International Route 66 Mother Road Festival Sep 24-26, 6-11pm Fri, 11am-11pm Sat, 11am-4pm Sun, Over 1,000 cool cars on display along with free entertainment, festival of cars parade, swap meet and manufacturers midway for the restoration enthusiast. www.route66fest.com. Downtown Springfield.

Fall Biodiversity Event Sep 25, 11am-3pm, Free family event to learn how plants and animals prepare for winter through activities, games, and displays. 782- 5993. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St.

October

Indian Summer Festival Oct 9-10, 10am-4pm, Great family fun with live music, food, craft vendors, fine art, nature hikes, craft activities, turtle races, clowns, magicians, face painters and more. $3, $10 for family. 529-1111. Lincoln Memorial Garden, 2301 E. Lake Shore Dr.

Mid-America Mane Event Horse Show Oct 21-24, 8am-10pm, American Saddlebred Horse Show Association Regional Championship. Free. Artisans Building Coliseum Livestock Center - Upstairs Ring. (630) 557- 2575. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Avenue.

Prairieland Classic Dog Show Oct 22-25, 8am-6pm, $3-$1. Exposition Building, Foodarama, Tech Town. 618-238- 4865. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave.

Green Home Show Oct 23-24, 9am-7pm Sat, 9am-6pm Sun, Springfield Area Homebuilders Association Home Show. Orr Building. $3, children under 12 free. 698-4941. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave.

ALQMA Quarter Midget Racing Oct 30-31, 7am-10pm, Free. Coliseum. 476-3758. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave.

November

Craft Show Nov 6-7, 10am-5pm Sat, 10am-4pm Sun, Crafts and more. Illinois Building. $2, children under 12 free. (618)539-3395. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave.

Collector’s Day at the Museum Nov 13, 10am-3pm, Meet local collectors and see their unique collections. Get ideas to start or improve your own. No buying, selling or appraisals. Free. 782-0061. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St.

Holiday Hall Exhibition and Sale Nov 13-Dec 18, 10am-5pm Mon-Fri, 10am- 3pm Sat, Unique exhibition featuring more than 50 regional and local artists. Handmade jewelry, ceramics, wood, fiber, glass and much more. (Closed Thanksgiving Day.) 523-2631. Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St.

Memorial’s Festival of Trees Nov 20-28, 10am-8pm, 4-8pm Thanksgiving Day, View 150 decorated trees, wreaths and centerpieces, gingerbread village and holiday market filled with unique gifts. $5-$2. Orr Building. 788-4301. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave.

Dana-Thomas House Holiday Decorations Nov 26-28, Dec 1-25, 9am-4pm Wed-Sun, Tours given about every 20 minutes. Last tour starts with video around 3:45 p.m. and ends just prior to 5 p.m. Suggested donation $5, $3 children, $13 families. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. 782-6776. Dana-Thomas House, 301 E. Lawrence.

December

Old Capitol Holiday Walks Dec 1, 2, 8, 15, 22, 5-8pm, Discover the charm of downtown - stroll the festive streets and enjoy unique shopping and dining, creative window displays, free entertainment, horse-drawn trolley rides, lighted holiday tree, and more. 544-1723, www.downtownspringfield.org. Downtown Springfield.

Springfield Jaycee and Ansar Shrine Holiday Parade Dec. 4, 10am, Features floats from various Springfield organizations, high school bands, candy and Santa Claus. Springfieldjaycees.org. Downtown Springfield.

Luminaria Evening at Dana-Thomas House Dec 19, 4-8pm, Over 950 candles in paper sacks line the sidewalks and horizontal ledges of the sprawling 12,600 square foot Prairie style structure. Suggested donation $3, $1 child. 782-6776. Dana-Thomas House, 301 E. Lawrence.

First Night Dec 31, 6:30-10pm, An alcohol-free event for the entire family featuring live music, dance and theatrical performances. 785-7960. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St.

February

Maple Syrup Time Demonstrations Saturday and Sundays Feb through mid-Mar, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, Collect the sap as it flows from the trees and cook it down into pure maple syrup. 529-1111. Lincoln Memorial Garden, 2301 E. Lake Shore Dr.