The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is bringing cheer to the winter season with an exciting lineup of activities, including performances of The Nutcracker, participation in downtown holiday walks, First Night Springfield festivities, free skating in Union Square Park, a winter farmers market, and the return of the Gold Star Family Christmas Tree honoring fallen military heroes.
The Copper Coin Ballet Company will perform selections from The Nutcracker on Dec. 13 and 20. These free 30-minute shows begin at 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Guests will enjoy Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s beloved story of Clara, the Nutcracker Prince, and their journey through the Land of Sweets.
The museum will participate in Downtown Springfield Holiday Walks on Dec. 6, 13, and 20, offering free admission from 4 to 7 p.m. Parking in the ALPLM ramp at Sixth and Madison will also be free on those evenings. Visitors are encouraged to “pay it forward” by bringing new personal hygiene items like toiletries, sanitary products, and socks for those in need. In recent years, guests have filled nearly three shopping carts with donations, all distributed to local charities that serve families in our community.
“Welcoming guests to the museum is always special, but it’s even more meaningful when those visits help meet real needs in our community,” said Christina Shutt, executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. “Abraham Lincoln grew up with very little, and his early life taught him the importance of compassion for others.”
Holiday Walks at the museum will include winter-themed children’s crafts, festive lighting and effects, and presentations of the popular “Ghosts of the Library” show at 5:15 and 6:15 p.m. All galleries will be open, including the new exhibit Lincoln: A Life and Legacy that Defined a Nation. The Museum Store and Café will also be open for snacks and holiday shopping. On Dec. 6, visiting choirs and music groups from local schools will perform in the plaza.
Skating returns to Union Square Park every Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. beginning Nov. 29 through Feb. 15. Special skating hours will be offered on Wednesdays from 4 to 7 p.m. during the Holiday Walks on Dec. 3, 10, and 17, and from 1 to 4 p.m. on New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31), Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan. 19), and Presidents Day (Feb. 16). Skating and skate rental are free, though donations are welcome to help maintain equipment. The full schedule can be found on ALPLM website’s Events page.
On Dec. 6 from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m., the Illinois Valley Division of the National Model Railroad Association will set up an interactive mobile model railroad display in the museum plaza, giving visitors of all ages a chance to operate their own train and experience the creativity of the model railroading hobby.
The ALPLM will proudly display Illinois’ official Gold Star Family Christmas Tree, following a special lighting ceremony led by Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs Director Terry Prince on Dec. 8. Decorated with personalized ornaments, the tree honors the memory of Illinois service members who lost their lives in combat.
The museum will also host the kid-friendly portion of Springfield Area Arts Council’s First Night Springfield celebration on New Year’s Eve from noon to 5 p.m. Enjoy magicians, dancers, singers, arts and crafts, DJ Dyno-Mite, and an “early” New Year’s Countdown at 4 p.m., complete with confetti cannons to welcome in 2026. Tickets are available through the Springfield Area Arts Council website.
Throughout the winter, the ALPLM will host the Downtown Springfield Winter Farmers Market inside historic Union Station. Visitors can shop for baked goods, fresh produce, meat, honey, and more from 8 a.m. to noon on Dec. 20; Jan. 3, 17, and 31; Feb. 14 and 28; March 28; and April 25.
The mission of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is to inspire civic engagement through the diverse lens of Illinois history and by sharing with the world the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln. We pursue this mission through a combination of rigorous scholarship and high-tech showmanship built on the bedrock of the ALPLM’s unparalleled collection of historical materials – some 13 million items from all eras of Illinois history.
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