thru April 11 – Conklin’s Barn II Dinner Theatre will present “Unnecessary Farce” – recurring weekly on Thursday. Doors open at 6:00 p.m.; Buffet is 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. The show is at 8:00 p.m. Admission is $33 ($35 for musical). Call 309-965-2545. This hilarious play is about two cops, three crooks, & eight doors!

April 5 – Annual Dance Recital at Peoria Players Theatre; Admission: $3; Students enrolled in Ballet, Broadway Bound, Broadway Bitsies, Street Jazz, Isadorables, Creative Movement, Explosion Cheer & Dance Teams, Flags or Pom Pon will demo their skills.

April 5 – 7 – Central IL Auto Show at the Peoria Civic Center – The Peoria Metro New Car Dealers Association presents over 300 new vehicles from 37 Dealers representing 33 Manufacturers. Over 60 vendor booths will exhibit auto-related merchandise. Advanced tickets available at Peoria Metro Dealer Locations and at the door.

April 6 – Heartland Festival Orchestra Special Concert – Theatre doors open at 7:00 p.m/curtain at 7:30 p.m. at Five Points Washington. Call (309) 444-8222. Admission: $40 adults, student/child $20 (ID required). Doc Severinsen and the Stilletto Brass Quintet join the Orchestra for this concert.

April 6 – Fish Feeding Demonstration from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the Peoria Riverfront Museum. Learn about native fish species in the Illinois River Encounter! Watch experts feed the fish at the museum’s 400-gallon fish. Free to members, and with regular admission.

April 6 – Princess & Pirates – 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the Peoria Zoo. Admission: $5.25/ages 3-12; $9/adults; $8/seniors. Explore the world of princesses and pirates dressed in your royal outfit or your buccaneer best!

April 6 – 7 – Peoria Players Theatre announces auditions for Bus Stop directed by Caleb Finley. The cast calls for 5 men and 3 women. Auditions will be held in the Peoria Players lobby at 1:00 p.m. on both days. Scripts are available to check out from our box office. Show dates are June 6-9.

April 7 – Exhibition celebrating the world travels of Ms. Jean Morron at the Peoria Historical Society’s Pettengill-Morron House. Literally hundreds of items will be on display! Hours: 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. on the first Sunday of each month. Cost is $7 for adults/$3 for children. Visit peoriahistoricalsociety.org or call 309-674-1921.

April 9 – 10 – The George Carden Circus International will be at Expo Gardens offering the finest in family entertainment. Call 417-833-3588 for more info.

April 10 – 29th Morton Community Prayer Breakfast – 6:00-8:00 a.m. @ Ashland House, Morton. Tickets: $20. Guest speaker: First Officer Steve Scheibner, Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve & First Officer for American Airlines. Tickets available at Morton Community Banks or at: www.mortonchamber.org. Reservations required.

April 11 – At 6:30 p.m., the Peoria Genealogical Society will present an instructional meeting at the Peoria Public Library North. Donna Schlatter will teach how to date your old photographs by using clues such as clothing styles, backgrounds and props, and checking for the photographer’s name.

April 13 – Ansel Adams: Wester Exposure Exhibition Opening – 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Peoria Riverfront Museum. It comprises of more than 100 original prints and related items from the collection of the son & daughter-in-law of the artist. The collection focuses on the California works of Adams.

April 13 – Songs from the Woods at the Forest Park Nature Center. This monthly concert features some of the best singer/songwriters & folk musicians anywhere! Concert at 7:00 p.m. Call (309) 686-3360.

April 13 – Peoria Players Theatre hold their semi-annual Vintage Clothing & Collectibles Sale in the theatre lobby 8:00 a.m. – noon. Many unique items will be available at very reasonable prices.

April 13 – Peoria Poetry Club meets at Riverview Senior Living Community, 500 Centennial Dr., East Peoria. Guests are welcome to bring a sack lunch at 11:30 a.m., read a poem at our noon roll call, and enjoy a program at 1:00 p.m. Call 822-8308 or visit peoriapoetryclub.com.

April 14 – Ansel Adams: A Son’s Perspective from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. at the Peoria Riverfront Museum. Michael Adams shares his memories of his father’s career in a breath-taking slide presentation in the Giant Screen Theater. Reception w/ligh hors d’oueuvres after lecture. Museum members $20, non-members $25.

April 16 – Peoria Knit & Crochet meets at Lakeview Library, North Study Room, from 6:00 8:00 p.m. Bring a friend. Call 550-2997 for more info!

April 19 – May 31st — Conklin’s Barn II Dinner Theater’s “Out of Order” – recurs on Thursdays. Doors open at 6:00 p.m./Buffet: 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. The show at 8:00 p.m. Admission: $35 ($37 for musical). Call 309-965-2545.

April 20 – Bison Blessing & Earth Day Celebration at Wildlife Prairie State Park, 3826 North Taylor Road, Hannah City, IL

April 20 – Earth Day Festival – 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at Forest Park Nature Center. This family-friendly, fun event offers hands-on activities & demos for kids, great local food, educational materials, kids’ crafts, face painting & chances to win “green” door prizes. Call 309-686-3360.

April 20 – Super Saturday from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. at the Peoria Riverfront Museum. Fun for the whole family! Demonstrations and activities on a variety of topics will be offered to museum visitors. Free to members and with regular paid admission.

April 20 – Midwest Fiber Recycling & C.O.P.S. Shredding. C.O.P.S will host this free shred day at Heartland Bank, 9010 N. Allen Rd., Peoria. 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

April 21 – Central IL Jazz Society – 7:15 p.m. at the Landmark Rec Center. Central Illinois Jazz Society features many college jazz bands and high school jazz bands as guest groups at their monthly programs. Call 692-5330. Admission: $5 members; $7 nonmembers; students free.

April 21 – Green Tour + Sustainability Cart – from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. at the Riverfront Museum. Learn about the sustainable design of the museum by participating in a Green Tour! Free to members and with regular paid admission.

April 23 – West Peoria Senior Community Health Fair @ Franciscan Rec Center – 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. FREE Admission. Features: Lions Club Hearing Lab, Methodist Mammo Van (by appt., call 671-8282), Illinois Retina Institute eye disease screening, free food, door prizes & vendors! Transportation available within a 2 mile radius of West Peoria, courtesy of Courtyard Estates of Peoria. Call (309) 674-2400 to reserve a ride.

April 26 – 28 – Luthy Botanical Garden Plant Sale – Hours: Friday & Saturday – 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Sunday – noon to 5:00 p.m. This annual spring plant sale offers new & hard-to-find perennials and native plants, ornamental grasses, and unusual tropical plants and annuals. Members get a 10% discount! Call 686-3362.

April 26 – Wine & Cheese under the Stars – 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. @ Peoria Riverfront Museum. Sheldon Shafer, VP & Curator of the Solar System, will conduct a guided tour of the universe w/the state-of-the-art Zeiss planetarium equipment as you relax with a glass of wine & nibble on cheese & crackers. $25 members, $30 others.

April 26 – 28 – 16th Annual Mid America Cup College Shootout welcomes traveling soccer teams ranging in ages of 10-18 years old from throughout the Midwest. Location: FC Peoria Complex, 12026 N. Old Galena Rd., Mossville, IL. Call Tony Allen at 309-579-3535.

April 27 – Chemistry Magic – 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. @ Peoria Riverfront Museum. Students in Bradley U.’s Chemistry Club will provide activities & perform chemistry demos. Free to members, and w/regular paid admission.

April 27 – Spring Ice Show – 7:00 p.m. Owens Center Annual Ice Show features skaters from Owens Skating School & Heart of Illinois Skating Club. Advanced tickets: $10/adults; $6/ages 5-12 and seniors; 4 and under are free. Tickets are an additional $1 at the door. Owens Center, 1019 W. Lake Avenue, Peoria, IL.

April 28 – Giant Flea Market – Youth Building @ Expo Center. More info www.jcflea.com. Call 309-691-6332.

April 28 – The St. Martin Chamber Players, directed by David Stewart, will present “An Afternoon at the Opera” with selections by Puccini, Bizet, Verdi, Gershwin and more at 3:00 p.m. at the Universalist Unitarian Church, 3000 W. Richwoods Blvd, Peoria. The concert is free & open to the public. An offering accepted & a reception will follow. For more info call 688-5608.