A Zentangle: Art from Doodles workshop will take place at the Peoria Riverfront Museum from 1:30 – 3:30 pm. Zentangle combines the art of meditation with the beauty of free-form drawing. No previous artistic ability is needed to create these unique patterns, called "tangles". Once practiced, this technique can be used to decorate and accentuate a variety of things, all while fostering a clear, focused, and relaxed mind. Bonnie Cox will lead the workshop: both families & individuals are invited to participate. Cost is $12 for members (with a $25 family max) or $14 for the public (with a $28 family max). Registration is encouraged but not required : call 309-863-3034 for more information or visit www.peoriariverfrontmuseum.org/posts/495
The Peoria Mothers Of Twins Clothing & Equipment Consignment Sale will take place at the Riverplex (located at 600 NE Water St in Peoria) from 8 am – Noon. Admission is $1 or receive free admission by texting Pmotsale to 23559. Cash & credit will be accepted. For more information, visit www.peoriamothersoftwins.org
Eggs on the Prairie featuring "The Bunny" will welcome spring with a celebration hosted by Bethany Baptist Church at the Shoppes at Grand Prairie from 10 am – 2 pm. Festivities include live music, children's games and activities, bouncy houses, eggs, balloon animals, prizes and photos with "The Bunny". For more information, call 309-692-3672, ext. 19 or email cindy@dmapropertyllc.com
A Beer & Wine Tasting fundraiser for the Tazewell County Resource Center will take place in the Ballroom at the Par-a-Dice Hotel from 5 – 7 pm. Live music featuring Bret Bunton and the Corn Wolves will be provided. Must be 21 to attend. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door and are available at www.tcrc.us/tastingevent
The Hult Center for Healthy Living will host the 3rd Annual Mental Health Forum "Family Emotional Wellness and Recovery" from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm in the Hayden-Clark Alumni Center at Bradley University. Dr. Steve Perry, founder of one of the top schools in the country, will be the keynote speaker. The forum also features two breakout sessions with a variety of topics, lunch and awards. For more information, fees and to register, call 309-692-6650 visit www.hulthealthy.org
Junction City will host Opening Day for Trails as part of the nation-wide Rails to Trails Conservancy promotional event from 9 am – noon on the newly-opened Rock Island Greenway. Activities include: bicycle rides to the north with the Illinois Valley Wheelm'n beginning at 9:30 am and 11:30 am, hikes to the south with the Pimiteoui Trail Club beginning at 9:30 am and 11:30 am, a nature and birdwatching hike by the Peoria Audubon Society in the former Donovan Golf Course beginning at 9:30 am, a kids bicycle ride to Bicycle Safety Town beginning at 9:45 am, a "Pat a Pup" event with the Peoria Humane Society, a minor bike tune-up, chain lube and tire inflation by Bushwhacker, the Illinois Valley Wheelm'n and Bike Peoria, and non-competitive run by the Illinois Valley Striders at 11 am. Admission to the event is free. For more information, visit www.newjunctioncity.com
Wildlife Prairie Park will host its Annual Spring Wake-Up Event from 9 am – 4:30 pm on Saturday & Sunday. All guests will receive half-price admission; park members receive free admission. Animal feedings for various park residents will take place throughout each day. A complete schedule and more information can be found at www.wildlifeprairiepark.org
A Marchtober Fest will be held at the Lindenhof (located at 7601 N. Harker Drive in Peoria) from Noon – 6 pm. Enjoy a German buffet including beef rouladen, bratwurst, schweineschnitzel, chicken parmesan, German green beans, red cabbage, sauerkraut, mashed potatoes & gravy, and spaetzle for $12 per person. Add an apple strudel for dessert for $2 more. Kids 9 and under who wear a German lederhosen or a Dirdnl will eat free: all kids 12 and under without a German attire are $6. Entertainment will also be provided starting at 12:30 pm. Special beers, including Oktoberfest, will also be available for the event. If the weather permits, there will be arts and craft vendors outside. Payments are cash only. For more information, call 309-691-7484 or visit www.peoriagermans.net
Traditionally, the beers served at Oktoberfest were brewed in March or spring and then stored underground during the summer before being served in September. German summers were typically too hot to brew lagers. These Märzen (March) biers were the historic forerunner of the Oktoberfestbiers of today. The Lindenhof features a full bar with three German beers on draft, a selection of German wines, and German liqueurs.
The Peoria Jaycees will host Peoria's largest Easter Egg Hunt at Detweiller Park near the Dogwood Pavilion with festivities beginning at 1:30 pm and the hunt beginning at 2 pm. The event is open to families and children ages through 9. There will be 15,000 eggs stuffed with candy by the Easter Bunny and the Girl Scouts spread through 4 areas at the park with each areas corresponding to a specific age group: 0-2, 3-4, 5-7, 8-9. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.peoriajaycees.org/easter-egg-hunt
Skillet will perform as part of Winter Jam also featuring Jeremy Camp, Francesca Battistelli, Building 429, for King & Country, Family Force 5 and evangelist Tony Nolan at the Peoria Civic Center beginning at 6 pm. There is a $10 donation at the door. For more information, visit www.peoriaciviccenter.com
A Gallery Walk with Preston Jackson will take place at the Peoria Riverfront Museum in the International Feature Gallery beginning at 2 pm. Peoria native Joel Ommen has been collecting works by Jackson, a local artist with a national reputation, for decades and has loaned some of his favorite pieces to the Museum for our "Stuff! The Art of Collecting'" exhibition. The artist will share his personal motivations for and perspectives on his work, focusing on the pieces from Ommen's collection. The event is free to members and with regular paid admission, which is $11 for adults, $10 for seniors citizens 60+ or $9 for youth 3-17 plus Peoria county residents receive a 15% discount. Reservations are suggested. For more information, call 309-863-3028 or visit www.peoriariverfrontmuseum.org/posts/504
Ommen appreciates the way Jackson incorporates socially relevant themes into his work, including those which are particularly significant in today's culture – racism, sexism, and injustice. Although they were created two decades ago, the drawing and painting on display in Stuff! speak poignantly to the social concerns of today.
