Oct. 1 – 30 – Spider Hill – Runs weekly on Friday and Saturday from 6:00 – 11:00 p.m. at Three Sisters Park. Call 309-274-8837 with questions. Tickets are $8.00 per person.

Oct. 1 – 2 – Peoria Fall Festival & Rib Fest & Chili Cook-Off – Sponsored by Peoria Area Community Events (PACE). Certify bragging rights by competing in the annual cook-off event. Thid Cook-off is a CASI (Chili Appreciation Society International) sanctioned event with winner earning points for the National cook-off in Texas. Chili contestants can participate in a “People’s Choice” judging.

Oct. 2 – Scrap for SIDS – Catch up on scrapbooking & raise money for Sudden Infant Death Services of Illinois. Creative Memories Consultant Joyce Kloter will be there selling scrapbooking supplies. Times: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 10720 N. Knoxville. Cost: $25 per person. Avanti’s gondolas & chips included. 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. A soda machine is on site.

Oct. 3 – 1st Annual German Car Cruis’n at Hickory Grove Park –in conjunction with their Schlachtfest. Time: noon -5:00 p.m. at Hickory Grove Park. Call (309) 444-4656. Free Admission & Parking. Anyone with a German make of car may participate. Reserve you spot at Pulfer_Jeff@yahoo.com to reserve spot. German made motorcycles owners are encouraged to participate. Entry is free.

Oct. 8 – Fiesta en el Rio- on Peoria’s Riverfront – The Peoria Park District & Peoria Hispanics group are proud to welcome back our latest cultural music festival on the Riverfront. Fiesta features authentic Latin American food & drink, a children’s area, local musicians, a traveling mariachi band & more. Time: 5:00 – 11:00 p.m. Call (309) 671-5555. Adults- $7.00 Family pass- $20.00.

Oct. 8 – Uncorked! Wine, Premium Craft Beer, Hors’d’oeuvre Tasting – from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m. at the Embassy Suites Hotel in East Peoria. Call 309-693-8139. Admission: $40 in advance; $45 at the door. Proceeds benefit Cancer Center for Healthy Living.

Oct. 8 – 1st Annual PenguinJamm – 6:00 – 11:00 p.m. at the Mackinaw Valley Vineyards. Benefits the Penguin Project, a central Illinois theater program for young people with disabilities. Features a buffet, music by the popular local band Jammsammich, dancing, & fun. Tickets: $50 per person and may be purchased in advance by calling 309-691-5315 or at the door.

Oct 8 – 17 – “The Diary of Anne Frank,” will be playing at Peoria Players Theatre. Call 309-688-4473. Tickets are $12 for adults/$9 for children 18 and under.

Oct. 9 – Habitat for Humanity Fundraising Event – This playhouse raffle event includes the Peoria Park District Zoo mobile visit (noon – 1:00 p.m.), the Unique Twist balloon artist, a fire-truck visit, small carnival games, crafts, light refreshments, face painting, etc. Time: 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at 931 N. Douglas in Peoria, IL. Call 309-696-6260.

Oct. 10 – American Motorcyclist Association Bruce’s Turkey Run – 10:00 a.m. at Peoria Race Track. Call 309-697-4981 for more info.

Oct. 13 – Community Make a Blanket Day to benefit Project Linus – JONES SEWING MACHINE CO., 3410 N. Prospect Rd., Peoria. For more info call Barbara (309) 382-3672, or e-mail: projlbabs@yahoo.com.

Oct. 14 – The Peoria County Genealogical Society features Greg Cox, who has worked many years for the Illinois Secretary of State’s Archives. He will provide insights into Archive resources available to researchers. This general meeting will be held at 101 State Street, the current location of the Peoria Library genealogy collection. The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m.

Oct. 15 – Spirit of Peoria Moonlight Cruise – Enjoy Peoria’s evening skyline by moon light. Live entertainment included for this two-hour cruise. Cash bar available. Boat boards at 7:30 p.m.; cruise starts at 8:00 p.m. Call 1-800-676-8988. Tickets are $20 for adults/$18 for seniors/$14 for children.

Oct. 15 – 16 – Howl-Zoo-Ween – at the Peoria Zoo. Admission is general zoo admission. Call (309) 685-3365 for more info.

Oct. 15 – Nov. 7 – Chrysanthemum Show – at Luthy Botanical Gardens. Tickets: $2 for adults & children 12 and under are FREE. Call 309-686-3362.

Oct. 16 – Junior League of Peoria presents: “A Seven Corpse Dinner Murder Mystery,” performed by the Champaign Urbana Theatre Company. The Ballance-Herschel House will be turned into a haunted mansion. Dinner @ 6:30 p.m. Ticket Price: $28 includes Ticket, Dinner & Dessert; Alternative Beverages welcome; Seats limited. Call for reservations at (309) 685-9312.

Oct. 16 – 17 – Morton Punkin Chuckin – Join Morton’s long-standing competition to throw over pumpkins! Location: Uhlman Family Farm. Call (309) 266-5135. $5.00 per vehicle.

Oct 16 – 23 – Spirit of Peoria Fall Foliage Cruise. Relax, dine & cruise as you listen to local musicians. Food & beverage themed towards the music of each cruise. Coffee, tea & soft drinks are complimentary. Advanced reservation & payment necessary. Cruise times: 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. Tickets: $36 for adults/$18 for children/FREE for children three and under. Call 1-800-676-8988.

Oct. 17 – The Central Illinois Jazz Society presents CIJS House Band at 6:00 p.m. Featuring Guest Group Derel and Ellen Monteith at 7:15 p.m. The event held at Starting Gate Banquet Room, located in Landmark Recreation Center at 3225 N. Dries Lane.

Oct. 18 – Screening of “Living Downstream,” at the Peoria Theatre at 7:00 p.m. Based on the acclaimed book by Pekin, IL native, ecologist, and cancer survivor Sandra Steingraber, Ph.D., “Living Downstream” is a visceral and cinematic documentary. She works to break the silence about cancer and its environmental links. To learn more go to www.livingdownstream.com. Tickets are $8.

Oct. 21 – 23 – MEDITERRANEAN FOOD FESTIVAL & BAKE SALE – Continuous serving 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Eat-in or Carry out. Menu includes lamb, Athenian chicken, gyros, spinach pie, Athenian stuffed pork chop, & more. Greek, Lebanese & Romanian desserts in Sweet Shoppe. All Saints Greek Orthodox Church, 1812 N Prospect (corner of Prospect and Nebraska)

Oct. 23 – Peoria Symphony Orchestra presents Subscription II from 8:00 – 11:00 p.m. Tickets are $22 – $72. Call 309-671-1096 for tickets. Performance will feature piano soloist Terrence Wilson.

Oct. 24 – Peoria Symphony Orchestra’s Maestro George Stelluto will headline a fundraiser benefiting the Central Illinois Youth Symphony. Event includes a wine tasting, raffle & silent auction. Time; 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. @ Connected Restaurant on Dries Lane in Peoria. Taste wines from around the world. Tickets: $35; available online at http://artstix.artspartners.net/ or call 1-888-218-4650.

October 24 – Support Group meeting for the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation will be from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the Proctor Hospital Cafeteria’s Conference Room. 5409 N. Knoxville, Peoria, IL.

Oct. 27 – Reflexology Workshop – at Cancer Center for Healthy Living- 5215 N. Knoxville Avenue Peoria, IL 61614 from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Admission: FREE. Call 309-693-8139.

Oct. 30 – 2010 Women’s Lifestyle Show – Held @ Peoria Civic Center Exhibit Hall from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Tickets are $8 in advance;$10 at the door. Advance tickets available at Kroger. Call 309-698-3728 or email christyh@week.com.

Oct. 30 – 31 – USED BOOK SALE AT UU CHURCH – in Fellowship Hall at 3000 W Richwoods Blvd from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on October 30th and from noon – 4:00 p.m. on October 31st. Come for coffee & shop for books, audio books, CD’s, DVD’s, tapes, records, videos and magazines. On Sunday, books will be sold for $5.00 per brown paper bag or be green & bring your own cloth bag.