin and several contests in Decatur and other areas. Fans will get live updates and results as game scores and top performers are recorded—ensuring broad coverage of start times from 7 p.m. to 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.

The Illinois Springfield men’s basketball team announced its 2025-26 schedule that starts with a neutral-site opener on Nov.

14 in Kenosha and includes home games at TRAC and away contests before the GLVC tournament on March 5. Coach Matt Brock said the Prairie Stars hope to bounce back after a 12 to 16 record last season—Springfield fans will get plenty of chances to cheer this season.

The Illinois High School Association has released the postseason pairings for Springfield area boys soccer, with matchups for Class 1A, 2A, and 3A starting on October 17 and playoffs continuing through October 29—scores will be updated as teams compete throughout the tournament.

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.

Flight Instructor Refresher Course

10:00 AM – 7:30 PM — Northfield Inn Suites and Conference Center — $65 — Enhance your aviation skills with this comprehensive refresher course for flight instructors.

Ansar Shrine Circus

7-8:30 p.m. — Bank of Springfield Center — Tickets required — Prepare to be amazed by death-defying acrobats, amazing animal performances, and hilarious clowns.

Springfield Marathon, Harvest Wind Half Marathon & 10K

8 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. — Danenberger Family Vineyards — Check website for registration — Experience a thrilling day of running with a Boston Marathon qualifying course amidst beautiful vineyards.