Aug 1 – Whisper and Shout at Contemporary Art Center – 8:00 – 10:00 p.m. – Peoria’s open mic for sharing/inspiring poetry is held on the first Thursday of each month. Each night the open mic features a popular regionally known poet. Visit www.peoriacac.org

Aug 2 – Village of Peoria Heights – Music Festival.

Aug 3 – 7th Annual Super Cruise-In for Diabetes will close down Brimfield streets to showcase some the Tri-County’s finest vehicles in the area. Bags tournament begins at 3:00 p.m. Teams can register for $20 and will start at 2:00 pm behind the Brimfield American Legion. There will be cash prizes for the winners. From 4:00p – 8:00p the streets will be lined with vehicles shining with pride showing their support for the American Diabetes Association. There will be a People’s Choice and a Committee’s Choice awarded to selected participants. Call (309) 678-3639 with any questions regarding the Cruise In. There will be food (pork chop sandwiches, etc) available for purchase and an Ice Cream Social at Brimfield’s historic L.L. Guyer Cabin. There will be silent auction items available for everyone to bid on throughout the day with the winners being announced at 7:00 p.m.

Aug 10 – Peoria Art Guild & Junction City Present: 2nd Annual Wine Walk Fundraiser – 1:00 – 6:00 p.m. at Junction City, 5901 N. Prospect Rd. Call 671-1090. Advance tickets $20. Members/$30 Non-members/at the Gate $40 each. Enjoy free wine tastings (over 20 selections), casual shopping, hors d’oeurves and a sneak peak at the 51st Annual Fine Art Fair artist selections. Purchase tickets at: www.peoriaartguild.org/!/WineWalk or 309-637-2787.

Aug 10 – 17 – Peaches & Pancakes @ Tanner’s Orchard! Recurs weekly on Saturdays, Tanners Orchard will have all-you-can-eat pancakes, a petting zoo, and their famous apple cider donuts.

Aug. 11 – 84th annual Italian-American Society’s Summer Festa picnic. Noon – 7:00 p.m. at Hickory Grove Park, Peoria. This is a fund-raiser for the scholarship programs. Italian food, beverages, gift booths, LIVE music, car show, childrens’ activities, spaghetti-eating contest, scholarship awards, & bocce ball. $3 admission for adults/free for children under 12. www.ItalianAmericanSociety.com or call 309-676-4245.

Aug 11 – Budweiser Grand Nationals Weekend at the Riverfront Festival Park, Peoria. Two days of motorcycle activities: antique and custom bike shows, leather goods vendors, stunt shows, live music, great food & ice cold Budweiser. http://grandnationalsweekend.com.

Aug 14 – Betty Freidan – “She Really Changed Us!” 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. at ICC North. Cost is $15. Fifty years ago this Peorian authored “The Feminine Mystique.” Hear insights about Freidan – the woman, her work, and how it changed us all! Sign up at: http://campusce.icc.edu/acp/course/course.aspx?C=1149&pc=82&mc=&sc=

Aug 14 – Taste of Peoria – 4:00 – 11:00 p.m. downtown Peoria. In addition to a variety of food samples, the Taste of Peoria features live entertainment on two stages. PACE will provide free Aaron’s limousine Service shuttle bus throughout downtown from 4:00 – 11:00 p.m. No pets, skateboards or bicycles allowed.

Aug 17 – Peoria Area SeniorNet’s Open House at 9:00AM at the First Baptist Church, 411 W. Lake Ave. at North St. Pprospective new students & computer buyers are introduced to SeniorNet Questions about computers answered. Registration for fall classes will follow 10:00AM to noon. www.PeoriaAreaSeniorNet.org. Call 1-800-872-4651 ext. 1510. Leave a message and a SeniorNet volunteer will return your call.

Aug 17 – Hike for Hunger at Forest Park Nature Center! Registration at 8:30 a.m. $15 per hiker; family of hikers $45. www.SouthsideMission.org

Aug 17 – 18 – Soul Fest – 6:00 – 11:30 p.m. at Peoria’s Riverfront. Features merchants, food & live music. This two day-event celebrates the best of Gospel music, and brings in Grammy Nominated acts to headline this event. Saturday night features some of the best R&B.

Aug 18 – India Fest on Peoria’s RiverFront – Watch the Peoria Park District’s website and RiverFront Facebook page for more information. www.peoriaparks.org & www.facebook.com/riverfrontevents

Aug 20 – Peoria Knit & Crochet Guild will meet at 8:00 p.m. in the North Study Room @ Lakeview Branch Library. Call 550-2997 for more info.

thru Aug 22 – Conklin’s Barn II Dinner Theatre: “The Odd Couple” – Recurs weekly on Thursdays. Doors open at 6:00 PM, Buffet 6:30-7:30 PM, Show at 8:00 PM. Location: Conklin’s Barn II Dinner Theatre, Goodfield, IL. Call (309) 965-2545. Tickets: $33 ($35 for musicals). A Neil Simon classic with an all-new gender-bending twist! Unger and Madison are at it again! Florence Unger and Olive Madison, that is!

Aug 23 – Erin Feis – 4:00 – 11:00 p.m. at Festival Park. Admission: Adults $7 before 5:00 p.m., Adults $9 after 5:00 p.m., Weekend pass $15. Sponsored by the Peoria Park District & the St. Patrick Society of Peoria, this 3-day event showcases Irish heritage through song, dance, food, drink, cultural exhibits, & more. http://www.erinfeispeoria.com.

Aug 23 – Artists on the Boardwalk from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Junction City. Call 309-740-0808. Local artists displaying and selling their artwork along the boardwalk. Music, eclectic dining choices from our restaurants, unique shops & top fashions in our boutiques.

August 30 – 31 – 25th annual Budweiser Illinois Blues Festival – @ Peoria Riverfront. One of the top blues festivals – features two days of internationally known Blues artists. Produced by Jay Goldberg Events & Entertainment. Proceeds go to the Illinois Blues Coalition. Single day tickets: $20 Advance/$25 at the Door. 2 Day Tickets: $30 in advance, $35 at the door.

Aug 30 – Sept 29 – Conklin’s Barn II Dinner Theatre: “Greater Tuna”. Recurs weekly on Fridays. Doors open at 6:00 PM, Buffet 6:30-7:30 p.m., Show at 8:00 p.m. Call (309) 965-2545. Admission: $35 ($37 for musicals). Two actors, twenty characters and a barrel of laughs, ya’ll!

Aug 30 – Sept 1 – Manito Popcorn Festival – Manito hosts their annual Popcorn Festival, featuring craft booths, a variety of vendors and a singing contest.

Aug 31 – 35th annual Zoo Run Run from 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. Call (309) 681-3500. This is a picturesque 5K run throughout the beautifully landscaped Zoo and Glen Oak Park. The race takes place before the Zoo opens. A local favorite for more than 30 years, it is also part of the IL Valley Striders Grand Prix Series. Included with race registration: limited edition T-shirt, admission to the Zoo & after party. Food, prizes and awards available to all runners