Lasers and fireworks, a torchlight parade, a two-day Lincoln-era block party and a re-created Lincoln White House dinner are some of the many events taking shape for the four-day celebration surrounding the opening of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum on April 19.

Lincoln-era re-enactors, music and theater groups, church choirs and dancers will spread out over downtown Springfield during a "Looking for Lincoln" block party on Saturday and Sunday, April 16-17. Outdoor stages will be set up for performances. The Old State Capitol's House of Representatives chamber also will be converted into a performance area.

When the festival continues into Sunday, April 17, it will be joined by a host of other events.

Local religious leaders will hold an interfaith service of thanksgiving in honor of Lincoln at Union Square Park at 11 a.m.

At 6:30 p.m., Lincoln's farewell address to Springfield will be re-created at the Lincoln Depot, 10th and Monroe streets, where Lincoln left for his inauguration in Washington. After the speech, participants can take part in a torchlight parade from the train station to Union Square Park between Fifth and Sixth streets north of Jefferson Street.

At 8 p.m., the park will host an outdoor concert, fireworks and laser show. The concert will feature the 312th Army Band, whose music will be synchronized with the lasers.

A scholarly two-day conference, "Lincoln in the 21st Century," will also start that Sunday. The conference will take place at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and will examine Lincoln's wartime leadership, changing attitudes about race and marriage, and assassination. Some of the top Lincoln and Civil War-era scholars have committed to appear and read or discuss original scholarship.

On Monday, a fund-raiser for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation, the nonprofit organization that was established to support library/museum programming, will take place at the Renaissance Springfield Hotel. The menu will feature Lincoln-era food. Music will be provided by the 312th Army Band, and Lincoln scholar David Herbert Donald will be awarded the first David Herbert Donald Prize in Lincoln Studies.

On Tuesday, April 19, C-SPAN will broadcast the opening live, in conjunction with its national essay contest, which asks students to write a contemporary version of the Gettysburg Address. The winning essay will be read by its author during the ceremony.

Most of the events will be free. However, some, such as the museum opening itself, might require signing up for reserved seating.

President Bush and former presidents are being invited, although there's been no word on whether any has made a commitment. For security reasons, their presence would alter public participation.

Other events are still being sketched out: a wreath-laying by dignitaries at the Lincoln Tomb and a VIP tour of the museum. The museum itself might open for free and for extended hours on April 19.

The latest list of events was released Wednesday by Gov. Rod Blagojevich's office. The four-day celebration, which will begin April 16, is being planned by the library foundation. Costs will be paid from private sources.

Pete Sherman can be contacted at 788-1539 or pete.sherman@sj-r.com.