ART EXHIBITS

• This month’s “First Friday” on Aug. 2 features studio tours and receptions at local galleries around Metro Peoria.
• The Peoria Art Guild hosts August’s “Sip N Stroll” on Aug. 21 with Mackinaw Valley Winery.

SPECIAL EVENTS

• “Ignite Peoria,” an arts and makers fest, returns to the Peoria Civic Center on Aug. 10.
• The Italian American Society’s 93rd Festa Picnic takes place on Aug. 11 at Hickory Grove Park in Dunlap.

MUSIC

• The Peoria Park District presents Gospel Fest, featuring Grammy Award-winning Le’Andria Johnson on Aug. 2 and Soul Fest with Musiq Soulchild and Keke Wyatt on Aug. 3, both at CEFCU Center Stage on the Riverfront.
• “Music in the Park,” hosted by Fondulac Library, will feature John Wahl on Aug. 1 and Dennis Glavin on Aug. 15.
• The Central Illinois Jazz Society presents the Chip McNeil Group on Aug. 18 at Trailside Event Center in Peoria Heights.
• The Summer Jazz Vesper series continues Aug. 13 at First United Methodist Church in Peoria.
• Five Points Washington hosts the Red Hot Chilli Pipers Aug. 2, a Tribute Night to the Eagles Aug. 23 and “The Magic of Motown” on Aug. 24.

THEATRE

• “Jersey Boys” is scheduled at Eastlight Theatre on Aug. 2-10.
• Corn Stock Theatre presents “Nine” from Aug. 2-4 and Aug. 7-11.
• Peoria Players perform “Mean Girls: High School Version” on Aug. 7-11.
• “The Mousetrap” opens on Aug. 23 at Corn Stock Theatre.

COMEDY

• The Jukebox Comedy Clubs has two comics with TV recognition — Ryan Niemiller (“America’s Got Talent”) on Aug. 2-3 and “Last Comic Standing” finalist Michael Palascak on Aug. 16-17.

CLASSES & LECTURES

• Peoria Art Guild teaches a Polymer Clay Millefiori Magic class on Aug. 3, Mixed Media Workshop on Aug. 6, Neurographic Art: Drawing through Mindfulness on Aug. 6, Paint Pen Animal Portraits on Aug. 9, Paper Mache Book Sculptures on Aug. 10, Wood Carved Jewelry on Aug. 17, Making Spinner Rings on Aug. 24, and Polymer Clay Dragonfly Ornament on Aug. 31.

— For more information and details, check out the full calendar at artspartners.net

SCREENS

Aug. 1 — Amazon Prime will premiere the new animated series “Batman: Caped Crusader,” about millionaire Bruce Wayne and his heroic alter-ego crusading against crime in Gotham City,

Aug. 1 and 4 — The CW will show “Miss Teen USA” on Thursday, Aug. 1, with 51 American girls competing in the 42nd Miss Teen contest, live from the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. Three days later, on Sunday, Aug. 4, the CW will show 51 American women compete in the 73rd Miss USA pageant, also live from the Millennium Biltmore.

Aug. 9 — Opening in cineplexes, “Borderlands” is an action comedy based on the video game where outlaws, mercenaries and misfits search for a treasure on the planet Pandora. The cast includes Haley Bennett, Jack Black, Cate Blanchett, Jamie Lee Curtis, Gina Gershon and Kevin Hart.

Aug. 14 — Based on Carl Hiaasen’s zany 2013 novel, “Bad Monkey” follows a former Miami Police Department member turned health inspector investigating a murder mystery while dealing with oddball characters. Apple TV+.

Aug. 19-22 — The 2024 Democratic National Convention will take place at Chicago’s United Center, on most TV networks.

Aug. 26-Sept. 8 — The last Grand Slam tennis tournament, the U.S. Open, will show live from the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, N.Y., on ESPN.

Aug. 29 — The inimitable Jeff Goldblum stars as Zeus in “Kaos,” a modern twist on Greek and Roman mythology. Netflix.

Aug. 30 — The respectful drama “Reagan” stars Dennis Quaid as the 40th U.S. President, from his youth in Illinois through his Hollywood career to his presidency, interacting with people ranging from Frank Sinatra to Mikhail Gorbachev, told through the voice of Viktor Petrovich, a former KGB agent who followed Reagan’s rise to power. Co-stars include Jon Voight and Kevin Dillon.

— Bill Knight