Download our full 2024 Events & Programming Calendar.

Our 2024 Signature Events

• February 10, SPARdi Gras - How Springfield Does Mardi Gras - Presented by TerraWise Homes
• March 15, St. Patrick's Day Music on Main featuring Spade McQuade
• April 27-28, 45th Annual Historic Springfield Tour of Homes and Gardens
• May 31, Springfield Summer Kick-Off
• July 3, Jumbo Shrimp Bike Social
• July 4, Fourth of July Throwback Baseball Game
• September 27, Springfield Spirits Night Halloween Kickoff
• October 25, Bike-A-Boo! Bike Social
• November 9, Jacksonville PorchFest
• November 29, Holiday Tree Lighting and Holiday Market
• December 10, Holiday Ride Bike Social

Our 2024 Community Meetings

• February 6, Quarterly Community Meeting | 6 PM at Historically Hoppy (1636 N Main)
• May 7, Quarterly Community Meeting
• September 3, Quarterly Community Meeting
• December 3, Annual Community Meeting

Our 2024 Historic Preservation Series

• March 5, Historic Preservation Workshop
• May 14, Historic Preservation Workshop
• June 12, Historic Preservation Workshop
• August 20, Historic Preservation Workshop

Our 2024 Community Cleanups

• We host 1 community cleanup per month to beautify our neighborhood
• See our 2024 Community Cleanup Calendar for more information

Tickets for the 2019 PorchFest Patrons Party are $75 - food and drinks (beer and wine) are included. 

Springfield Area Merchants and Business Association is very excited to announce the launch of our new Quarterly Mini-Grant program for Springfield businesses!

The Springfield Area Merchants and Business Association (SAMBA) offers $250 programming mini-grants to SAMBA members wishing to put on events or programming that promote the Springfield neighborhood.

The goal of the grant is to encourage events in Historic Springfield to show off the history and culture of our community. It is not intended to be used for fundraisers or political gatherings. Preference will be given to those public events that attract a diverse range of participation and promote development in Historic Springfield.

Past Awardees include The Sweet Spot & Urban Lounge, Simply Ke'say Boutique, Sweet Christi's, and Dare To Hire Different Inc. 

The SAMBA grant committee has the right to refuse any applicant if it is deemed the event does not fall under the goals of the Programming Grant.

Program Guidelines

Event Details

• Priority will be given to events held within the boundaries of Historic Springfield.
• Events can be ticketed or open to the public, but must not be restricted to private or exclusive participation. 
• First-time events OR existing events adding enhancements can qualify. 
• Events must be finalized with exact date and location, include a link to the Facebook event or attach a promotional poster image to corroborate. 
• If holding the event off-site of your business/property, include contract agreement with the chosen venue.
• All necessary insurance and security must be provided with application.

Submission Process

• Event Organizer must complete a Grant Application and provide contact information. 
• Grants are awarded on a quarterly basis, which makes the deadline for application submission within 30-60 days prior to the event.
• Grant applications will be judged on a number of criteria to include the creativity of the event, potential impact of the event, marketing of the event, and how well the event meshes with the mission of SPAR and SAMBA within Historic Springfield. 
• In the case of cancellation or postponement for more than 30 days, business will reimburse grant payment to SAMBA. 

Award Requirements

• Organizer is limited to one SAMBA mini-grant every 12 months.
• Organizer must turn in any feedback/survey documentation that they are asked to complete.

SAMBA requires that our organization is mentioned and advertised as a sponsor of the event on social media, and that the SAMBA logo is placed on any printed promotional materials.

DOWNLOAD THE GRANT APPLICATION: HERE

For our most recent Volunteer Spotlight, we interviewed Mallik Singareddy.

Tell us a bit about yourself: 

Mallik Singareddy was born and raised in India, moved to Jacksonville, and has lived in Historic Springfield for 13 years.

What kind of volunteer work have you done in Springfield?

I have been volunteering on two SPAR boards: the finance committee (for over a year) and asset management committee, which also includes the SPAR building restoration.

What has been your favorite event where you've volunteered?
Restoration of Historic houses is my passion. I enjoy volunteering my time working on the SPAR building project. I hope to see it brought back to its former glory in the near future.

What inspired you to volunteer with SPAR?

I had learned about SPAR when I first moved to Springfield and was trying to find out more about the history of my new home. I was fascinated by historic homes in the neighborhood and a very special community that welcomed me and my family to the Springfield. As we settled in the area, I felt the need to give something back to help our community to further flourish.

We'e excited to announce that SPAR Council has been awarded a grant to hire an AmeriCorps member.

The position will be 20 hours per week, with flexible hours, from October 1st, 2019 through July 31st, 2020. The selected AmeriCorps member will receive a stipend and may be eligible for educational benefits, paid health insurance and child care. The member will receive extensive training and their work will have a large positive impact on our diverse, vibrant community.

Click here for the full job description and contact information to apply.

About AmeriCorps: AmeriCorps engages more than 75,000 Americans in intensive service each year at nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and faith-based groups across the country. Since the program’s founding in 1994, almost 1 million AmeriCorps members have contributed more than 1.2 billion hours in service across America while tackling pressing problems and mobilizing millions of volunteers for the organizations they serve. For more information on AmeriCorps, visit their website here.

Jean Tanler has been settling in to her new role as Director of Development with SPAR. Please give her a warm welcome to the neighborhood when you see her.

A little about Jean:
Jean grew up in Jacksonville and recently returned home after living in New York City for many years. She worked in film and television, primarily in script research and development, before obtaining her Master’s in Urban & Regional Planning at Pratt Institute. Upon returning, she has found a renewed love for Jacksonville’s historic neighborhoods. She lives in Avondale where she is renovating her home and preparing for the first growing season of her urban farm. 

Jean is also a real estate investor, Realtor, and has seven years on non-profit management experience. Previously, she worked at the Business Outreach Center (BOC) Network, a micro-enterprise/small business development organization in New York City delivering customized business services to traditionally underserved groups, with a focus on low- and moderate-income entrepreneurs and their communities. Prior to BOC Network, she co-founded Local Labels, a retail company selling specialty foods and gifts made in NYC. Her experience also includes organizing and coordinating public involvement efforts as a Planner at Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, the Municipal Art Society, and the Regional Plan Association and organizing events and fundraising efforts at the Neighborhood Preservation Center, a non-profit resource center for the improvement and protection of neighborhoods. She is Secretary of the Board for the Jacksonville Real Estate Investors’ Association. She loves getting her hands dirty, scouring flea markets, and travel. 

On why she is excited about this job:
“My background is in community involvement, small business development, and urban planning. I’m excited about tapping into new sources of funding and developing programming that engages the community, allowing people to connect with their neighborhood. Historic Springfield is one of the best urban neighborhoods of the South. I look forward to advocating for Springfield and expanding its reach.”

On what she loves most about Springfield:
“I feel at home in Springfield’s diverse and tight-knit community. I have fallen in love with its historic homes, moss-draped tree canopy, and open porches. The neighborhood abounds with possibility. Its walkability, parks, and mixed-uses – not to mention its wonderful and welcoming residents – have set the stage for an urban renaissance in Jacksonville and make it one of the city’s most special and appealing neighborhoods.”