Peoria Players Theatre presents its youth show, Bye Bye Birdie beginning at 7:30 pm tonight through Saturday and 2:30 pm on Sunday. Tickets are $17 for adults and $12 for students 18 & under and are available at the Peoria Players Box Office, by calling 688-4473 and online at HERE.

Corn Stock Theatre contiues the run of Harvey tonight through Saturday.  All shows begin at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $11 for adults and $9 for students 18 & under and are available at the Corn Stock Box Office or by calling 676-2196.

The Illinois Shakespeare Festival continues this weekend with Scapin tonight and Sunday at Ewing Manor in Bloomington beginning at 7:30 pm on both nights. Richard the Third will be performed Friday at 8 pm and A MidSummer Nights Dream runs Saturday beginning at 8 pm.  Tickets for the evening shows range in price from $16 to $40 and are available online at Ticketmaster.com .  For more information, click HERE or call (866) IL-SHAKE.

The 2009 edition of the annual CEFCU Jazz Series continues tonight on the Peoria Riverfront. Don't miss the Craig Russo Latin Jazz Project at the CEFCU Center Stage at The Landing from 7:30 - 9:30 pm. The Landing bar will also be open.  No Cost for Admission.

Eastlight Theatre presents the regional premiere of Rent opening Friday at 7:30 pm.  One of the first community theatres in the nation to produce the Pulitzer Prize winner for drama and the Tony for best musical. Performances continue Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 2 pm. Tickets are $17 for adults, $15 for senior citizens 65+ and $10 for youth through high school and are available at the Eastlight Box Office, by calling 699-SHOW or online HERE.   This show inlcudes mature subject matter.

Jimmy Shubert returns to the Jukebox Comedy Club Saturday & Sunday at 8 and 10:30 pm. Tickets are $15 except for the Friday late show, which is $10.  Jimmy's show is rated R.  For more information or to order tickets, call 673-5853 or click HERE.

The CAC presents Live at the Five Spot on Friday beginning at 5:30 pm featuring Change Up (jazz). Admission is $7 for members $10 for non-members, $6 for student & senior members, $9 for student & senior non-members, 16 & younger is $3. For more information, call 674-6822.

The CAC also presents Salsa at CAC on Friday with a Latin dance lesson from 8:30-9:30 pm and open dancing from 9:30 pm -12:30 am. Music for the open dancing session will be by DJ Ed Caballero. Admission is $3 CAC members and $6 non-members. 

The second annual Tower Park Music Fest will feature 10 musical groups including Nick Boettcher, Mike and Amy Finders, Chamber Strings, Celtricity with Barry Cloyd and Five Guys Named Moe. Concessions will be available at the festival from 4 - 10 pm on Friday and 1 - 10 pm on Saturday. For more information, call 686-2385.

On Friday, the CEFCU Center Stage at the Landing welcomes back the Dave Matthews Tribute Band. Gates open at 7:30 pm. Admission is $7 per person. The Landing Bar will also be open.

Wildlife Prairie State Park continues its Movie Under the Stars with Barnyard on Friday evening.  Movies are shown under the park's famous tepee shelter. Admission is $12 per carload. Gates open at 7:15 pm and show time is at 8 pm. Ice cream, popcorn, smores & drinks will be available for purchase.

Catholic Charities presents The Unheard, a theatre troupe with the Still Theatre Collective in partnership with Adoptions Unlimited, who will present their production of "Strong Connections" on Friday for 2 performances: at 2 pm and 7 pm. The event will be held at the Spalding Pastoral Center in downtown Peoria. Tickets are free, but must be reserved by calling 636-7909.

The Jim Markum Swing Band will perform on Friday night as part of the Summer Concerts in the Park series from 7:30 - 9 pm at the Metamora Park on the Square. Bring lawn chairs.

The Peoria Chiefs take on the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Friday beginning at 7 pm at O'Brien Field. The Chiefs will face the Rattlers again Saturday at 6:30 pm and Sunday at 2 pm.  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.

Also on Friday, the Peoria Theater presents the Big Lebowski sequel.  Last Saturday's event was so successful, some were turned away, so the theater is doing a sequel where everyone who buys a ticket gets a free bowling pass, a voucher for a free movie at Peoria Theater and be entered for a chance to win one of 5 pairs of tickets to the Budweiser Illinois Blues Festival and a pair of tickets to the Budweiser Grand National Weekend. Tickets are $6 for adults and $5 for students & seniors. A bar and concessions are available. For more information, call 202-2278 or click HERE .

The '09 CEFCU Center Stage summer concert series continues on Saturday with the return of JammSammich.  Peoria's party band combines a blend of classic funk, disco, pop, rock, and some of today's favorites. Gates open at 7:30 pm:  showtime is 8 pm. The Landing Bar will also be open.  Tickets are $7 per person.

Songs from the Woods Concert will take place this Saturday at Forrest Park Nature Center at 7 pm. This month features Andy Cohen.  Concert admission is $7 for adults, $6 for children 12 and under. The Old Time Folk and Country Jam is Sunday at Forest Park Nature Center from 3:30 - 5 pm. Admission is free; however, donations are requested. For more information on either event, call 686-3360.

The Spirit of Peoria RiverBoat will host the Tropical Rock & Roll for Your Soul Jimmy Buffet Night on Saturday evening. The Dockside Cookout will run from 7 - 11 pm, with the cruise running from 8:30 - 10:30 pm. Tickets are $35 per person. 21 and over only.   Then, on Sunday, the Spirit of Peoria Riverboat Gospel Themed Cruise includes a mi ni-concert with an inspirational message.  The boat boards at 3:30 pm and cruises from 4 to 6 pm.  Tickets are $15 for adults and $9 for children. For more information, call 637-8000 or click HERE.

Wildlife Prairie State Park Kid's Day is this Saturday where kids can view a compact excavator, participate in the American Red Cross Bicycle Rodeo plus bring their bikes to run through the obstacle course.  There will also be a bike helmet safety & fitting, a helmet give-a-way, free fingerprinting kits for children, fire trucks for kids to view and firefighters to explain their equipment and clothing.  Free face painting, miniature golf, train rides, popcorn, drinks, and snow cones will also be avilable.  Admission is free for kids 12 and under, general admission fees apply for adults. For more information, call 676-0998 or click HERE.

The Relay for Life for Washington will take place at the Washington High School Track beginning at 3 pm on Saturday and running through 9 am on Sunday.  For more details on participating, click HERE.

The 3rd Annual Kids' Day will take place on Saturday from 10 am - 2 pm at The Shoppes at Grand Prairie. There will be informational booths, a balloon man, face painting, inflatables, a talent show and much more.  All proceeds benefit Crittenton Centers. For more information regarding the event, call Crittenton Centers at 674-0105.

The Italian American Society of Peoria Summer Family Festa is this Sunday at  Hickory Grove Park from Noon - 7 pm.  There will be Italian food, beer, wine, music, bocce ball plus children's games and activities.  Parking is free and admission is $2 for adults.  For more information, click HERE.

The Peoria Area Civic Chorale will present its annual 3rd Annual Sacred Music Review at Salem Lutheran Church on Sunday beginning at 2:30 pm. The concert is free and will feature local musicians performing arrangements of Christian music. For more information, call 693-6725.

On Wednesday, Peoria Area Community Events presents the 2009 Taste of Peoria in downtown Peoria.  In addition to a variety of food samples, the Taste of Peoria features its own Margaritaville, live entertainment on two stages and specialty cocktails for a unique alternative. For full details including bands and restaurants participating, click HERE.