The Peoria Charter School Initiative will host a Community Forum on the 4th Floor of the Peoria Civic Center tonight at 5:30 pm.  A group of 20+ seniors from the Chicago Math & Science Academy accompanied by teachers, parents and administrators will share their charter school experience and answer questions. The forum is free and open to the public.  Parking is free in the Civic Center lot.

The Peoria Rivermen take on the San Antonio Rampage in the Peoria Civic Center (Carver) Arena tonight beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 and $20 and are available at the Peoria Civic Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 1-800-745-3000 and online at Ticketmaster.com

Junction City Shoping Center will host their Junction City Holiday Walk on Friday from 5 - 9 pm. Visit Junction City's uniques shops and enjoy live music, carriage rides, refreshments and pictures with Santa.

Preston Jackson & Friends will perform 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 call 674-6822.
Also, enjoy Salsa at CAC Friday night with a salsa dance lesson from 8:30 - 9:30 pm followed by open dancing with DJ Ed Caballero from 9:30 pm -12:30 am. Admission is $3 CAC Members, and $6 for non-members.

Bradley University Theatre presents a dynamic (and dark) new adaptation of Pinocchio at 8 pm tonight, Friday and Saturday and at 2:30 pm on Sunday. Perfromances are at Bradley's Hartmann Center for Performing Arts. This production contains violence, language and subject matter not appropriate for children.  General admission is $14, senior citizens are $12. To order tickets by phone, call 677-2650.

The Sierra Club presents an Environmental Film Festival at the Apollo Theatre on Main St. in Downtown Peoria on Friday and Saturday beginning at 7 pm. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for kids under 12. A representative from Bauer Power, a local renewable energy analyst and installer for homes and businesses, will be available at the festival also.

Michael W. Smith, Grammy® award-winning and multi-Platinum selling artist, will bring his A New Hallelujah Tour to the US Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington beginning at 7:30 pm on Friday night. Tickets are $30, $40 and $50 and are available at the US Cellular Coliseum Box Office, by phone at 800-745-3000 or online at Ticketmaster.com.

Eastlight Theatre is proud to host National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Rocco Landesman at a special "one night only" encore performance of RENT on Friday night at 7 pm. Tickets are available by calling 699-7469 or by visiting the Eastlight Theatre website. Half the price for each ticket purchased will benefit the arts organization of your choice.
WTVP will host a question & answer session at their studios with Mr. Landesman on Friday from 1:30 - 2:30 pm. The discussion is open to the public. To RSVP for the event, call Arts Partners at 676-2787..

Corn Stock Winter Playhouse presents Speed-The-Plow, an award-winning play by David Mamet that satirically dissects the American movie business. Showtimes are 7:30 pm Friday and Saturday with a 2:30 pm matinee on Sunday. Tickets are $10 and $8 for patrons 18 and under. Call 676-2196 for tickets or visit the Corn Stock website for more info.

Comedian/songwriter Heywood Banks returns to the Jukebox Comedy Club Friday and Saturday at 7 p. and 9:30 pm both nights. Tickets are $19 if paid by credit card, $18 if paid with cash, except the Friday show, which is $15 with cash.  Call 673-5853 to reserve tickets.

Bob Larson of WMBD-TV will be the honoree for the 2009 Easter Seals Tribute Dinner which will be held at the Par-A-Dice Hotel on Friday beginning with dinner at 6 pm and a program at 7 pm. For more information call 686-7755.

The Peoria Historical Society presents Hats Off to 75 Years of Style, a salute to women luncheon and show on beginning at 11 am Saturday at the Hotel Pere Marquette. Admission is $35. Call 674-1921 for tickets and more information.

Wildlife Prairie State Parks' Junior Explorers will meet from 1 - 3pm on Saturday to experience the first Thanksgiving from a different perspective with a look at Native American traditions, culture, and celebrations. Pre-registration is required. Call 676-0998 ext. 6758 for more information or to register your child.

The Peoria Park District's Teen Mystery Dinner Theatre program presents Till Death Do Us Part on Saturday at 6:30 pm at the Lakeview Museum Auditorium. Enjoy an evening of mystery, mayhem, and help solve a mystery while enjoying dinner. Call 681-2861 for details and tickets.

The Perils of Pageant Pandemonium will be presented by the Heart of Illinois Chorus Chapter of Sweet Adelines International at 2:30 pm Saturday at the ICC Performing Arts Center, East Peoria. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for ages 12 and under. Call 689-3538 for more information.

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra will perform two shows on Saturday at the Peoria Civic Center Arena at 3 pm and 8 pm. Tickets are $28, $39.50, $49.50 and $59.50 and on sale at the Peoria Civic Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 1-800-745-3000 and online at Ticketmaster.com.  Citylink will provide its Park & Ride service for this event.

The Peoria Symphony Orchestra presents guest conductor Morihiko Nakahara on Saturday in the Peoria Civic Center Theater beginning at 8 pm. Tickets are $36 - $72 and are available by calling 309-671-1096 or online at the Peoria Symphony website.  Citylink will provide its Park & Ride service for this event.

Lynyrd Skynyrd with Rev Theory will perform on Saturday at the US Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington beginning at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $49, $59 and $69 and are available at the US Cellular Coliseum, by phone at 800-745-3000 or online at Ticketmaster.com.

The 4th Annual CASAblanca, an Evening of Dancing with the Stars, a fundraiser for CASA of Peoria County will take place at the Country Club of Peoria beginning at 6 pm on Saturday night. Tickets are $125 per person.  For more information, call 669-2939.

The Bradley Braves will play Lewis in an exhibition game beginning at 2:05 pm Sunday at the Peoria Civic Center (Carver) Arena. Tickets range from $20 - $9 and are available by calling 677-2625 or online at Ticketmaster.com. For more information about this game and the upcoming season, go to www.bradleybraves.com .

Saving Abel with special guests Red, Pop Evil, Taddy Porter and Mindset Evolution will perform at Expo Gardens on Sunday night beginning at 6 pm. Tickets are $22 and are available at all Coop Tapes & Records locations, Shandi's Music in Canton, the Peoria Riverfront Visitor's Center, online at www.jaytv.com or by calling 800-514-3849.

Forest Park Nature Center will host a Folk & Country Jam on Sunday from 3:30 - 5 pm. Music lovers of all ages are encouraged to come, listen and enjoy. Admission is free, however donations are appreciated.