The 4th Annual Christmastime GospelFest featuring Shawn Degenhart & The GospelFest Singers takes place tonight at the Five Points Performing Arts Center in Washington beginning at 7 pm. Tickets are $15 in advance or $18 at the door and $7 for children 12 & under.  For more information, click HERE.

Wildlife Prairie State Park host Polar Express PJ Party tonight through Saturday from 6 - 8 pm.  There will be a reading of the story Polar Express, a bedtime snack of cookies, and hot chocolate before kids go home and head off to dreamland.  Admission is $7 per child and $5 for park members.  For more information or to make a reservation, call 676-0998 or click HERE.

The Stocking Stuffer Store, a Christmas Store for kids 12 and under to shop for parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, even the dog, is open through December 20th at Northwoods Mall & The Shoppes at Grand Prairie (weekends only at this location). All proceeds benefit Crittenton Centers' Crisis Nursery.

The Luthy Botanical Garden's Poinsettia Show continues this weekend. Christmas trees throughout the Conservatory will be decorated un unique and wonderful themes. Come visit us to pick out a special gift, get into the holiday spirit, or just enjoy the festive feeling in the air. Normal admission rates and hours apply. For more information, call 686-3362.

The 24th Festival of Lights  in East Peoria displays include FOLEPI's Winter Wonderland, the almost 2-mile drive-through electric park which has been enhanced for 2008 with new programmable LED light displays, FOLEPI's Village & Santa Claus, an indoor winter carnival featuring decorated trees, displays, a mini-passenger train, full-sized carousel and other rides for younger children plus Santa & reindeer visits, the Narrated Nativity, where life-size structures take on a three-dimensional appearance at night with a 2-minute narration available by tuning to radio station 1610 AM, plus much, much more. For more information and specific attraction hours, call 1-800-365-3743 or click HERE.  For more FOLEPI events, click HERE.

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra will perform in the Civic Center Arena on Friday at 8 pm. Tickets are $39.50 and $49.50 and are on sale now at the Peoria Civic Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling 676-8700 and online HERE.

This weekend at the Forest Park Nature Center's Holiday Shop & Stroll, experience an evening stroll on a forest path lit with luminaries, holiday musicians, storytelling, caroling, hot wassail and homemade goodies, view the artwork in the Nature Art Show and Sale and shop for nature-related and eco-friendly items in the Trailhead Nature Store. For all ages. The stroll runs Friday & Saturdag night from 6 pm - 8:30 pm and a $2 per person donation is suggested.

The IESA Cheer Championship will be held in the Civic Center Exhibit Hall Saturday beginning at 9 am. The small and large Team Cheer divisions will be held in the morning, and the small, medium and large Team Routine Divisions will be held in the afternoon. Admission is $6 for adults and high school students and $2 for students in grades K-8 and seniors at the door. For more information, call 829-0114 or click HERE.  Admission at the door is $6 for adults and high school students and $2 for students K-8 and seniors.

The Illinois Central College Choirs Concert will take place Saturday at 7:30 pm in Lecture/Recital Hall, Rm 127F. Admission is free.  On Sunday, the Philharmonic Chorale presents a Christmas concert in the Performing Arts Center at 3 pm. A reception will follow the performance.  Tickets are $7 for the general public and $5 for senior citizens and students.  For more information on either event, call 694-5136.

On Saturday, the Peoria Mustangs take on Toledo beginning at 6:45 pm at Owens Center. The two teams will play again Sunday at 1:15 pm.  For more information, click HERE.

The 35th Annual Richwoods High School Madrigal Dinner featuting the RHS Madrigal Chorus as well as all the RHS choral groups will be Saturday and Sunday in the school's Terazzo lobby. Tickets are $24 per person and include a 5 course dinner. To order tickets, call the main school office and ask for Ms. Wagner at 693-4400.

The Bradley Braves take on Southeast Missouri State at the Peoria Civic Center (Carver) Arena Sunday at 1:05 pm. Tickets range between $9 and $20 and are available at the Civic Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling 673-3200 or online HERE.

The Old Time Folk and Country Jam takes place this Sunday at Forest Park Nature Center from 3:30 - 5 pm. Meet other musicians and learn some new songs. Music lovers of all ages are encouraged to come, listen and enjoy. Admission is free; however, donations are requested. For more information, call 686-3360.