 The Festival of Lights' FOLEFPI's Winter Wonderland will take place for its final two nights, Tonight (Thursday) & Friday, at the VFW Post 2078 Park off Springfield Road in East Peoria (Entrance address: 123 Par 3 Lane, East Peoria). Hours are 5-9 pm Tonight and 5-11 pm on Friday. The almost 2-mile drive-through electric park is the Festival of Lights' signature event. |
 The Festival of Lights FOLEFPI's Freedom Park will also take place for its final two nights, Tonight (Thursday) & Friday. 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 through Friday. The nativity is located at the Intersection of Taylor Street and Springfield Road, just across from the East Peoria Post Office. Admission is free. |
We Need A Little More Christmas, an original Christmas revue featuring lots of seasonal music and comedy, concludes this weekend at the Barn 2 Dinner Theatre in Goodfield. Showtimes are tonight (Thursday), Friday (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. There is no show on New Year's Day. For more information, call 965-2545 or go to www.barn2.com |
 Matthew West will present a Remembrance Concert for Dax Locke on the one year anniversary of his death from Leukemia at Five Points Performing Arts Center in Washington tonight (Thursday) beginning at 7pm. General admission tickets are $10 and Gold Circle tickets are $20 which include passes to meet & greet with West & the Locke family. Proceeds from the concert will benefit St. Jude in memory of Dax Locke plus additional donations will also be accepted at the concert. |
 Jimmy Shubert will perform at the Jukebox Comedy Club at 8 pm Tonight (Thursday), 8 pm & 11 pm on New Year'.s Eve & 8 pm on New Year's Day. Tickets are $12 for the Thursday show, $21 or $20 with cash for New Year's Eve & $14 for the New Year's Night show. The New Year's Eve shows will have hot & cold appetizers and for the 11 pm show, there will be free champagne and party favors between the opening act & Jimmy's show. This show is rated R. Tickets are available by calling 673-5853 or at www.jukeboxcomedy.com |
 The Luthy Botanical Garden's Annual Poinsettia Show runs through Friday from 10 am - 7 pm. 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. |
 Come learn the significance of Mishumaa Saba and Zawadi at the Luthy Botanical Garden Kwanzaa Display through New Year's Eve. Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday that celebrates family, community and culture. Learn about this holiday and see the display of African plants while you enjoy the beautiful holiday surroundings of the Poinsettia Show. Conservatory admission will be waived during the holidays, although donations are always accepted. |
 Grab your little party animals and get ready to ring in the New Year with Award Winning Children's Recording Artist Julie K at her first annual Noon Year's Eve Celebration beginning at 10:30 am Friday at the Caterpillar Performing Arts Center at Five Points in Washington. Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the door and are available online at www.fivepointswashington.org For more information, visit www.juliekmusic.com |
 Enjoy the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's New Years Eve Benefit with food and live entertainment from 5 - 10 pm Friday at the Childers Banquet and Events Center. Admission is $49.95 for adults and includes a six course meal featuring a gourmet meal and live entertainment featuring the Larry Harms Jazz Quartet. Reservations can be made by calling 839-0037. A portion of the proceeds goes to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) supporting improvements in the quality of life and a cure for those children affected by Type 1 diabetes. |
 Contemporary Arts Center's Live at the Five Spot will host Bill Porter on Friday from 5:30 - 7:30 pm in the Preston Jackson Gallery. Admission for members is $7, nonmembers are $10.
Salsa at CAC will also take place on Friday with a dance lesson from 8:30-9:30 followed by open dancing until 12:30 am. Admission is $3.00 for members, $6.00 for nonmembers. |
 The Peoria Rivermen will take on the Milwaukee Admirals at the Peoria Civic Center (Carver) Arena Friday beginning at 6:05 pm. 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 |
 Ring in the New Year at Peoria Players with Ring-A-Ding-Ding New Year, a revue with the music of Frank Sinatra on New Year's Eve beginning at 7:30 pm and on Sunday at 2:30 pm at Peoria Players Theatre. Enjoy the classics of "Ol' Blue Eyes" performed by local favorites. Admission is $15 for all ages and includes complimentary hors d'oeuvres. For tickets, call 688-4473 or visit the Peoria Players Box Office. |
 The Get Lit New Year's Eve Fun Run will take place on Friday beginning with check-in from 10:30 to 11:45 pm and the race at 11:50 pm. Cost for the run/walk only is $13. Now in it's 10th year, Get Lit open to men, women and children and is a non-competitive run/walk on a two-mile paved course through the FOLEPI's Winter Wonderland drive-through display. A post-race pizza party at Avanti's Ristorante will follow the fun. For more information, call 253-2420. |
 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" with boarding of the boat beginning at 5:30 pm, and cruise running from 6 - 8 pm. Admission includes dinner during the cruise and 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 |
 The East Peoria Boat Club will host the Polar Ice Plunge 2011 on Saturday (New Years Day) at the East Peoria Boat Club located off Rt. 26 at the Tazewell/Woodford County Line. Registration is from 10 am - 1 pm with the Plunge ceremony beginning at 1 pm. Registration is $20 and includes a Plunge t-shirt. Proceeds will benefit the Dream Factory & other children's causes. For more information, call 699-6655. Registration forms are available at the club or online at eastpeoriaboatclub.com |
 Bradley Braves will take on Wichita State at the Peoria Civic Center (Carver) Arena on Saturday (New Year's Day) beginning at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $8, $12 & $20 and are available at the Peoria Civic Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 1-800-745-3000 or online at Ticketmaster.com |
