In Springfield for the 'holi-week'? Here are 10+ things to do between Christmas, New Year
The week between Christmas and New Years looks a little different for everyone. Maybe you're curled up on the couch, surrounded by family and catching up on your favorite holiday movies or you're already back at work before the next holiday weekend. No matter how you're spending the next few days, there is still plenty to do in Springfield, whether you're with the family or on your own.
The News-Leader compiled a list of more than 10 things happening in Springfield before New Year's Eve this weekend, ranging from family-friendly activities at the Discovery Center to late-night music at Lindberg's Tavern.
Holiday Book Exchange
When: Wednesday, Dec. 27 at 6 p.m.
Where: Hold Fast Brewing at 235 N. Kimbrough Ave.
Hold Fast Brewing is hosting its second annual Holiday Book Exchange, a cross between a white elephant gift exchange and the brewery's Books & Brews Book Club.
If you would like to participate, bring a wrapped book with a few words or sentences on the wrapping paper to help folks get a good idea of what's inside (but no spoilers). The gift exchange will following the book club meeting that starts at 6 p.m.
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A Very Grinchy Christmas
When: Dec. 27-30 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: Discovery Center of Springfield at 438 E. St. Louis St.
Just because the holiday weekend is over doesn't mean The Grinch is back to isolation on Mt. Crumpit yet. The Discovery Center is hosting its A Very Grinchy Christmas celebrations through Saturday, Dec. 30.
Different holiday-themed STEM activities will be scattered throughout the center and photos with Santa Claus and The Grinch will be available at various times.
Access to A Very Grinchy Christmas is included with admission to the Discovery Center. Admission is $10 for children ages three through 15 and $15 for adults.
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Gardens Aglow
When: Dec. 27-31 from 5-8:30 p.m.
Where: Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden at 2400 S. Scenic Ave.
Through New Years Eve, the Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden will be lit up at night during Gardens Aglow. The annual holiday event features more than 200,000 lights throughout the garden.
Advance admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 3-12. At-the-gate admission is $7 for adults and $4 for children. All proceeds benefit the garden's maintenance fund.
Run For The Ranch
When: Saturday, Dec. 30 at 8 a.m.
Where: Missouri State University Parking Lot #22 on Grand Street
The annual Run For The Ranch — now in its 24th year — is a fundraiser for the Good Samaritan Boys Ranch and Ozark Mountain Ridge Runners. Runners may participate in a one-mile race, 5K (3.1 miles), half marathon (13.1 miles), full marathon (26.2 miles), marathon relay or six-hour endurance race.
The one-mile race kicks off at 9:15 a.m. and all other races start at 10 a.m.
Registration is available on the UltraSignup website. Registration is $10 for the one-mile race, $40 for the 5K, $75 for the half marathon, $95 for the marathon, $185 for the marathon relay and $105 for the six-hour endurance race.
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An Old Time Christmas and Fire In The Hole's last ride at Silver Dollar City
If you're looking for a day trip this week, consider hitting two birds with one stone at Silver Dollar City.
The amusement park's An Old Time Christmas celebration is held through Saturday, Dec. 30. The entire park is transformed into a Christmas wonderland with more than 6.5 million lights. An Old Time Christmas was recently recognized as the "Best Theme Park Holiday Event" by USA Today's 10Best Readers Choice awards.
An Old Time Christmas is available with Silver Dollar City general admission. Tickets can be purchased in advance on the Silver Dollar City website.
While enjoying the holiday cheer, consider getting in line for Fire In The Hole because the coaster is taking its final ride on Saturday, Dec. 30 at 10 p.m.
More: Silver Dollar City's Fire In The Hole to host final ride. Here's how to get on board
Earlier this year, Silver Dollar City announced that while the beloved ride is closing, a new one is on the way. The new ride, which will be the park's largest indoor roller coaster, is expected to open in spring 2024.
Check out the History Museum on the Square's holiday exhibit, 'Christmas on the Square'
Each holiday season, the History Museum on the Square explores what Christmas looked like at Park Central Square in the 1940s, '50s and '60s. The temporary exhibition is open through Jan. 7, 2024.
The exhibition is available with general admission. Admission is $16 for adults, $13 for seniors, military and students, $10 for children 4-12 and free for children under 3.
The History Museum is looking for community support to continue the holiday exhibition in future years. If you have any photos that capture Christmas in Springfield from the past, consider emailing them digitally to the museum at info@historymuseumonthesquare.org.
The History Museum on the Square is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 1-5 p.m. on Sunday. The museum is closed on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024.
More: 25+ things to do in December, including the annual downtown Springfield Christmas Parade
Support local musicians through the holiday week
Looking to avoid the holiday music that's been playing in stores since mid-November? There is plenty of live music to enjoy in Springfield this week.
Michael Stanton & The Shade at Lindberg's Tavern
Springfield's Michael Stanton and The Shade, an indie rock project, is performing at Lindberg's Tavern on Friday, Dec. 29 from 10-11:30 p.m. Openers include Howie and The Hillcats from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and Humpbrella MSA, Kim Kutina and Chad Gravy Graves from 9-10 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door.
Local Indie Rock Showcase at Outland Ballroom
The Outland Ballroom is hosting a Local Indie Rock Showcase to close out 2023. The showcase on Friday, Dec. 29 will feature post-hardcore band Theme-Black, post-punk synth pop duo Kudzu, folk rock sextet Turtle Soup and punk band Menace. The show starts at 7 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door.
Shaun Munday at 4 by 4 Brewing and White River Brewing
Springfield's Shaun Munday is keeping busy this week, with two performances at local breweries.
Munday is participating in 4 By 4 Brewing Company's Pints & Music series on Friday, Dec. 29 from 6-9 p.m. This event is at the Fremont Hills location in Nixa.
Munday is then performing at White River Brewing Company on Saturday, Dec. 30 from 6-9 p.m.
Members Only at Kiss Bar & Grill
'80s cover band Members Only is kicking off the new year early at Kiss Bar & Grill on Saturday, Dec. 30 at 8 p.m. The band is made up of Springfield's Jay Stevens of Machine Gun Symphony, Kristen Ward of Damsel and Chelsey James. Admission is $20 at the door.
Kiss Bar & Grill is closing its doors on Jan. 1, 2024.
EDM x Cirque Event at Springfield Aerial Fitness
Springfield Aerial Fitness is hosting an immersive live music experience as a part of its Crescent Room Sessions on Saturday, Dec. 30 at 9 p.m.
The EDM music lineup include Psyberwitch, King Ichorous and DJ DominicR. Cirque artists include Dani the Danimal, Masha Sultry Slavic, Ajna Panda and Courtney Kuepfert.
Tickets are available in advance for $12 or $15 at the door.
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Stop by the Springfield Art Museum
The Springfield Art Museum has several different exhibitions on display, including Jordan Eagles' "ONE BLOOD." Open through Feb. 18, 2024, the exhibition is a collection of works by the New York-based artist, many featuring human blood.
Eagles' artwork invites viewers to think about how the Food and Drug Administration's policies on blood donations exclude members of the LGBTQIA+ community and how this exclusion impacts the greater society.
More: Here's what to know about the art museum's new exhibit, featuring human blood sculptures
In addition to "ONE BLOOD," the museum is also showcasing Collection Focus, an exhibition that displays artwork from the museum's permanent collection. Through April 7, 2024, the exhibition's focus is on lithography.
If you're looking to be creative at home this week, consider stopping by the museum to check out the lithography collection, then grabbing a take-home project bag. In correlation with the exhibition, the take-home bag contains materials that allow folks to make their own print portrait inspired by the late Henri Matisse, a French visual artist. Register to pick up a project bag on the museum's website before visiting.
"Spirit of Independence: Kent Bicentennial Portfolio" is also on display at the museum through April 7, 2024. This exhibition contains work of 12 different American artists who were asked to create pieces for the Kent Bicentennial Program in 1976, answering the question, "What does independence mean to you?"
More: With renovations on horizon, Springfield Art Museum to be closed fall 2024 through 2027
If you enjoy discussing artwork with others, mark your calendar for the museum's upcoming Slow Viewing on Saturday, Jan. 20 from 2-3 p.m. Hosted by local artist Shauna LeAnn Smith, participants of the free program will spend an hour analyzing Will Barnet's painting "Waiting," which is a part of "Spirit of Independence: Kent Bicentennial Portfolio." Registration is required and can be completed on the museum's website.
The Springfield Art Museum is open noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 1-5 p.m. on Sunday.
Greta Cross is the trending topics reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretacrossphoto. Story idea? Email her at gcross@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: 10+ things to do in Springfield between Christmas, New Year's Eve
