Friday:
Alicia Grimes, YouTube Artist, will be in person at the Hancock Stadium/Redbird Arena (located at 211 N. Main Street, 3rd floor in Normal) from 3 – 5 pm for a meet and greet and Listening Party where she will be available for pictures with fans, signing autographs and fans will be able to listen to new her newly released album. Admission is $5 available at the door. For More Information, call 317-255-0660.
Trippin BIllies will perform at the Limelight Eventplex (located at 8102 N. University in Peoria) beginning at 8 pm. Tickets are $9 in advance or $14 the day of the show (plus $3 under 21 surcharge collected at the door) and are available now at the Limelight Eventplex box office or online at www.LimelightEventplex.com
Wine & Cheese Under the Stars will take place at the Peoria Riverfront Museum from 7 – 9 pm in the Dome Planetarium. Featuring wines from August Hill Winery in Utica, Illinois, you’ll relax with a variety of local wines under a full-dome spectacular night sky. Enjoy the latest news from space and take a real-time Uniview tour across the Universe with an astronomy expert as your guide. Guests will receive up to three glasses of wine or sparkling juice, and a variety of cheese & crackers with paid admission. Tickets are $25 for Museum members or $30 for the public and are available by calling 309-686-7000 or online at http://www.peoriariverfrontmuseum.org
The 7th Annual Festival of Trees kicks off on Thursday with a Jingle & Mingle Kick Off Cocktail Party from 5:30 – 8:30 pm at First Federated Church of Peoria’s Life Together Center (formerly the Great Central Insurance Building located at 3625 N. Sheridan Rd. in Peoria) and continues Friday & Saturday from 10 am – 8 pm and on Sunday from 10 am – 5 pm. The Festival of Trees is a community-wide event with 80 beautifully decorated trees and wreaths, centerpieces and other holiday decor items on display and for bidding on to take home. Other highlights from the weekend will include a holiday marketplace, an out-and-about gift certificate tree, a snack shop, a Saturday fun day, on-going family friendly entertainment and more. All proceeds benefit Crittenton Centers. Admission for the Thursday cocktail party is $35 and for the rest of the festival is $6 for adults, $3 for senior citizens and children aged 3 – 14 and free for kids aged 2 and under. For more information, call 309-674-0105 or visit www.crittentoncenters.org
Come Fly With Me: A Tribute to Frank Sinatra will take place at Bradley University’s Hartmann Center on Friday at 8 pm and Saturday at 7 pm & 9:30 pm. Celebrating Sinatra’s 100th birthday, and featuring Bradley alumnus Eric Petersen and the Bradley Jazz Ensemble, tickets are $25 for adults and $5 for students and are available at the Hartmann box office or by calling 309-677-2650.
Since he graduated from Bradley in 2003 with a degree in Theatre Arts, Eric has performed prominently on stage and screen. On Broadway, Eric starred in Shrek: The Musical, Peter and the Starcatcher, and will appear in December as Buddy in the Radio City Music Hall Holiday show Elf. On screen, has been seen in numerous network TV shows including Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, CSI, Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, GCB, As The World Turns, and the hit Disney Channel shows Jessie and Pair of Kings. He co-starred as Arlo Barth, Kirstie Alley’s son, in the TVLand sitcom Kirstie. He was also recently seen as Simon Monjack in the LifeTime Network feature film, The Brittany Murphy Story.
Other special guests will appear on stage including former President of Music Operations of Warner Pictures, Mr. Doug Frank and Bradley’s Interim President, Dr. Stan Liberty.
Enjoy a Candlelight Walk through the Pointsettia Show at Luthy Botanical Garden (located at 2520 N. Prospect in Peoria) on Fridays and Saturdays through December 19th from 6 – 9 pm. The walk takes you through the Poinsettia Show at night, under the warm glow of hundreds of candles, while enjoying live performances of holiday music. The show runs throughout the days also from 10 am – 5 pm. Admission will be waived during the holidays, although donations are accepted. For more information, call 309-686-3362 or visit www.peoriaparks.org
Jenny Zigrino will perform at the Jukebox Comedy Club on Thursday at 8 pm and Friday & Saturday at 8 pm & 10:30 pm. Tickets are $15 for the Thursday show and the Friday & Saturday 10:30 pm shows and $15 for the other shows. For more information and to reserve seats, call 309-673-5853 or visit www.jukeboxcomedy.com
The Peoria Rivermen will take on the Louisiana IceGators at the Peoria Civic Center Arena beginning at 7 pm. Tickets are $20, $17, $12 and $10 in advance or $1 more the day of the game and are available at the Peoria Civic Center, all Ticketmaster locations, by phone at 309-676-1040 or online at www.Ticketmaster.com For more information about the Rivermen, visit www.Rivermen.net
Roger & Hammerstein’s Cinderella will be presented by Peoria Players Theatre beginning at 7:30 pm Wednesday through Saturday and at 2 pm on Sunday. Tickets are $19 for adults and $12 for students aged 20 & under and are available beginning November 2 at the Peoria Players box office, by calling 309-688-4473 or online at www.PeoriaPlayers.org
Salsa at the Contemporary Art Center will feature a dance lesson from 8:30 – 9:30 pm and open dancing to DJ Ed Caballero from 9:30 pm – 12:30 am. A cash bar will be available. Admission is $4 for members or $7 for non-members. For more information, call 309-674-6877.
The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis will hold its Fall Bazaar at the Motherhouse (located at 1175 St. Francis Lane, East Peoria) on Friday from 9 am – 5 pm and on Saturday from 9 am – 2 pm. Featuring home-baked breads and cookies, fresh doughnuts, Christmas decorations, unique jewelry, plants, quilts, religious articles plus handmade items including hats, scarves, afghans and baby blankets. Admission to the event is free. All proceeds will be used to assist the poor. For more information, call 309-655-3897.
Saturday:
Art-spiration: Turkey Time! will take place at the Peoria Riverfront Museum beginning at 2 pm in the museum lobby when you’ll make fun three-dimensional turkey crafts that will be perfect decorations on your family’s Thanksgiving table. Admission is free to members or $11 for adults, $10 for seniors citizens 60+ or $9 for youth 3-17 plus Peoria county residents receive a 15% discount. For more information, call 309-686-7000 or visit www.peoriariverfrontmuseum.org
Cool Chemistry Demonstrations will take place at the Peoria Riverfront Museum from 1- 2 pm when Bradley University Chemistry Club students provide activities and perform chemistry demonstrations in the museum lobby. Safe and fun for the whole family. Admission is free to members or $11 for adults, $10 for seniors citizens 60+ or $9 for youth 3-17 plus Peoria county residents receive a 15% discount. For more information, call 309-686-7000 or visit www.peoriariverfrontmuseum.org
Eats & Drinks of the World will take place at Five Points Washington (located at 360 N Wilmor Road in Washington) from 6 – 10 pm. Experience the flavors of fine foods & drinks from countries around the world plus raffles and music throughout the evening. Proceeds benefit the American Red Cross.Ticket are $10 and are available at the door or online at www.fivepointswashington.org
The 31st Annual Festival of Lights Parade will take place on Saturday in East Peoria beginning at 5:45 pm. The parade covers three miles of Washington Street starting on one side of the city and ending just past downtown featuring floats shaped entirely from LED lights including Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, the chopper motorcycle, a 70-foot long float of the famous Clydesdale horse team pulling a delivery wagon, Frosty the Snowman, the starship Enterprise illuminated with 48,000 lights, and the 95-foot-long smoke-spewing China dragon. For more information including a map of the parade route, visit www.cityofeastpeoria.com/festival-of-lights
John Kadlecik Band, founding member of Dark Star Orchestra, will perform at the Limelight Eventplex (located at 8102 N. University in Peoria) beginning at 8 pm. Tickets are $15 in advance or $18 the day of the show (plus $3 under 21 surcharge collected at the door) and are available now at the Limelight Eventplex box office or online at www.LimelightEventplex.com
Laser Light Night will be held at the Peoria Riverfront Museum staring at 6 pm and again at 7 pm featuring music from Led Zeppelin and U2. Admission is $5 for one show and $8 for both shows; members are free. For more information, visit www.peoriariverfrontmuseum.org
Peoria Cabaret Theatre will host an Open Mic Night in the Broadway Lounge (located in the MAXAM Building at 316 SW Washington Street in Peoria) from 8 pm – Midnight. Admission is free and a cash bar will be available with $2 drafts and profits from the bar will benefit the Penguin Project. Some musical theatre sheet music will be provided, but we encourage you to bring in your own music. For more information, call 309-494-9100 or visit www.waterhousepeoria.com
The Peoria Symphony Orchestra will present Bravura! featuring Brinton Smith, cello, at the Peoria Civic Center Theater beginning at 8 pm. Tickets are $28 to $74 or $19 for students and are available at the Peoria Symphony Orchestra office, by calling 309-671-1096 or online at www.peoriasymphony.org
The Peoria Ballet will celebrate its 50th anniversary season at the Peoria Public Library North Branch (located at 3001 West Grand Parkway in Peoria) with a reading of The Nutcracker and performances of selected scenes from this year’s production at 10:30 am. Artistic Director Ian Poulis and a few dancers will be available for photos and a Q&A after the performance. For more information, call 309-497-2141.
The 3rd Annual Christmas Market, an Alternative Gift Fair, will be held at Northminster Presbyterian Church (located at 10720 N Knoxville Ave. in Peoria) from 9 am – 1 pm. Featuring over 22 local and global charities, purchase items from a list of necessities and goods to benefit those locally and from around the world. Honor or remember someone you love by giving a gift in the spirit of Christmas. For each donation, shoppers receive a holiday card with a description of the organization and “gift.” For more information, visit www.northminster.us
The 7th Annual Festival of Trees kicks off on Thursday with a Jingle & Mingle Kick Off Cocktail Party from 5:30 – 8:30 pm at First Federated Church of Peoria’s Life Together Center (formerly the Great Central Insurance Building located at 3625 N. Sheridan Rd. in Peoria) and continues Friday & Saturday from 10 am – 8 pm and on Sunday from 10 am – 5 pm. The Festival of Trees is a community-wide event with 80 beautifully decorated trees and wreaths, centerpieces and other holiday decor items on display and for bidding on to take home. Other highlights from the weekend will include a holiday marketplace, an out-and-about gift certificate tree, a snack shop, a Saturday fun day, on-going family friendly entertainment and more. All proceeds benefit Crittenton Centers. Admission for the Thursday cocktail party is $35 and for the rest of the festival is $6 for adults, $3 for senior citizens and children aged 3 – 14 and free for kids aged 2 and under. For more information, call 309-674-0105 or visit www.crittentoncenters.org
Come Fly With Me: A Tribute to Frank Sinatra will take place at Bradley University’s Hartmann Center on Friday at 8 pm and Saturday at 7 pm & 9:30 pm. Celebrating Sinatra’s 100th birthday, and featuring Bradley alumnus Eric Petersen and the Bradley Jazz Ensemble, tickets are $25 for adults and $5 for students and are available at the Hartmann box office or by calling 309-677-2650.
Since he graduated from Bradley in 2003 with a degree in Theatre Arts, Eric has performed prominently on stage and screen. On Broadway, Eric starred in Shrek: The Musical, Peter and the Starcatcher, and will appear in December as Buddy in the Radio City Music Hall Holiday show Elf. On screen, has been seen in numerous network TV shows including Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, CSI, Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, GCB, As The World Turns, and the hit Disney Channel shows Jessie and Pair of Kings. He co-starred as Arlo Barth, Kirstie Alley’s son, in the TVLand sitcom Kirstie. He was also recently seen as Simon Monjack in the LifeTime Network feature film, The Brittany Murphy Story.
Other special guests will appear on stage including former President of Music Operations of Warner Pictures, Mr. Doug Frank and Bradley’s Interim President, Dr. Stan Liberty.
Enjoy a Candlelight Walk through the Pointsettia Show at Luthy Botanical Garden (located at 2520 N. Prospect in Peoria) on Fridays and Saturdays through December 19th from 6 – 9 pm. The walk takes you through the Poinsettia Show at night, under the warm glow of hundreds of candles, while enjoying live performances of holiday music. The show runs throughout the days also from 10 am – 5 pm. Admission will be waived during the holidays, although donations are accepted. For more information, call 309-686-3362 or visit www.peoriaparks.org
Jenny Zigrino will perform at the Jukebox Comedy Club on Thursday at 8 pm and Friday & Saturday at 8 pm & 10:30 pm. Tickets are $15 for the Thursday show and the Friday & Saturday 10:30 pm shows and $15 for the other shows. For more information and to reserve seats, call 309-673-5853 or visit www.jukeboxcomedy.com
The Peoria Rivermen will take on the Louisiana IceGators at the Peoria Civic Center Arena beginning at 7 pm. Tickets are $20, $17, $12 and $10 in advance or $1 more the day of the game and are available at the Peoria Civic Center, all Ticketmaster locations, by phone at 309-676-1040 or online at www.Ticketmaster.com For more information about the Rivermen, visit www.Rivermen.net
Roger & Hammerstein’s Cinderella will be presented by Peoria Players Theatre beginning at 7:30 pm Wednesday through Saturday and at 2 pm on Sunday. Tickets are $19 for adults and $12 for students aged 20 & under and are available beginning November 2 at the Peoria Players box office, by calling 309-688-4473 or online at www.PeoriaPlayers.org
The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis will hold its Fall Bazaar at the Motherhouse (located at 1175 St. Francis Lane, East Peoria) on Friday from 9 am – 5 pm and on Saturday from 9 am – 2 pm. Featuring home-baked breads and cookies, fresh doughnuts, Christmas decorations, unique jewelry, plants, quilts, religious articles plus handmade items including hats, scarves, afghans and baby blankets. Admission to the event is free. All proceeds will be used to assist the poor. For more information, call 309-655-3897.
Peoria’s oldest running race, the 45th Annual Turkey Trot, will take place at Detweiller Park at 1 pm. Despite rain, shine or snow, the 4-mile run and the 1/2 mile youth fun-run that will take place immediately before, awards a trophy and a turkey to the top two finishers in each division. Registration is available at the Noble Center (located 1125 W. Lake Ave. in Peoria) for $16 through 11/19or $18 after 11/20 and $2 for the Youth Fun Run and all entrants receive a t-shirt. For more information, call 309-681-2866 or email msuellentrop@peoriaparks.org
The Peoria PlayHouse Children’s Museum’s new Celebrate Peoria program will allow guests to celebrate Native American culture with activities including storytelling, drum and dance performance, and hands-on art activities from Noon – 5 pm. These activities are free with museum admission, which is $8 for ages 1 – 64, $7 for active military personnel and senior citizens (65+) and free for kids under 1 and Playhouse members: Free For more information, call 309-323-6900 or visit www.peoriaplayhouse.org
The Peoria Rivermen will take on the Louisiana IceGators at the Peoria Civic Center Arena beginning at 3 pm. Tickets are $20, $17, $12 and $10 in advance or $1 more the day of the game and are available at the Peoria Civic Center, all Ticketmaster locations, by phone at 309-676-1040 or online at www.Ticketmaster.com For more information about the Rivermen, visit www.Rivermen.net
A Vintage Sports Card & Memorabilia Appraisal will take place at Peoria Public Library’s North Branch (located at 3001 West Grand Parkway in Peoria) beginning at 2 pm. Vintage sports card and memorabilia appraiser Michael Osacky will be on hand to evaluate pre-1970 sports cards and memorabilia from all sports and will give a presentation on collecting sports memorabilia. A free verbal appraisal of your vintage sports memorabilia will be available afterwards. To reserve your appraisal spot, call 309-497-2150.
The 3rd Annual Christmas Market, an Alternative Gift Fair, will be held at Northminster Presbyterian Church (located at 10720 N Knoxville Ave. in Peoria) from 9 am – 1 pm. Featuring over 22 local and global charities, purchase items from a list of necessities and goods to benefit those locally and from around the world. Honor or remember someone you love by giving a gift in the spirit of Christmas. For each donation, shoppers receive a holiday card with a description of the organization and “gift.” For more information, visit www.northminster.us
The 7th Annual Festival of Trees kicks off on Thursday with a Jingle & Mingle Kick Off Cocktail Party from 5:30 – 8:30 pm at First Federated Church of Peoria’s Life Together Center (formerly the Great Central Insurance Building located at 3625 N. Sheridan Rd. in Peoria) and continues Friday & Saturday from 10 am – 8 pm and on Sunday from 10 am – 5 pm. The Festival of Trees is a community-wide event with 80 beautifully decorated trees and wreaths, centerpieces and other holiday decor items on display and for bidding on to take home. Other highlights from the weekend will include a holiday marketplace, an out-and-about gift certificate tree, a snack shop, a Saturday fun day, on-going family friendly entertainment and more. All proceeds benefit Crittenton Centers. Admission for the Thursday cocktail party is $35 and for the rest of the festival is $6 for adults, $3 for senior citizens and children aged 3 – 14 and free for kids aged 2 and under. For more information, call 309-674-0105 or visit www.crittentoncenters.org
Enjoy a Candlelight Walk through the Pointsettia Show at Luthy Botanical Garden (located at 2520 N. Prospect in Peoria) on Fridays and Saturdays through December 19th from 6 – 9 pm. The walk takes you through the Poinsettia Show at night, under the warm glow of hundreds of candles, while enjoying live performances of holiday music. The show runs throughout the days also from 10 am – 5 pm. Admission will be waived during the holidays, although donations are accepted. For more information, call 309-686-3362 or visit www.peoriaparks.org
Roger & Hammerstein’s Cinderella will be presented by Peoria Players Theatre beginning at 7:30 pm Wednesday through Saturday and at 2 pm on Sunday. Tickets are $19 for adults and $12 for students aged 20 & under and are available beginning November 2 at the Peoria Players box office, by calling 309-688-4473 or online at www.PeoriaPlayers.org