Experience Level: Beginner Step back in time with turn-of-the-century dances at Dances of the Gilded Age on Mondays, Jan. 27 through March 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Mansion. In this elegant setting, instructor Jeanette Watts will teach 1900-era ballroom styles including the waltz and two-step, reflecting the graceful movements that captivated society […]

Experience Level: Beginner Connect with your body in a peaceful environment during one of our winter 2025 Community Yoga classes on Wednesdays, Jan. 29, Feb. 5, March 5 and April 9 from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Mansion Library. Josie Heck with Yoga Off the Square will help you gently flow through a series of poses with the […]

Experience Level: Beginner Take an enchanting journey through domestic and international vineyards with wine educator Mike Lee at Talking & Tasting Wines: An Intro to Wines of the World on Fridays, Jan. 31, Feb. 21 and March 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Mansion Library. These sampling sessions coincide with our Weekend Wind Downs, where you can extend […]

Need a good place to relax and concentrate on your latest read? Then swing out to the Mansion for our Silent Book Club from 5 to 8 p.m. on select Mondays. The evening will begin with a brief group discussion of what we are currently reading and to swap recommendations. Then participants will break up […]

Experience Level: Beginner Learn about the process of making sourdough bread at Beginner Sourdough Breadmaking on Sunday, Feb. 9 and March 16 from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Mansion Kitchen and Carriage House. (Each class will cover the same material). Instructor Hannah Fink will cover the basic biology of a ferment and what it […]

Celebrate Valentine’s Day at Paint Your Partner on Friday, Feb. 14 in the Mansion from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Inspired by the Paint Your Partner Challenge, guests will enjoy a casual date night with pizza, paint, drinks and laughs. Each table will be supplied with paint brushes, acrylic paints and a canvas. Seated across from […]

Experience Level: Beginner Learn about decorating wedding-themed cookies at Wedding Cookie Decorating on Saturday, Feb. 15 from 12 to 3 p.m. in the Mansion Carriage House. Cookie decorator Jennifer Holhubner will walk students through decorating with royal icing, crusting butter cream and rolled buttercream as they learn wet-on-wet techniques, outlining, flooding how to make flowers. […]

Experience Level: Beginner Take part in a delicious series at Wines of the World on Wednesdays, Feb. 19, March 12, March 26 and April 9 from 6 to 8 p.m. […]

Experience Level: Beginner Level up your coffee and teatime and Learn to Bake Scones on Monday, Feb. 24 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Mansion Carriage House. Scones are […]

You won’t want to miss the final class of Dances of the Gilded Age, which will be A Fancy Dress Ball on Monday, March 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. […]

Experience Level: Beginner Learn to paint on a beautiful surface at Santorini Stone Painting on Wednesday, March 5 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Mansion Solarium. Mined in Greece, […]

Experience Level: Beginner Learn about the process of making sourdough bread at Beginner Sourdough Breadmaking on Sunday, June 29 and Aug. 10 from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Mansion Kitchen and […]

Have you ever wondered who lived on the land that now makes up Allerton Park prior to the Allerton family? Learn more about the prehistory and early history of the […]

Whether you like eating pie or factoring pi, we’ve got you covered with Puzzles and Pi(e) on Friday, March 14 from 3:14 to 5 p.m. in the Mansion. Join us […]

Experience Level: Beginner Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by taking part in Irish Baked Goods: Barmbrack & Soda Bread on Monday, March 17 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Mansion Carriage House. In this […]

Experience Level: Ages 10+ Learn about soft pastels and ways to use them through basic mark-making techniques at Introduction to Pastel Painting on Tuesday, March 18 from 12 to 3 […]

Experience Level: Beginners Join us for Woodcarving for Beginners Monday through Friday, March 24-28 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in The Studio. Experienced woodcarver Lance Noone will lead this […]

Experience Level: Beginner Learn to make your own soap at a Soap Making Demonstration on Sunday, April 6 from 1:30 to 4 p.m. in the Mansion Carriage House. Artist Sally Walsh will […]

Experience Level: Beginner Learn a unique art form at Intro to Mosaic Art on Wednesday, April 16 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in The Mansion Library Kari Keller will teach students […]

Experience Level: Beginner (all ages) Use plant-based materials in an environmentally-friendly process at Indigo Dyeing with the Environment in Mind on Wednesday, April 16 from 5 to 8 p.m. in […]

Experience Level: Beginner (ages 15+) Learn about cheese-making at Making Fresh Mozzarella on Tuesday, May 27 and Wednesday, June 11 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Mansion Solarium. Instructor Lee Schuler will take students through the process of turning milk to curd and curd into fresh mozzarella. Students will be able to sample their […]

Experience Level: Beginner Learn to decorate summer-themed cookies with royal icing, butter cream and rolled buttercream at Summer Cookie Decorating on Wednesday, June 18 from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Mansion Carriage House. Instructor Jennifer Holhubner will walk students through wet-on-wet technique, outlining and flooding, and how to make flowers. Each participant will leave […]

Experience Level: Beginner Learn how to use edible flowers in your cooking at Eat Your Flowers on Tuesday, July 8 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Mansion Carriage House. Learn from Instructor and Blue Dragonfly Catering Owner Leah Bodine about what Mother Nature has provided for beautiful additions to our meals. Students will make […]

Experience Level: Beginner Explore the botany, natural history and flavors of several local wild edible plants at Edible Midwest Natives on Wednesday, July 16 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the Mansion Carriage House. Heidi Leuszler, the owner and head chef of Berries and Flour in Champaign, will focus on native plants that are harvestable […]

Experience Level: Beginner Save money by learning how to make several everyday condiments at Make Your Own Condiments on Tuesday, July 29 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Mansion Carriage House. In this class, instructor Leah Bodine will help students create the following homemade condiments: ketchup, stone-ground mustard, mayonnaise, butter, sour cream, buttermilk and […]

Experience Level: Beginner Learn how to create unique Allerton-inspired prints at Printmaking in Nature on Wednesday, July 30 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Mansion Carriage House. Although printmaking is often done with linoleum blocks and ink, it can also be done with gelatin. Instructor Sally Walsh will walk students through the different […]

Experience Level: Beginner Learn how to grow herbs in the Central Illinois climate and then taste how they are used in a meal at Cooking with Herbs on Saturday, Aug. 9 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m in the Herb Garden and Mansion Carriage House. Join Kay Karnes, Master Gardener and Mid-America Gardener panelist, in the Herb […]

Artist-in-Resident Joha Harrison will facilitate an evening of creating community-based art at A Community Collage: An Artist-in-Residence Outreach Event on Monday, Aug. 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Mansion Library. In an open-house style setting, Harrison, a California-based photographer and painter, will help participants create an abstract collage that will be turned into […]

Experience Level: Beginner Learn how to make beautiful and delicious focaccia bread at Focaccia Art on Tuesday, Aug. 12 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Mansion Carriage House. Instructor Leah Bodine will lead students through the process of this unique art form, making focaccia bread from scratch, then ‘painting’ it with vegetables and herbs to […]

Experience Level: Beginner Learn to paint on a beautiful surface at Santorini Stone Painting on Wednesday, Sept. 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Mansion Solarium. Mined in Greece, Santorini stone is a strikingly white and sparkling natural stone, often cut and polished for construction and landscape purposes. Instructor Sara Gentry will show how this smooth […]

Experience Level: All levels Step into a world where nature meets creativity at Mushroom Mosaics on Sunday, Sept. 7 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Mansion Carriage House. In this workshop perfect for beginners and seasoned crafters alike, instructor Danielle Reed will guide students through the process of designing and making their own decorative mushroom […]

Experience Level: Beginner Need a good place to relax and concentrate on your latest read? Then swing out for our Silent Book Club on selected Mondays* from 5 to 7 p.m. The evening will begin with a brief group discussion of what we are currently reading and to swap recommendations. Then participants will break up […]

Experience Level: BeginnerNeed a good place to relax and concentrate on your latest read? Then swing for our Silent Book Club on selected Mondays* from 5 to 8 p.m. The evening will begin with a brief group discussion of what we are currently reading and to swap recommendations. Then participants will break up to do what […]

Experience Level: Beginner Learn how to arrange flowers like a pro at Flower Arranging on Tuesday, Sept. 9 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Mansion Carriage House. Gather with friends and friendly folks to learn about a variety of late summer/fall flowers from instructor Maggie Taylor. Students will experiment with fresh-cut flowers grown on […]

Get ready for a delightfully unpredictable time at an Improv Show on Saturday, Sept. 13 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Mansion Library. The show provided by Zoo Improv is part of our Sept. 13-14 Weekend Wind Down, where you can extend your stay with discounted lodging and take part in other optional activities. […]

Experience Level: Beginner Give the beloved PBS series Downton Abbey a proper sendoff at Historical Dancing: A Downton Abbey Ball on Monday, Sept. 15 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Mansion Library. This evening soiree — led by instructor Jeanette Watts — will feature fun and easy-to-learn dances covering the era of 1912 to […]

Experience Level: BeginnerLearn about the process of making sourdough bread at Beginner Sourdough Breadmaking on Sundays, Sept. 21 or Oct. 19 from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Mansion Kitchen and Carriage House. (Each class covers the same material.) Instructor Hannah Fink will cover the basic biology of a ferment and what it means to a sourdough culture, […]

Experience Level: BeginnerUse artwork to make a wardrobe accessory at Silk Scarf Painting on Sunday, Sept. 21 from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Mansion Library. Instructor Sally Walsh will lead this relaxing and creative workshop where students will use tips and tricks to paint on silk. All students will take home a one-of-a-kind scarf. […]

Experience Level: Beginner Learn about the process of making sourdough bread at Beginner Sourdough Breadmaking on Sundays, Sept. 21 or Oct. 19 from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Mansion Kitchen and Carriage House. (Each class covers the same material.) Instructor Hannah Fink will cover the basic biology of a ferment and what it means to a sourdough […]

Experience Level: Beginner Use artwork to make a wardrobe accessory at Silk Scarf Painting on Sunday, Sept. 21 from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Mansion Library. Instructor Sally Walsh will lead this relaxing and creative workshop where students will use tips and tricks to paint on silk. All students will take home a one-of-a-kind […]

Spend time in the natural beauty of Allerton at our annual Family Campout on Saturday, Sept. 27-Sunday, Sept. 28. This hassle-free camping experience includes the rare chance to camp overnight in the Meadow! Pick and choose from a variety of optional activities as you enjoy the great outdoors and learn about nature with your family. Optional activities […]