Save Money and
Avoid Parking
Hassles with

July Events

Friday,
7/3 - Fireworks
Buses will leave
Evergreen Square
starting at 6:30 pm
to go to Glen Oak Park.
Buses will return to
Evergreen Square after
the fireworks.

Cost: $1 each way
or FREE for ages
65 & over

The Pro-Am Showcase and Going Away Roast for Alvin Stockdale featuring Dan Telfer begins at 8 pm tonight at the Jukebox Comedy Club on Farmington Road.  Tickets are $10.  Bring a pie and get in for just $5.  For more info or tickets, call 673-5853.

As part of the Methodist Stay & Play Independence Day weekend celebration, Grand Funk Railroad will perform tonight at 8 pm on the CEFCU Center Stage on the Peoria Riverfront. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the gate and are available at Co-op Records, or by phone at 1-800-594-8499.

The Illinois Shakespeare Festival continues tonight with A Midsummer Night's Dream at Ewing Manor in Bloomington beginning at 7:30 pm.  Scapin plays Friday at 8 pm and A Midsummer Night's Dream plays again on Sunday night beginning at 7:30 pm.  Tickets range in price from $16 to $40 for individual seats and are available online at Ticketmaster.com . Season tickets are also available.   For more information on the Festival, click HERE or call (866) IL-SHAKE. 

The Cornerstone Christian Music Festival in Bushnell also takes place this weekend.  The festival is a week long event featuring over a hundred bands plus seminars, kids activities, swimming, boating (no motors are allowed however), and camping.  Tickets range from 4 to 6 days and range in price from $95 to $375. For complete ticket information for Cornerstone, click HERE. For complete details about the festival, click HERE or call 773-989-2087.

The Barn continues with Forever Plaid this weekend.  On Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays, doors open at 6 pm, buffet is at 6:30 pm, and the show is at 8 pm. On Sundays, doors & the buffet open at noon, and the show is at 1:30 pm. Prices are $30 for Thursdays, $32 for Fridays and Sunday brunch and $34 for Saturdays. For more information, call 965-2545 or click HERE.

The movie Wizard of Oz will be shown Friday under Wildlife Prairie State Park's famous tepee shelter. The fee is $12 per carload. Gates open at 7:15 pm and show time is at 8 pm. Ice cream, popcorn, s'mores & drinks will be available for purchase.

The Clonmel Ireland Marching Band will be visiting Peoria from Ireland and will perform with the Peoria Municipal Band at the Glen Oak Amphitheatre beginning at 6:30 pm on Friday. The band is made up of 100 members who range in age from 13-22.   For more information, click HERE.

The West Peoria 40th annual Fourth of July Parade will also feature the Peoria Sister City Clonmel Ireland Marching Band on Saturday morning.  The parade begins at 10 am at the corner of Rohmann & Sterling. Then, join the Moss-Bradley Residential Association's Annual 4th of July Lawn Concert & Celebration beginning at 12:30 pm at Peoria Historical Society's Pettengil-Morron House located at 1212 West Moss Ave.  There will be a bike parade beginning at 1 pm, the Peoria Pops Orchestra Concert begins at 1:30 pm and there will also be pony rides & toys for the kids.  There is no fee to attend. 

On Friday, the Peoria Pirates take on the Quad City Steamwheelers at 6 pm at the Peoria Civic Center (Carver) Arena. Tickets range from $8 to $60 and season tickets including the Pirates "Ticket Stimulus Plan" packages are also available by calling Ryan Closen at 673-1000. Individual tickets are available at the Civic Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling 676-8700 or online at Ticketmaster.com.

Preston Jackson & Friends performs at the Contemporary Art Center 's Live at the Five Spot Friday night from 5:30 - 7:30 pm. Tickets are $7 for members and $10 for non-members. For more information on either event, call 674-6822.

Also on Friday, the Contemporary Art Center presents Salsa at CAC, a Latin Dance Latin dance lesson and open dancing from 8:30-12:30 pm. The dance lesson runs from 8:30-9:30 pm and open dancing is from 9:30 pm -12:30 am. Open dancing to DJ Ed Caballero.  Admission is $3 CAC members and $6 non-members.

Friday night is the annual Independence Day Fireworks Spectacular at the Glen Oak Park Amphitheatre. The event kicks off at 4 pm with PPD Explosion Cheer Team, Community Children's Theatre and Great Expectations Show Chorus, followed by more musical entertainment until 8 pm when the Peoria Municipal Band will perform patriotic favorites. The fireworks will begin at dusk. For more information, call 681-2854. This year, you can reserve Premier Seating packages including parking in a reserved area:  for more information, call 681-2854.  CityLink will be running their Park n Ride service for this event.

On Saturday, celebrate the 4th with the Red, White & Boom/Sky Concert '09, t he annual Independence Day celebration and fireworks display set to music at Peoria 's Downtown Riverfront. Enjoy food, beverages, music and fun for the entire family. Admission is free. Additional viewing areas at RiverFront Park in East Peoria . Festivities begin at 5 pm, and the fireworks begin at 9 pm. For more info, call 637-3700.  Several other surrounding Peoria areas will also be celebrating the 4^th with various parades and festivities.  For more information on local attractions, click HERE. CityLink will be running their Park n Ride service for this event.

A great way to start your Saturday morning this 4th of July is the local RiverFront Market offering fresh produce, local meats cheeses, breads and more from 8 am - noon.  There's also pottery, blown glass, jewelry, wood turned items, candles, soaps and more all handcrafted by local artists plus music and food demonstrations.  For more details, click HERE or call 671-5555.

Also on Saturday, the Peoria Chiefs take on the Beloit Snappers beginning at 2 pm at O'Brien Field. Tickets are $10 for Club Box, $9 for Box or $6 for Lawn and are available at the O'Brien Field box office, by phone at 866-698-4253 or online HERE.

The Old Time Folk and Country Jam takes place 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 on either event, call 686-3360.