Downtown Springfield, Inc.

10/13/2026

🔔 We need your help sharing this opportunity with local educators! 🔔

The inaugural Festival of Wreaths is coming downtown this holiday season, and we’re inviting school and student art programs to participate. Not only will we provide the wreaths, but organizations will earn a minimum of $50 toward their program — and potentially more thanks to the silent auction and People’s Choice prizes!

We’re reaching out to districts and departments on our end, but we’d love your help to make sure every youth arts program has the chance to apply. Click the share button to grab the link, or tag the educators in your life in the comments below!

There’s only 50 slots in this year’s event, so apply today: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf1SbSdoWwY-Ou2eW-Ak1UA5rIhRHup88r9OfSt1YyT8olwWg/viewform

10/10/2026

SNEAK PEAK!! Come check out a preview of the new SOMTAs today at the Old Capitol Farmers Market 🌱 🎨✨

10/09/2026

🌜Friday Night Live? 🎶

Bloom W**e Bar & Florals is a lead partner in helping us activate the plaza by bringing free live music to the heart of the city.

A HUGE thanks for the big lift in getting this going!

10/09/2026

Are you as excited for the SMOTAs as we are?? Tomorrow, Saturday October 10, join us at the Old Capitol Farmers Market 🌱 for the first unveiling of a SMOTA (Springfield Museum of Tiny Art)!! 🖼️

A little surprise 🙌🏻 to brighten up the end of your week, we will be showcasing survivor art from Prairie Center and they will be on site to tell you all about their services and offerings to the community. View DSI tiny art as well!!

Come and take a (tiny) look! 👀

10/08/2026

Opportunity for Sangamon County Art Students! ❄️ We're bringing a new tradition to downtown this holiday season with the inaugural Festival of Wreaths!

School and student art programs/classes are invited to apply. We'll provide up to 50 organizations with a wreath, then display the completed pieces downtown before auctioning them off. Participating organizations will also earn 50% of the auction price (with a minimum of $50) and cash prizes are available for our People's Choice winners. 🎉

But the first step is to apply! Schools and organizations, please submit your info here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf1SbSdoWwY-Ou2eW-Ak1UA5rIhRHup88r9OfSt1YyT8olwWg/viewform

10/07/2026

Our love for Levitt AMP Springfield Music Series presented by PNC Bank runs deep! ❤️

As the former director of the concert program, DSI's Jay Shanle will take the stage at the upcoming Illinois Main Street conference to showcase how Levitt AMP Springfield helped transform an underused downtown space into a vibrant, culture anchor.

This is just one of the many breakout sessions, workshops, and lectures planned for the conference, which will be held at various locations throughout downtown Springfield November 18-20.

Tickets are available now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-illinois-main-street-conference-tickets-1988635343846

10/06/2026

A grocery store downtown?

🛒 Grant opportunity: Bringing fresh food closer to home

Every Springfield neighborhood deserves easy access to fresh, healthy food. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is now accepting applications for Round 3 of its New Stores in Food Deserts program, part of the Illinois Grocery Initiative.

The program will award a total of $20.8 million, with individual grants of $500,000 to $5.2 million. Grants help open new grocery stores in eligible food desert areas and can cover:
✅ Property purchase, construction, and renovation
✅ Equipment and fixtures
✅ Up to two years of startup operating costs, including wages and initial food inventory

Who can apply: units of local government, and independent grocers or co-ops with fewer than 500 employees and no more than four locations.

📅 Applications are due December 9, 2026 at 5:00 PM. Applicants who submit by November 25 can get an early eligibility review.

Free application assistance is available through Western Illinois University's Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs.

👉 Full details: https://dceo.illinois.gov/aboutdceo/grantopportunities/3295-4240.html

Photo Credit - https://www.facebook.com/SpringfieldRewind/photos/osco-drug-510-east-adams-on-the-square-downtown-1979/10157006053768558/

10/03/2026

🤗What's German for 'mouth watering'?😍

Guten Morgen! The Old Capitol Farmers Market presented by HSHS St. John's is serving a festive German fare from Turasky's Farm!

Thanks to Leslie, Terry, Phil (and son)!

10/02/2026

We ❤️ downtown, all our downtown partners, and ESPECIALLY supporting the children’s hospital!! ✨

Grab your tickets today before these get sold out. A perfect night to celebrate and support!! 🙌🏻

At Resource One, we're passionate about supporting the communities we serve. That's why we're honored to be a host for Toast to Downtown, part of the Toast of the Town fundraising series benefiting HSHS St. John's Children's Hospital.

We hope you'll join us October 17 for a fun evening in downtown Springfield while supporting the important work being done for children and families throughout our region!

🎟️ Tickets available through October 10: https://host.nxt.blackbaud.com/registration-form/?formId=8602647f-fc89-4398-9f9b-75e5ad92dbd7&envId=p-mIXx9pQ-tU2KrBPf65nbjg&zone=usa

Trouble accessing the link? Tap the three dots (...) and choose "Open in external browser."

Thank you to our co-hosts INB, N.A., Isringhausen Imports, TROXELL!

Heavy Hors d’Oeuvres- Bloom W**e Bar & Florals
Sips and Sweets- Whimsy Tea Company
Live Music- Micah Walk Music