Arts & Entertainment

No matter what your idea of fun, we’ve got it here! From sculpture and painting to music, theater, dance and more, the River City’s rich history in the arts continues today, ensuring good times for all.

The Peoria Art Guild and Lakeview Museum showcase awe-inspiring works in their galleries, from the biggest names in art history to the cream of the crop of local talent.

One of the area’s signature cultural events, the Peoria Art Guild Fine Art Fair takes place every September. Nearly 40,000 people attend each year, sampling the diverse work of 150 artists in various mediums. The Guild also hosts the Junction City Art Fair in June, which features the work of 50 up-and-coming local artists and a student competition, plus live entertainment and eclectic food.

Larger-Than-Life Fairytales

Artists in residence at the Prairie Center of the Arts in Peoria’s Warehouse District worked with 150 local high school students to create Rapunzel, a large public art installation. After seeing a similar piece at the University of Illinois, Michele and Joe Richey brought the idea to Peoria through their artist-in-residence program at the Prairie Center. Illinois Central College Art Professor Judy Placko and fellow artist Morgan Elser worked with art classes from seven local high schools to bring the fairytale to life on the side of the Peoria Cordage building, home to the Prairie Center of the Arts.

The renovated warehouses along the riverfront host a colorful collection of artists working out of lofts and studios. Peoria is proud to host the workspace of sculptor and painter Lonnie Stewart, well known for his portraits of Princess Diana and Pope John Paul II, as well as a bronze sculpture of Mother Teresa. Stewart’s bust of President Ronald Reagan was installed in the Peace Garden at nearby Eureka College, Reagan’s alma mater.

Acclaimed sculptor, painter and musician Preston Jackson maintains a studio and gallery in the Contemporary Art Center, where he is also lead instructor of the CAC’s educational programs. A cultural hub, the CAC features exhibitions, artist studios, open mics, classes and weekly jazz and blues performances.

At the southern end of the warehouse district, the Prairie Center of the Arts hosts an artist-in-residence program connecting artists of various mediums with resources and uninterrupted time to think and create.

Bradley University hosts professional and student work year-round. Art exhibitions in the Heuser Art Center and Hartmann Center for the Performing Arts draw more than 20,000 visitors each year. The biennial Bradley National Print and Drawing Exhibition, founded in 1950, is among the oldest and most respected exhibitions in the country.

A STRIKING UPGRADE

Peorians are very proud of their Civic Center, with something for everyone on a regular basis. There aren’t more than a handful of venues in the country that have an arena, theater, exhibit space, and now, a ballroom all under one roof. A modern urban landmark surrounded by a striking glass arcade, the complex hosts hundreds of events every year—from the arts to athletics to trade shows.

Just one year ago, the red ribbons were cut on the Civic Center’s $55 million upgrade and expansion, opening the newly expanded Exhibit Hall—now totaling over 110,000 square feet—and shortly thereafter, the beautiful fourth-floor Ballroom. The largest banquet facility in downstate Illinois, the 27,000-square-foot fully carpeted ballroom seats up to 1,600 and is divisible into nine breakout rooms for meetings. It all worked out very nicely indeed, just in time to celebrate its 25th anniversary as the place to be for live entertainment in central Illinois.

Last fall, the final portion of the revitalization project was completed with the grand opening of the Lexus Club. This high-finish room features a full-service bar, four plasma TVs and lounge seating, and is available for rent for all types of events. Work has also been completed on four Arena suites, located behind the Lexus Club with openings into the upper bowl of the Arena.

Visitors are simply amazed at the number of events held here each year. Individual events are approaching 400 annually, an astounding number for a mid-sized market. In the last year, we’ve seen the George Washington Banquet featuring Senator John McCain, the Tri County Urban League Gala featuring the Four Tops and the remarkable OSF Angel Ball with special effects by national lighting designers.

The Methodist gala and leadership retreat, Caterpillar workshops, the United Way’s annual breakfast, ICC’s Community Celebration, the Easter Seals Ball and the Chamber of Commerce Thanksgiving Luncheon were all held here—not to mention high school graduations, elegant wedding receptions, birthday bashes, holiday parties, and even the recent Hallmark movie screening, where Ernest Borgnine and David Carradine were made honorary citizens of Peoria!

The one year report card on the revitalized Peoria Civic Center is Grade “A.” Come see for yourself!

10,000 Springs Pavilion

Lakeview Museum was chosen by the Smithsonian Institution to be the first museum in the country to feature its model of the Ten Thousand Springs Pavilion (Wan Chun Ting) from Beijing’s Forbidden City. The one-to-five red sandalwood model of the classic Chinese structure was made by Chinese artisans who used traditional carving and fine furniture techniques. The exhibit will be on display at the Lakeview Museum through April 2009.

MUSEUMS & LIBRARIES

Lakeview Museum is the largest private museum in Illinois outside of Chicago and one of fewer than 50 U.S. museums specializing in both the arts and sciences. It’s also among only 140 museums and cultural organizations to be a designated Smithsonian Institution Affiliate, which makes it the premier regional host for the best traveling exhibitions.

Lakeview continued to offer world-class art and science exhibitions in the past year, including Sordid & Sacred: The Beggars in Rembrandt’s Etchings, William Morris: Native Species, Grossology: The Impolite Science of the Body, and the Ten Thousand Springs Pavilion from the Smithsonian Institution.

Lakeview is assuming an even greater role in the region’s cultural future as it works with a consortium of area organizations in developing the new Peoria Riverfront Museum in downtown Peoria. Its partners in the project include Caterpillar Inc., Peoria Historical Society, Peoria Regional Museum Society, African American Hall of Fame Museum, Illinois High School Association, Heartland Foundation and the Nature Conservancy.

Once completed, the Peoria Riverfront Museum will offer learning, cultural and economic opportunities throughout its 81,000 square feet. Art, history, science, nature and achievements will be brought to life in hands-on and interactive displays, highlighting our heartland’s immense creativity, innovations and worldwide impact.

The Children’s Discovery Museum in nearby Bloomington-Normal offers hands-on exhibits to satisfy the curiosity of the young. And soon, Peoria will have its own interactive children’s museum. Sponsored by the Junior League of Peoria, The Peoria PlayHouse will be a place for children of all ages to dream, explore and learn through play. It will feature various play areas and six exhibit galleries tied to the local community’s history, geography and economy.

For antique buffs, Peoria’s Wheels O’ Time Museum offers a step back in time, featuring displays of automobiles, trains, toys, clothing, clocks and more from throughout the 20th century.

The Peoria Public Library has served local bookworms in the community for over 125 years. Its six locations bring published authors to the area and offer technology access, after-school classes and special reading groups for all ages.

Festivals in the Midwest provide the perfect backdrop for outdoor fun for kids of all ages. Some area favorites include:

• Elmwood Strawberry Festival
• Erin Feis
• Eureka Lilac Festival
• Heart of Illinois Fair
• Illinois River Wine Festival
• Morton Pumpkin Festival
• Oktoberfest
• Olde English Faire
• Pekin Marigold Festival
• Spoon River Scenic Drive
• Steamboat Festival
• Taste of Peoria
• Tremont Turkey Festival
• Washington Cherry Festival

MUSIC FOR ALL TASTES

From rock ‘n’ roll to classical, the Peoria area offers musical entertainment for all tastes. Led by the visionary Music Director David Commanday, the Peoria Symphony Orchestra presents an annual series of performances. The 15th-oldest in the nation, the Peoria Symphony has performed with famous soloists like Itzhak Perlman and Yo-Yo Ma.

Formed in 1937, the Peoria Municipal Band plays free concerts to audiences of thousands each summer. There’s also Opera Illinois, the only full-time professional opera company in the state outside of Chicago, and Peoria Ballet, a recognized leader in dance for more than 40 years. And every June, the weeklong Peoria Bach Festival celebrates the greatest composer of the Baroque era.

If jazz and blues are more your style, the River City Blues Society and Central Illinois Jazz Society are there to serve your needs. During the summer, a variety of bands take to the CEFCU Center Stage, located right on our beautiful riverfront, and you can watch bands play at a number of area venues most nights of the week. A recently formed not-for-profit group, Live Music Peoria works to promote and celebrate live music of all styles in central Illinois.

DRAMA & THEATRE

A wealth of local theater companies make the stage come alive in central Illinois. One of the oldest community theaters in the nation, the Peoria Players Theatre has thrilled theater lovers for nearly 90 years. Nestled in the lush foliage of upper Bradley Park, Corn Stock Theatre, Peoria’s first outdoor theater-in-the-round, offers local thespians and theater patrons a creative outlet, a source of entertainment and a strong sense of community.

Each summer for the last 30 years, the historic Ewing Manor in nearby Bloomington hosts outdoor productions of the Illinois Shakespeare Festival. And that’s not all! Prairie Folklore Theatre, Eastlight Theatre, Heartland Theatre in Normal and Conklin’s Barn II Dinner Theatre in Goodfield offer productions throughout the year. And don’t forget to check out our excellent college and university theater departments!

Holidays in Peoria

The Peoria area comes alive for the winter holidays! With some of the oldest traditions in the nation, we go all-out when the season comes around.

Peoria’s Santa Claus Parade is the oldest holiday parade in the country. What began more than 120 years ago has evolved into a modern River City tradition and a magical experience for the whole family.

Downtown merchants, houses of worship and public buildings don their holiday best, light up and open their doors for Yule Like Peoria. With warm drinks and holiday treats, carolers sing to those who venture out for the sing-along at Courthouse Square or the entertainment which can be found at every corner.

Drawing more than 100,000 visitors each year, East Peoria’s Festival of Lights showcases intricate illuminated drive-through displays on a two-mile driving tour. The attraction was recently voted one of the Top 100 Events in North America by the American Bus Association. Peoria Ballet’s annual performance of The Nutcracker is another favorite we look forward to each year!

The Pettengill-Morron and Flanagan houses offer candlelight Christmas tours through Victorian mansions for those who like to revel in the past, and the Luthy Botanical Garden offers an annual poinsettia show for plant lovers. And don’t forget the festivities on the river, as the Spirit of Peoria riverboat offers holiday cruises with food and live music.

SLAPSTICK & SATIRE

Our comedic roots begin with the stars and creators of radio’s golden-age comedies: Fibber McGee & Molly, Amos & Andy and Vic & Sade. Comedy legends Richard Pryor, Sam Kinison and McLean Stevenson all trace their roots back to central Illinois.

The Civic Center regularly hosts nationally known comics like Jerry Seinfeld and stars from the Blue Collar Comedy tour. In addition to the Jukebox Comedy Club, which offers weekly comedic acts, Lenny’s Comedy Café opened in nearby Sunnyland this year.

TV, RADIO & FILM

Our PBS affiliate, WTVP-47, offers public broadcasting favorites from Antiques Roadshow to Masterpiece Theatre in a commercial-free format. The station also produces public affairs programming of regional and statewide interest and hosts art exhibitions in its gallery. Its sister station, WTVP-DT, was the first in the state to broadcast in digital high definition.

Two public radio stations cover the arts and entertainment spectrum for central Illinois listeners. The first area station to offer high-definition programming, Peoria’s WCBU (89.9 FM) emphasizes classical music, while Bloomington-Normal’s WGLT (89.1 FM in Bloomington and 103.5 FM in Peoria) focuses on jazz and blues. Both stations are NPR affiliates, offering news, entertainment and public affairs programming.

Attention film buffs! Besides an array of theaters where you can catch the latest from Hollywood, the historic downtown Apollo Theater has been restored to its former glory. The Apollo screens many unique and classic films and is used for meetings and other events, among them the annual Peoria Film Noir Festival.

DINING IN THE HEARTLAND

For fine dining, Jim’s Steakhouse and Carnegie’s 501 are downtown institutions. The elegant French Toast, Seven on Prospect and Jim’s Bistro are favorites in Peoria Heights; Vonachen’s Old Place is a classic; 2 Chez always satisfies and Jill’s on Galena is a rising star.

In the mood for Italian? Think Ponte Vecchio in Sheridan Village, Paparazzi’s or Basta’s in the Heights, Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse at the Shoppes at Grand Prairie, Rizzi’s or longtime favorite Avanti’s.

For seafood, check out Jonah’s Seafood House on East Peoria’s riverfront, with its adjoining 2601 Oyster Bar offering more dining and entertainment. The Fish House and Joe’s Crab Shack in Peoria are other great choices for seafood lovers.

Tasty, eclectic dishes can be found at One World Cafe near the Bradley University campus or at Rhythm Kitchen on Water Street. If sports bars are your thing, try Buffalo Wild Wings, Bar Louie or Crusens. And if you’re looking for familiarity, the region is home to a wealth of well-known chain restaurants. PP