Sept 2 – 3 – 23rd Annual Blues Festival at the Riverfront Park. Call 309-863-5121 . Features great blues entertainment on three stages at beautiful downtown Peoria´s Riverfront Park.
Sept 4 – “Party with a Purpose,” hosted by OSF & the Lung Cancer Center @ OSF in an effort to educate the community about lung cancer. This event runs 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. on the Peoria Riverfront
Sept 5 – Labor Day Picnic – sponsored by PACE – from @:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Festival Park. Free Admission. After the Parade, food and live entertainment is provided for the whole family at Festival Park. For more info, please visit the PACE website at http://www.peoriaevents.com/
Sept 6 – The Peoria Height Public Library offers a free showing of the movie “True Grit” for adults at 6:00 p.m. Rated PG-13, the film stars Jeff Bridges as a tough U.S. Marshall who helps a stubborn 14-year old girl (played by Hailee Steinfeld) track down her father’s murderer. Matt Damon and Josh Brolin also star in this western adventure. The movie was nominated for 13 Academy Awards.
Sept 6 – First Tuesday Event – hosted by the Women’s Fund Of Peoria at 5:00 p.m. at Running Central, 4450 N. Prospect Rd., Peoria Heights.
Sept 7 – 2011 Jingle Bell Run/Walk Kickoff will be at 11:30 a.m. at Pizza Works (3921 N. Prospect Rd). Lunch provided. The run/walk will take place on Dec. 4th. Call 309-682-6600 .
Sept 8 – The Peoria County Genealogical Society general meeting will be at the new North Branch of the Peoria Public Library, 3001 W. Grand Parkway at 6:30 p.m. Tom Pokarney will demo the art of photo restoration. Bring an old photo you think is beyond repair and he’ll tell you if it can be restored.
Sept 8 – 47th Annual Children’s Home Cattle Auction – for the Children’s Home Assoc. of IL. This event is held at Tonti Park at the Old Quarters on Water St. at 6:00 p.m. The evening includes a Silent Auction, Raffle, Dinner, the famous Live Auction and Entertainment. $75 per person. For more info or to reserve your seat please call 309.687.7275 or email: ehappach@chail.org.
Sept 8 – 12 – USS LST Ship Memorial, Inc. – from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at Peoria Riverfront. Tour Length: 30-45 Minutes. Souvenirs available for sale. Tour the LST (Landing Ship, Tank), an amphibious vessel designed to land battle-ready tanks, troops and supplies directly onto enemy shores.
Sept 9 – 10 – Central Illinois Green Expo – 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at Illinois Central College. See the most recent developments in energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainable living and learn how to leverage these developments to build sustainable communities. Attendance free.
Sept 9 – 11 – hayloft Shops will present their 29 annual Art and Craft Fair. Over 30 demonstrating craftsman & artists. Lunch served. Becky Shotthofer will present her 2011 annual Armetale Christmas Plate. The annual pancake breakfast will be on Sept. 10th from 7:00 – 10:30 a.m.
Sept 10 – Firefighters Street Fest at the CEFCU Center Stage at the Landing. Car show opens at 4:30 p.m., Entertainment at 5:00 p.m. The Firefighters Street Fest returns to Peoria’s RiverFront with live music, food, drinks, car display and much more! Gates open at 4:30 p.m.
Sept 10 – Pack the Place at the Peoria Zoo – Get your Pack the Place tickets now and receive admission, a free lunch (hot dog, chips & drink), a pack the place t-shirt, entertainment and you’ll be entered to win a “behind the scenes tour” of the zoo for you and 4 friends. Tickets are available in a block of 10 or more for $10 each. Call 681-3509 for tickets.Ticket deadline is September 2nd. Visit http://www.packtheplace.org/.Sept 10 – 11 – TAGCC Cat Show at Exposition Gardens Youth Building. Call (309) 696-1880 .
Sept 11 – Peoria Pride – from noon – 6:00 p.m. at the CEFCU Center Stage at the Landing. The Central Illinois Alliance for Diversity and Equality. This is the third anniversary to celebrate community, diversity and acceptance and will feature activities, music, guest speakers, food, drink and much more!
Sept 14 – Community Make a Blanket Day to benefit Project Linus – at: JONES SEWING MACHINE CO., 3410 N. Prospect Rd., Peoria between 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Sewing machines and fabric squares are provided. Fleece will be provided for those not wanting to sew. Please bring your favorite notions, such as scissors, pins, etc. Bring lunch.
Sept 14 – 15 – Pack The Place – Peoria Players Theatre! Send e-mailDownload the coupon at www.packtheplace.org and you can buy one ticket and get the second half off! This coupon is valid to see the musical Oklahoma!
Sept 15 – 2011 Orchid Award Reception – 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Luthy Botanical Gardens. Presentations at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person. Make reservations before Sept. 12th. Call 672-6288.
Sept 16 – Movies Under the Stars at Metro Centre – 6:15 – 9:20 p.m. This FREE outdoor movie series (near Alexander Travel)!* Gourmet popcorn & soft drinks for $1 each benefits local charities.** Bring your lawn chairs & blankets & arrive early for the best seats. Family activities before the movie. *Weather permitting **While supplies last.
Sept 16 – 18 – Peoria Oktoberfest – at the Festival Park and CEFCU Center Stage! The Peoria Park District & the German American Central Society are pleased to welcome back the 15th anniversary! This 3-day event showcases German heritage through song, dance, food, drink, cultural exhibits and more.
Sept 16 – 18 – Harvest Time Now at Pentecostal Church of Jesus Christ 58th Annual Church Convention – 7:00 p.m. on Friday through 11:45 a.m. on Sunday. Call for specific times and locations at 309/674-1924 or email pcjc@yahoo.com
Sept 17 – 14th Annual Lobster Boil – at 6:00 p.m. This event will be at the Hult Center for Health Education. The evening includes a silent auction, raffle and a lobster dinner. The cost of the dinner is $100 per person. For more info, call (309) 692-6650 or e-mail lobsterboil@hult-health.org
Sept 17 – 18 – PEORIA SUPERFEST – Advance tickets are also available at: Stewart Radio East Peoria Jewelry & Trade and Electronics Diversified. Amateur Radio Computer/Electronics Show Sponsored by the Peoria-Area Amateur Radio Club.
Sept. 21 – Hopedale Medical Foundation’s 5th Annual Charity Golf Outing to benefit the HMF Scholarship Fund. 100% of the proceeds go to the HMF Scholarship Fund. Single Player entry $100. Pine Lakes Golf Club, Washington, Illinois. For more info call 309-449-4500 .
Sept 21 – The Authors of the Heartland will meet from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Peoria Library North Branch located behind Menard’s off Allen Road. Guest speaker, Caryl Schlicher, will cover not only editing tips but also ideas for promoting your books through public presentations.
Sept 22 – Free Caregiver Education Night – open to the public – from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. at Senior World, 719 N. William Kumpf Blvd. Suite 300, Peoria. Barbara Campbell, Director of Marketing, will present on “Slips, Trips, and Stumbles: How to Prevent Falls in the Home.” We will celebrate Senior World’s 30th Anniversary during that event with an Open House. R.S.V.P. to 495-4530 by September 20.
Sept 24 – 25 – 49th Annual Peoria Art Guild Fine Art Fair at the Peoria Riverfront – Call Jenny Parkhurst at 309-637-2787 x 204. Nationally recognized as one of the top fine art fairs in the country!
Sept 24 – River City Diesel Truck Pull – at Exposition Gardens.
Sept 24 – Columbus Replica Ships Pinta & Nina to Land in Peoria. They will be docked in front of Joe’s Crab Shack and Retro American Tap. The public is invited to visit the ships for a walk aboard self-guided tour. Ships open every day 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sept 25 – Giant Flea Market – at Exposition Gardens Youth Building. More info TBA