Articles - Decatur Magazine

in this issue: December 2023 / January 2024

features Holiday Idea BookFrom Thanksgiving weekend to New Year’s Day, we celebrate all the traditions that help create fond memories of the holiday season in Decatur. From all of us to all of you, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Cover Illustration by Tronnie Goss. Trinkets & ToysThe tradition of hanging Christmas stockings is a […]

December 2023 / January 2024 Holiday DatebookArtConcerts & Live MusicHistory & MuseumsNature & GardensEvents for Children & FamiliesSports, Health & FitnessSpecial Events HOLIDAY DATEBOOK St. John’s Living Nativity – November 18-19St. John’s Lutheran Church 2727 N. Union St. Kick off the Christmas season with live animals and over 200 volunteers bringing the story of […]

features Monsters, Mystery & Mayhem We’re reminded of Maurice Sendak’s “Where the Wild Things Are,” an award-winning children’s book that is celebrating its 60th anniversary this November. While Sendak uses his vivid imagination to conjure up an epic adventure for Max, we discovered our own “monsters, mystery and mayhem” right here in Decatur. Cover Illustration by […]

October / November 2023 Charity DatebookArtConcerts & Live MusicComedy & TheatreHistory & MuseumsNature & GardensEvents for Children & FamiliesSports, Health & FitnessFestivals, Markets & FairsSpecial Events CHARITY DATEBOOK A Taste of History – October 7Hieronymus Mueller Museum, 420 W. Eldorado St.; James Millikin Homestead, 125 N. Pine St.; Governor Oglesby Mansion, 421 W. William […]

features Across the State From the beautiful skyline of the Windy City and college gameday at Grange Grove, to the “Superbowl of Agriculture” and the best places for fried chicken right here at home, we discovered that life in Illinois can be downright delightful. Cover Illustration by Shani Goss. Beans in His PocketFollowing the historic thread […]

August / September 2023 Charity DatebookArtConcerts & Live MusicComedy & TheatreHistory & MuseumsNature & GardensEvents for Children & FamiliesSports, Health & FitnessFestivals & ExpositionsSpecial Events CHARITY DATEBOOK Culinary Cook-off – August 10Hickory Point Golf Pavilion, 727 W. Weaver Rd. Food, fun and friendly competition, taste dishes from GSI’s Chef Rachel Wear and Richland Community […]

features Long Live the Lake! Thanks to the vision of A. E. Staley and the foresight of civic leaders, Lake Decatur has delivered a vital water supply and source of recreation with the capacity to serve residents well into the future. Join us to celebrate the lake this summer. The original cover art created by artist […]

June / July 2023 Charity DatebookArtConcerts & Live MusicComedy & TheatreHistory & MuseumsNature & GardensEvents for Children & FamiliesSports, Health & FitnessFestivals & ExpositionsSummer Markets CHARITY DATEBOOK The Wurst Cornhole Tournament Ever! – June 17Door 4 Brewing Co., 1214 W. Cerro Gordo St. Cornhole tournament with cash prizes, live music by Pizazz, yard games, on-site […]

By Patricia Lathrom In the summer of 1923, a spectacular 4-day celebration took place in Decatur to honor the completion of Lake Decatur. At the time, Decatur was a manufacturing force in America’s growing prosperity and home to industrial giants such as Mueller Company, Wagner Castings and A.E. Staley Manufacturing Company. We even had a […]

features Reasons to Celebrate Decatur has often been the center of attention, appearing in national headlines more than once throughout the years. During one of Decatur’s more eventful decades in the 1920s, our city attracted industry titans and their families, political leaders, emerging entrepreneurs, along with all the celebrity that follows them. And made history […]