thru Dec. 31 – Poinsettia Show at the Luthy Botanical Gardens. Call for ticket prices and times at (309) 686-3236.

Dec. 2 – Magician Mitch Williams at The Whammy Bar from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. Call (309) 647-3692.

Dec. 3 – (recurring weekly on Sundays, Fridays, and Saturdays) Candlelight Walks at Luthy Botanical Gardens. Tickets: Adults- $2.00 Children 12 & under- FREE. Call (309) 686-3361.

Dec. 3 – Methodist Gift Shop Holiday Open House on the first floor of the hospital. Hours are 9:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. visitors encouraged to sign up for door prizes as they visit this newly renovated Gift Shop.

Dec. 3 – The Peoria Park District & the Peoria Pops Orchestra present “The Wonder of Christmas” from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the Caterpillar Performing Arts Center at Five Points in Washington. Tickets are $15 for adults/Seniors (62+) and Students are $12. Santa will be making a special appearance! Call (309) 444-8222.

Dec. 4 – Jinglin’ Jazz – at the Luthy Botanical Garden from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. Cool jazz tunes, delicious hors d’oeuvres, specialty wines, and a silent auction. Ages: 21 and over. Admission is $20 in advance for Garden members and $25 for non-members. Call (309) 686-3362.

Dec. 4 – Victorian Christmas Celebration at the Balance-Herschel House (256 NE Randolph) from 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. The Junior League presents this Victorian Tea. Guests will learn about many Christmas traditions. Call (309) 685-9312. Admission is $18 per person.

Dec. 4 – Christmas in the Barn @ Linden Hill Farms from 4:00 – 4:00 p.m. Visit the farm animals as they settle down for the night to hear the Christmas story, sing Christmas Carols. Cookies and hot chocolate provide. Make reservations three days prior. Cost: $5/ children under 3 are free. Call (309) 697-4041.

Dec. 4 – 3rd Annual Victorian Christmas Celebration at the Junior League of Peoria, 256 NE Randolph Ave. from 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. The Junior League will be hosting Christmas teas and tours. Tea tickets are $18. The tour schedule is from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Tour tickets are $5 at the door. Call (309) 685-9312.

Dec. 4 – Breakfast with Santa (aka Critter Christmas) at the Peoria Zoo from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. Enjoy a light breakfast and crafts with Santa and then go out into the zoos. The animals will get gifts at the zoo. Tickets are $5 for members/$10 for non-members. Call (309) 686-3365.

Dec. 5 – Christmas Walk- Peoria Heights. Admission is FREE. Call (309) 685-4812.

Dec. 6 – Author of The New Jim Crow – Mass Incarceration in the Age of Color Blindness – Michelle Alexander will speak at 7:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn City Center. She will be available to audience members to sign her book at Bradley University’s Romeo B. Garrett Hall from noon – 1:20 p.m. on Dec. 6th.

Dec. 7 – Christmastime GospelFest – This annual holiday concert features great southern gospel Christmas music. The performance will be at the Caterpillar Performing Arts Center at Five Points in Washington from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 for advance adult tickets or $18 at the door. Children (5-12) are $7. Call (309) 472-0027.

Dec. 8 – Community Make a Blanket Day to benefit Project Linus – JONES SEWING MACHINE CO., 3410 N. Prospect Rd. Become a volunteer “blanketeer!” Anytime between 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Sewing machines & fabric squares provided. Bring favorite notions and your own lunch. Call 309-682-3672.

Dec. 10 – White Christmas – presented by Peoria Players Theatre. This musical is based on the beloved timeless film and features 17 Irving Berlin songs. Tickets: $17 for adults/children under 18 are $12. Call (309) 688-4473.

Dec. 10 – 12 – Christmas Chronicles performance at the University United Methodist Church on the 10th, at ICC’s Performing Arts Center on the 11th, and at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on the 12th. For ticket info call 309-240-8176.

Dec. 11 – Christmas Cookie Walk, sponsored by Lutheran Women’s Mission League of the Christ Lutheran Church of Peoria. The event will be from 9:00 a.m. – noon at the Christ Lutheran Parish Hall at the corner of Starr and Faraday Streets. Homemade cookies, candies, fudge only $5 lb. For more info call 637-5309.

Dec. 11 – 12 – Peoria Ballet’s Nutcracker from 7:30 – 9:00 p.m. at the Peoria Civic Center Theater. New choreography, new roles, new costumes. Tickets: $10 – $43. Call 309-690-7990.

Dec. 14 – 17 – LVA/Project U.P.W.A.R.D. adult literacy program, sponsored by the Peoria County Regional Superintendent of Schools, will conduct an adult Basic Literacy/English as a Second Language Volunteer Tutor Training Workshop at Lakeview Library. This 4 session workshop will enable volunteers to tutor adults that need to raise their reading levels. There is no charge for the Workshop. Call to register at 309-672-6087.

Dec. 16 – Hult Health Education Center & Proctor Hospital will present Seniors on the Go Hult Health Education Center. The program is free. The program features “Osteoarthritis” with Joseph Couri, MD, and “Pain Management Options for Seniors” with Justin Alman, MD, MS, DABPM. Lunch is provided from 11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

To register call the Hult Health Education Center at (309) 692-6650.

Dec. 18 – Holiday Shop & Stroll 2010 at the Forest Park Nature Center from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. Stroll a forest path lit with luminaries outdoors. Live music, storytelling, caroling, hot wassail and homemade goodies! Call 309-686-3360.

Dec. 26 – 31 – Kwanzaa Display daily at the Luthy Botanical Gardens. Tickets: $2 for adults and children 12 and under are FREE. Call (309) 686-3362.