Aug 2 – CEFCU Jazz Series features the Central Illinois Jazz Orchestra at the CEFCU Center Stage from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Admission FREE. This FREE series features local jazz artists & is supported by CEFCU & the Illinois Jazz Society.

Aug 2 – 5 – Funny Business @ Conklin’s Barn II Dinner Theatre, Goodfield, IL. Call 309-965-2545

Aug 3 – Spirit of Peoria- Moonlight Cruise from 7:30 – 10:00 p.m. Call 309-637-8000. Admission: Adults $16; Seniors $14; Kids (4-12) $10; infants free. Enjoy Peoria’s evening skyline by the light of the moon. Live entertainment included with ticket for this two-hour cruise. Cash bar available.

Aug 3 – Tower Park Music Festival – @ Tower Park in Peoria Heights from 4:00 – 11:00 p.m. Call 309-686-2385. Admission FREE. Listen to live bands, eat delicious food, and enjoy time at the beer tent in the beautiful TowerPark in Peoria Heights.

Aug 3 –- 6 – Spark – A Fire and Flow Retreat at Three Sisters Park, Chillicothe. “Spark” is a fire and flow retreat that offers workshops in many flow arts: juggling, hoop, staff, poi, rope dart, devil sticks, capoeira, cyr wheel, aerial silks, yoga, and dance.

Aug 4 – Come to Bicycle Safety Town at 10:00 a.m. to get your child properly fitted for a helmet at the American Red Cross Annual Bike Rodeo! This free event requires no registration.

Aug 7 – DIY Home Energy Audit – Energy Solutions for your Home – Learn what you can do in your home to save energy & lower your utility bills. 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. at the Lakeview Peoria Public Library

August 8 – Taste of Peoria at the Riverfront! Call 309-681-0696. Great variety of food samples, live entertainment on 2 stages & Margaritaville/Specialty Cocktails for a unique alternative. PACE provides free Aaron’s Limousine Service shuttle bus throughout downtown Peoria from 4:00 – 11:00 p.m.

August 8 – 12 – 16th Annual Summer Youth Theatre! The Wedding Singer takes us back to a time when hair was big, greed was good, collars were up, and a wedding singer might just be the coolest guy in the room. Peoria Players Theatre. Call 309-688-4473.

August 9 – CEFCU Jazz Series featuring Change Up at The Landing @ CEFCU Center Stage. Admission is free. This FREE series features local jazz artists & is supported by CEFCU & Illinois Jazz Society.

August 9 – Garden Ride – Start at Botanical Gardens at Glen Oak Park at 6:00 p.m. Call 309-686-7000. Start at Botanical Gardens, Glen Oak Park. 6:00 p.m. Highlights: Luthy Botanical Gardens & selected city gardens

August 11 – Budweiser Grand Nationals on Peoria’s RiverFront – Enjoy two days of motorcycle activities with a motorcycle parade for charity that ends on the beautiful Peoria Riverfront. You’ll find lots of activities from antique and custom

August 11 – Professional Disc Golf Association-Ledgestone Insurance Frenzy (B Tier). Competition starts at 8:00 a.m. Locations: Peoria Area Disc Golf Courses (Bradley Park (Peoria), Illinois Central College (East Peoria),Washington Park (Washington), Northwood Park (Morton). Golfers of different skill levels from the Midwest are welcome to register & compete. Call 309-657-9971.

August 12 – Peoria Motorcycle Club Grand National TT Race on Peoria’s Riverfront & @ Peoria Motorcycle Club on Cameron Ln. Race starts at 603 Cameron Ln. Illinois welcomes the thousands that celebrate the Budweiser Grand Nationals Weekend. Call (309) 697-4981.

August 12 – The Italian-American Society of Peoria will host its 83rd annual Summer Festa picnic from noon – 7:00 p.m. at Hickory Grove Park. There will be Italian cuisine, beverages, a gift booth, musical entertainment, children’s activities, and contests.

August 12 – Tour of the Inner Solar System at Lakeview Museum east parking lot. Call 309-686-7000. Includes highlights from the History Ride. Start @ Lakeview Museum east parking lot at 7:00 a.m. The ride starts @ the Sun & tour the planets from Mercury to Jupiter in Peoria’s Community Solar System.

August 16 – CEFCU Jazz Series features David Hoffman & Friends from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. This FREE series features local jazz artists & is supported by CEFCU & Illinois Jazz Society.

Aug 17 – The “CWTC Office Games” will be at Peoria’s RiverPlex. Teams will compete in “The Deskathlon,” “Waste Can Basketball,” “Rubberband Archery” & others. This event benefits programs & direct services for consumers at CWTC, Community Workshop and Training Center, Inc. Registration is $100 per team of four ($25 a person) Cash prizes & medals! Team registration forms at CWTC, 3215 N. University St., or online atwww.cwtc.org.  Registration deadline: August 1st.

August 17 -19 – River City Soul Fest – Don’t miss the soulful sounds of Gospel on the RiverFront, as well as merchants, food, and more. Tickets are $10 (advance) and $15 (at the gate).  Gospel VIP tickets for this night are available for $30 online only at www.etix.com and include a “Meet and greet” with Byron Cage prior to his performance & seating in a special section.

Aug 18 – Peoria Area SeniorNet is sponsoring an Open House at 10:00a.m. at the First Baptist Church, 411 W. Lake Ave. Park in the lot behind the church and use the west entrance. Open House will be followed by registration for fall classes from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Go to www.PeoriaAreaSeniorNet.org.  Call 1-800-872-4651 ext. 1510 – leave a message & a SeniorNet volunteer will return your call.

August 24 – 31 – 16th annual Erin Feis on Peoria’s RiverFront – This 3-day event showcases Irish heritage thru song, dance, food, drink, cultural exhibits & more. Talented Irish bands & musicians on multiple stages, vendor marketplace throughout Festival Park! Admission: Adults: $7 (before 5 PM), $9 (after 5 PM). Weekend pass $15. Children 12 & under FREE

August 25 – Native Americans Speak @ Shore Acres Park in Chillicothe. Call 309-635-0659. Admission FREE. Native American speakers, drum & dance demos, storytellers, ceremonies, music, children’s learning time, food, vendors etc.

August 26 – Building the Block Ride – Start at Lakeview Museum east parking lot  2:00 p.m.  This is the last Sunday Lakeview Museum will be open. Ride to the Peoria Riverfront Museum, where we will have a hard-hat tour of the new museum.

August 26 – Center for Prevention of Abuse DUCK RACE – Adopt a Duck… end abuse! Thousands of adorable rubber duckies will be “adopted” by friends of The Center for Prevention of Abuse and dropped in the water on the Peoria Riverfront. The race starts at 3:00 p.m. For info on adopting a duck and news on the event, visit http://www.centerforpreventionofabuse.org/.

August 31st – Sept 1 – Budweiser Illinois Blues Festival – on Peoria’s Riverfront – Sponsored by the River City Blues Society. Unsigned Illinois bands can compete for entry into the IBC with expenses paid by the River City Blues Society with help from a funding grant from the Illinois Blues Coalition. You’ll be able to see all these bands and more compete at the 2011 Budwesier Illinois Blues Festival. http://www.illinoisbluesfestival.com/index.php orhttp://www.jaytv.com/