 The 32nd Annual Morton Community Bank Christmas Sing will take place at the Bank located at 721 West Jackson St. in Morton, with cookies, coffee and punch beginning at 5 pm tonight (Thursday) with singing from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. |
 The Annual Festival of Trees will take place at Expo Gardens tonight (Thursday) with a Jingle & Mingle Kick Off Cocktail Party on Thursday from 5:30 - 8:30 pm with hors d'oeuvres, music by Preston Jackson & Friends plus a first look at all the trees for $25. The event then runs Friday & Saturday from 10 am - 8 pm and on Sunday from 10 am - 5 pm. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for kids & senior citizens and kids 2 & under are free. All proceeds benefit Crittenton Centers. For more information, call 309-674-0105. |
 We Need A Little More Christmas, an original Christmas revue featuring lots of seasonal music and comedy, continues at the Barn 2 Dinner Theatre in Goodfield this weekend. Showtimes are tonight (Thursday, Friday & Saturday (doors open at 6 pm, buffet at 6:30 pm, and show at 8 pm) and on Sunday (doors & the buffet open at noon, 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 go to www.barn2.com |
 International award winning sleight of hand artist Mitch Williams brings his unforgettable, mind blowing close up magic to the Whammy Bar in downtown Peoria tonight (Thursday) from 5:30 - 8 pm. |
 Pauly Shore will perform at the Jukebox Comedy Club this weekend at 8 pm tonight (Thursday) and on Friday & Saturday at 8 & 10:30 pm. Tickets are $21 or $20 with cash except for the Thursday show and $26 or $25 with cash for the Friday & Saturday night shows are available at www.jukeboxcomedy.com or by calling 309-673-5853. |
 Legally Blonde: The Musical will be held at the Peoria Civic Center Theater tonight (Thursday) at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $39, $52 and $61 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 Citylink is offering a Park & Ride for this event: see ad to left for details. |
 The Luthy Botanical Garden's Annual Poinsettia Show runs through Friday, December 31st. Regular Conservatory hours are Tuesday-Saturday from 10 am - 7 pm and Sundays from 12 - 5 pm. The Garden is closed on Mondays. Visit the Conservatory, where a tropical collection blends with hundreds of poinsettias to create a wonderland unmatched anywhere in Peoria. Conservatory admission will be waived during the holidays, although donations are always accepted |
 Enjoy the Candlelight Walks at Luthy Botanical Gardens featuring the Garden's Poinsettia Show at night, under the warm glow of hundreds of candles, while enjoying live performances of holiday music from 7 - 9 pm on Friday night. Conservatory admission is waived during the holidays: donations will be accepted. |
 Join Barry Cloyd and Brian "Fox" Ellis as Prairie Folklore Theatre celebrates the Spirit of the Holidays on the Spirit of Peoria with "A Celtic Christmas" Holiday Cruise on the Spirit of Peoria on Friday & Saturday with a lunch matinee & dinner cruise each day. Bring all your kin to the party as they connect the ancient tales and songs of Old Ireland with today's joyous Christmas Traditions. The matinee cruises board at noon and cruise from 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm. The dinner cruises board at 6:30 pm and cruise from 7-9 pm. Admission for the matinee cruise including lunch is $36 for adults, $18 for kids 4-12 and free for infants. Admission for the dinner cruise is $40 for adults, $20 for kids aged 4-12 and free for infants. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 637-8000 or visiting www.spiritofpeoria.com
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 Eureka College Chamber Singers' 22nd Annual Renaissance Christmas Dinner will be held at 6 pm on Friday and Saturday in the Cerf Center. Cost is $25 for adults and $13 for ages 12 and younger. Call 467-6407 for reservations. |
 Live at the Five Spot is the Contemporary Art Center's music event that runs Friday nights from 5:30 - 7:30 pm featuring regional talent performing jazz, blues and more. This week will feature Dorann and the Soul Mystics. Admission for members is $7, nonmembers are $10.
Salsa at CAC is a Latin Dance Event on Friday night beginning with a dance lesson from 8:30 - 9:30 followed by open dancing to DJ Ed Caballero until 12:30 am. Admission is $3 for CAC Members, and $6 for nonmembers.
The 6th Annual Scarf It Up! Scarf Auction & Fashion Show will be held at the Contemporary Art Center in downtown Peoria on Sunday from 2:30 - 4:30 pm featuring unique handmade scarves. Enjoy dessert while watching the fashion show of some of the best scarves. Admission is $7 for members and $10 for non-members and children age 16 and under are free. |
 The Waterhouse presents Howlin' on Water: Dueling Pianos on Friday and Saturday beginning with dinner at 6:30 pm and the show at 8 pm. The dinner buffet and show package is $33 per person plus a limited number of seats available for the show only at $13 per person. A full bar is available all night. Call 309-494-9100 to reserve your spot |
 Bradley University Theatre Department will present "New Faces" at Hartmann Center on the Bradley campus at 7 pm on Friday and 2 pm & 7 pm on Saturday. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students. For more information and to order tickets, call 309-677-2650. |
 The Pekin Christmas on Court Luminary Walk will feature over 1,000 candlelight luminaries that will bathe downtown Pekin with a warm, festive glow for this early evening Business Open House on Friday from 5 - 8 pm featuring strolling carolers, horse-drawn carriage rides, outdoor theatre and photos with Santa. For more information, call 309-353-3100. |
 The Festival of Lights' FOLEPI's Winter Wonderland takes place Friday through December 31 at the VFW Post 2078 Park off Springfield Road in East Peoria located at 123 Par 3 Lane in East Peoria. Hours are 5 - 9 pm Sunday - Thursday and 5 - 11 pm on Friday and Saturday. The almost 2-mile drive-through electric park is the Festival of Lights' signature event. |
 The Festival of Lights FOLEPI's Freedom Park runs this Friday through December 31 from dusk to 10 pm nightly. Admission is free. Featuring lighted emblems from each branch of the military and lighted displays such as the toy tank and American flag parade floats, also on display will be memorials for East Peorians lost in World War I, World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War, as well as a memorial for the Military Order of the Purple Heart. |
 The Festival of Lights Narrated Nativity is open 24 hours a day beginning on Friday through December 31. The nativity is located at the Intersection of Taylor Street and Springfield Road, just across from the East Peoria Post Office. Admission is free. |
 A Grace Family Christmas will be presented by Grace Presbyterian Church this weekend featuring a 50 piece orchestra, a 130 voice choir, youth choirs, the Celtic Cross Pipe & Drum Corps and the Dunlap High School Drumline at their facility located at 8607 N State Route 91 in Peoria. Performance times are Friday & Saturday at 7 pm and Sunday at 4 pm. Reserved tickets are $10 with limited seating available. Cal 309-693-3641 Ext. 496 for more information. |
 The Wonder of Christmas with the Peoria Pops will perform Friday at the Caterpillar Performing Arts Center at Five Points in Washington beginning at 7 pm. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors aged 62+ and $12 for students. Group discounts for 10 or more are also available. For more information and to order tickets, call 309-444-8222. |
 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat will celebrate its 20th year of production at Eastlight Theatre with performances at 7:30 pm Friday and Saturday and on Sunday at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $17 and are available online at http://tickets.eastlighttheatre.com or by phone at 309-699-7469. |
 A Christmas Carol: A Concert Reading will be presented by the Corn Stock Winter Playhouse at 7:30 pm Friday and Saturday and at 2:30 pm on Sunday at the Corn Stock Theatre Center. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students with ID at the Corn Stock Box Office, by calling 309-676-2196 or online at www.cornstocktheatre.org |
 TazWood Dance Company will present it's winter concert "Dance! Dance! Dance!" at the ICC Performing Arts Center beginning at 7:30 pm on Friday & Saturday and at 2:30 pm on Sunday. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students & senior citizens and are available at the ICC Box Office or by calling 309-694-5136. For more information, visit www.ArtsAtICC.com |
 Comedian Bill Maher will perform at the Peoria Civic Center Theater beginning Friday at 8 pm. Tickets are $41.50, $51.50 and $61.50 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 |
 Enjoy a Holiday Shop & Stroll at Forest Park Nature Center on Friday night from 6 - 8:30 pm with a nighttime stroll on a forest path lit with luminaries and live holiday music, storytelling and caroling, hot wassail and homemade goodies. Purchase unique artwork from the Nature Art Show & Sale or shop for eco-friendly, organic and Fair Trade items at the Trailhead Nature Store. Admission is free, however donations are appreciated. |
 The 2010 Jingle Bell Run/Walk will take place at the RiverPlex in downtown Peoria on Saturday with registration beginning at 8 am and the run/walk beginning at 10 am. Get in the spirit this holiday season at the Arthritis Foundation's Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis. Fees are $30 on the day of the event. For more information, visit www.jinglebellpeoria.com |
 A Holiday Artisan Market will be held on Saturday from 10 am - 3 pm at the Cornerstone Building located at 321 NE Madison Avenue in Peoria. The event will feature one-of-a-kind gifts from about 20 local artists and a holiday ornament auction with proceeds benefitting the Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Call 309-680-2222 for more information. |
 Enjoy Christmas at the Zoo with Breakfast with Santa in the Peoria Zoo lodge on Saturday morning from 9 - 11 am. Admission is $5 for members and $10 for non-members. For more information, call 309-686-3365. |
 The 27th Annual "Knight Before Christmas", the annual Craft Show fundraiser sponsored by the Richwoods High School cheerleaders, will take place Saturday from 9 am - 3 pm at the school. Over 200 crafters will be on hand with great holiday gifts & decorations. For more information, call the school at 309-693-4400. |
 Speakeasy Art Center in Pekin will host its Holiday Bazaar at their location at 353 Court Street from 10 am - 4 pm on Saturday & Noon - 4 pm on Sunday. You'll find jewelry, photos, paintings and more available just in time for the holidays. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/speakeasyartcenter |
 The Junior League of Peoria will host its annual Victorian Christmas Tea at the historic Ballance-Herschel House this weekend. During tea times, guests will learn about the history of the Balance-Herschel House and several different Christmas traditions while being served lunch and listening to Christmas music played by a local harpist. In addition there will be vendors located upstairs for a holiday marketplace. Two tea times are scheduled for Saturday at 11 am and 2 pm. Tickets are $18 per person. Also, don't miss Cocoa with Santa on Sunday between 2 - 5pm. Join Santa at the Junior League of Peoria headquarters for cocoa and cookies. Bring your cameras as Santa will be posing for pictures. The holiday marketplace will also be open for all to enjoy. Reservations for Cocoa with Santa are available but not required. Ticket price is $5 per child in advance or at the door. For questions or tickets, call 309-685-9312. For more information visit www.juniorleagueofpeoria.org
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 Jinglin' Jazz at Luthy Botanical Gardens will begin at 6:30 pm on Saturday where you can sit back and enjoy the music and the atmosphere of the Poinsettia Show. Hors d'oeuvres and specialty wines will be served at the event also. Attendees must be over 21. Cost is $20 in advance for Garden members and $25 in advance for non-members. There will be a cash bar. Limited to 80 guests: call 309-686-3362 to purchase tickets. |
 The Peoria Mustangs will take on Quad Cities at Owens Center beginning at 6:45 pm on Saturday & 1:15 pm on Sunday. Tickets for both games are $5 and free for kids 3 & under. |
 The Bradley Braves will take on Utah at the Peoria Civic Center (Carver) Arena Saturday beginning at 7:05 pm. Tickets are $8, $12 & $20 and are available beginning November 1 at the Peoria Civic Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 1-800-745-3000 or online at Ticketmaster.com Citylink is offering a Park & Ride for this event: see ad to left for details. |
 The Orpheus Club Winter Concert will be held at the United Presbyterian Church located at 2400 W. Northmoor Road on Sunday beginning at 3 pm. The club will present a 2 hour musical program of male four part harmony Christmas carols, songs & old time favorites. Tickets are $5 per person and are available at the door. For more information, call 562-7301 |
 The Peoria Rivermen will take on the Milwaukee Admirals at the Peoria Civic Center (Carver) Arena on Sunday beginning at 5:05 pm. Season tickets are also available: call 676-1040 for more information and to order. Individual tickets range from $10 to $25 and are available at the Civic Center Box Office, by calling 676-1040, at any Ticketmaster outlet or online at Ticketmaster.com |
 The Festival of Lights Historic Holiday Traditions tours will take place on Sunday from 1-4 pm and 6 - 8 pm (evening by candlelight) at the Doering Homeplace located at 326 Pekin Ave. in East Peoria. Admission is free. The 130-year-old Doering Homeplace provides a unique look back in time during open houses sponsored by the East Peoria Historical Society occurring as part of the East Peoria Festival of Lights. Holiday decorations will include 1800s-style handmade ornaments. Groups wishing to tour the historic home at times other than the open houses, for a fee, must call 309-699-6635 to make an appointment. |
