Sept 1 –Peoria County Democratic Women meets @ noon Childers Catering Center, 3113 Dries Lane. Democratic candidates for the Illinois State Senate, Dave Koehler & Jennifer Graves Allison, will speak. Other Democratic candidates are invited. The event is free/the public is invited. A $12 buffet-style lunch will be served.
Sept 3 – PACE-sponsored Labor Day Picnic & Parade 2:00 – 7:00 p.m. @ Riverfront Festival Park. Call 309-681-0696. The 2012 Labor Day Parade with over 100 entries of various trade unions begins @ the Fire Station on Monroe St. and ends at Peoria County Courthouse. Beverage & food available.
Sept 7 – Susan Galloway – Artists Open Studio Night, 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. @ Murray Center for the Arts, 100 Walnut St., Suite 405. Free admission. Meet the artist. view great art & enjoy a unique evening along the Peoria Riverfront (or one of the CIAO locations). Go to: www.ciaopeoria.org.
Sept 7 – Friends of Rocky Glen to benefit from fund-raiser 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. @ John S. Rhodell Brewery, 619 SW Water St. Donations welcome. Free snacks, a slide show on Rocky Glen, and a 6:00 p.m. presentation by ICC professor & geologist Ed Stermer on this unique geological and historical site off Kickapoo Creek Rd. For more info & photographs, go to: www.FriendsOfRockyGlen.org
Sept 7 – 16 – Peoria Players Theatre presents “9 to 5 The Musical” – Call 309-688-4473 for times. With music and lyrics by Dolly Parton, this stage musical is based on the 1980 movie Nine to Five.
Sept 8 – 9 – annual Worldfest, sponsored by the Filipino-American Society of Central Illinois. Presentation to highlight Philippine Arts & Culture. Live entertainment, ethnic food, cultural displays, raffle, & unique items for sale at world market booths. Peoria Civic Center, Exhibit Hall D.
Sept 8 – The Central Illinois Black Expo will be from 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. in Exhibit Halls A and B.
Sept 8 – The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, in partnership with Peoria County Recycling & the Tazewell Co. Health Dept, is hosting a Household Hazardous Waste Event from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Expo Gardens. This gives an opportunity to dispose of environmentally harmful or hazardous materials safely. Commercial disposals not accepted. Drop off paints, aerosol products, lawn & garden chemicals, household batteries, old gasoline, used motor oil, compact fluorescent light bulbs.
Sept 12, 15, & 22 – The Adult Literacy Program staff @ Common Place Family Learning Center offers a Volunteer Tutor Orientation & Training Workshop. The Wednesday date will be 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. and the two Saturdays will be from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Common Place. Call 309-674-3315.
Sept 12 – 15 – 46th annual Morton Pumpkin Festival. Call 309-263-2491. Admission: Free. Home of Libby’s Pumpkin, Morton is proud that over 80% of the world’s canned pumpkin is processed here.
Sept 13 – On July 5, 1918, a steamboat named Columbia, returned from a moonlight excursion, collapsed and sank in the middle of the Illinois River. Within minutes 87 people, most from Pekin, died. Hear the rest of the story from Ken Zurski, author ofThe Wreck of the Columbia, guest speaker @ fall meeting of the Peoria Genealogical Society @ Peoria Public North Branch library at 6:30 p.m.
Sept 14 – Moonlight Cruise- Spirit of Peoria – from 7:30 – 10:00 p.m. Call 309-637-8000. Admission: Adults: $16.00, Seniors (65+): $14.00, Kids (4-12): $10.00, Infants: Free. Live entertainment is included with your ticket. Cash bar available.
Sept 15 – The Peoria Historical Society & the Institute for Principled Leadership at Bradley University will present its first annual “Henri de Tonti Award for Principled Leadership,” at the Henri de Tonti Celebration at the Peoria Civic Center Ballroom at 6:00 p.m. Open to the public. Tickets are $150/per person. Call (309) 674-1921 or email at: deTonti@peoriahistoricalsociety.org.
Sept 21 – 24 – 17th annual Oktoberfest on Peoria’s RiverFront – The Peoria Park District & the German American Central Society welcome this annual 3-day German Festival. Showcases German heritage thru song, dance, food, drink, cultural exhibits & more.
Sept 21 – 24 – Ham radio & computer and electronics enthusiasts from several Midwestern states will converge on Exposition Gardens Fairgrounds for downstate Illinois’ largest “HAMFEST.” The Annual SUPERFEST has an outdoor open-air Flea Market from 6:00 a.m. thru 1:00 p.m.from Sept. 22 – 23. The flea market hosts private sellers & food vendors! Admission: $6 advance/$8 at gate.
Sept 22 – 6th Annual Recovery Walks! 2012, dedicated to the memory of Ameel Rashid, MD, will be held from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on the campus of Proctor Hospital. The Walk steps off at noon. Proceeds will benefit the Ameel Rashid Scholarship for Addiction Recovery. Registration is $20 per person/$15 for children 12 and under; families$50. www.proctorgiving.com or www.addictionrecov.org.
Sept 22 – Advanced Technology Services is hosting the 3rd annual “Stride to Unite” 5K Run/Walk at 7:30 a.m. To register go to: http://www.stridetounite5k.com/ or call 693-4123.
Sept 22 – The Annual Eureka 4 mile run/2 mile walk “Race with your Heart” will be held at Lake Eureka Park. Registration starts at 8:00 a.m.; race at 9:30 a.m. Entry fees are $20 per person if postmarked by September 1; $25 per person if postmarked after September 1.Get registration form at: www.heartlineandhearthouse.org, or call (309) 467-6101.
Sept. 23 – Dr. Sherry Seckler will present “Music of the Victorian Era” at 3:00 p.m. She will play the completely restored 1919 Hinners organ at the Universalist Unitarian Church, 3000 W. Richwoods Blvd. Open to the public. An offering will be received and a reception will follow the program.
Sept 25 – Attend this year’s Business Resource Forum @ Peoria NEXT Innovation Center from 8:00 -10:00 a.m. Great resource for current businesses, startups or for those just thinking about a business. This free event will feature over a dozen guest speakers. Call 309-338-4191 or email Anthony.rolando@illinois.gov.
Sept 27 – Pickin on Dan Fogelberg – at the Sky Harbor Steakhouse 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Call 309-674-5532. No cover. Full menu available. Reservations suggested. $3 Margaritas every Wed & Thursday.
Sept 29 – Central IL/Peoria Chapter of the American Sewing Guild features Peggy Sagers of Silhouette Patterns, “Fit Yourself by Yourself” 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at 1913 W. Townline Rd. Registration required. Members: $50/Non-members: $60/Students: $35. Continental breakfast, lunch & door prizes included. Call (309) 838-1801 or email: muzikman49@hotmail.com.
Sept 29 – 30 – 50th Annual Peoria Art Guild Fine Art Fair @ Foster Arts Center. Call 309-637-2787 for admission prices and times. SEE & BUY original artwork & meet the artist. Features 150 artists from 26 states & Canada, live music by local musicians, & a Kids Art Festival.
Sept 29 – 30 –16th annual FC Mid-America Shootout 2012 @ Green Hummer Soccer Complex. Call 309-579-3535.
Sept. 29-30 – “Homegrown, Homemade & Handcrafted” with costumed interpreters, the Old Cluck Hens Dulcimer group, & a display of artistry from the Peoria Historical Society’s extensive textiles, art & tools collections at Flanagan House, 942 NE Glen Oak Ave., 1:00 – 4:00 pm, $7 adults, $3 kids.
Sept 30 – Giant Flea Market from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Youth Building at Expo Gardens. Admission: $1.50; under 12 is free.