Music at the Museum | Timeless - SOLD OUT!
Featuring pianist, Dr. Antoine Karam
Sat, Dec 21 | 6:30-8:30 pm
Grand Lobby & Galleries
Limited seating available!
6 pm | Doors Open
6:30-7:50 pm | Music Program, galleries [brief 10 minute intermission]
7:50-8:30 pm | Festive Desserts + Holiday Drinks with Dr. Karam, grand lobby
Join us for a truly magical holiday experience tying together the timeless nature of music, art, and innovation with a spectacular concert in Da Vinci: The Genius featuring the Secrets of the Mona Lisa.
Renowned classical pianist and medical doctor, Dr. Antoine Karam is flying from his home in Beirut to play a concert in the galleries of the Peoria Riverfront Museum. He began his career in piano forty years ago as a child prodigy, playing national concerts. Now, Dr. Karam will play one exclusive concert for Peoria, featuring some of the most technically challenging piano compositions ever written by Rachmaninoff, Chopin, Scriabin and Franz Liszt, among others.
$30 Members | $36 Public
Pub Night Under the Stars: Orion, King of the Winter Sky
Saturday, January 17
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Enjoy an evening out in the Dome Planetarium where we will tour the winter constellations, and zoom in on deep sky images of the Milky Way. Planetarium Director Renae Kerrigan will share the mythology of the Orion constellation in cultures from around the world, and a telescope view of some of the beautiful nebulae and deep sky objects found in the Milky Way near the Orion constellation. We will end the evening with a flight to the edge of space and back.
Each ticket includes up to three beers or other drinks and a box of pub snacks including nachos, cheese, pretzels, nuts, and fruit.
Doors open at 6:50 PM
The program will be in two parts, allowing time to socialize and get more refreshments between shows.
$45 Members | $55 Others
Tickets can be purchased HERE.
Ages 21+
Additional questions? Contact Renae Kerrigan at rkerrigan@peoriariverfrontmuseum.org or 309.863.3030.
All supplies provided for programs unless otherwise noted. All paid programs require a minimum number of participants to run or will be canceled two business days prior to the start date. Pre-registration required.
Laser Light Nights are back at the DOME featuring an all new experience!
Sit back, relax and rock out with our new laser light system from "the worldwide leader in planetarium laser light shows," Laser Fantasy! Experience the full 3D excitement! The system features a graphics laser projector with special effects, a haze machine & a new beam projector, plus a fresh playlist of 20+ performances, from Beyoncé to The Beatles! Pick up show-enhancing spectrum glasses and refreshments at concessions!
SHOW SCHEDULE
January 23
6:00 – Laser ABBA
7:15 – That 90s Laser Show (new show!)
8:30 – Laser KISS
February 27
6:00 – That 90s Laser Show (new show!)
7:15 – Laser Daft Punk
8:30 – Laser Lady Gaga
March 13
6:00 – Laser Movie Magic (family friendly, 30 minutes)
7:15 – Laser Beatles
8:30 – Laser Lizzo
$5 Visionary Society Members | $7 Members | $10 Public
Buy tickets online now
click here.
Tickets & more info also available at the Museum or by phone at 309.686.7000.
(Note: These shows contain lyrics to popular songs and some may not be suitable for all ages.)
Saturday, February 7, 2026 at 7 p.m.
The Retro Rewind: Vinyl and Gaming Experience brings together jams from the 1950's-70's played on vinyl for the purest sound, nostalgic games (some oversized!) in the museum lobby, and a bar and bites to keep you going strong, all night long. Dancing is encouraged!
DJ juanGoblin will be spinning some of your favorites from the golden era of vinyl inside the galleries, so that you can experience visual and auditory art at their finest.
Check out the Golden Voice Wall of albums at the museum, enjoy the gallery exhibitions and great tunes. It's the perfect throwback evening for grown-ups who still know how to have fun.
Tickets:
Adult- $20
Member Adult-$15
Get tickets HERE
DJ juanGoblin
Jonathan Wright (DJ juanGoblin) is a longtime fixture of the Peoria music scene — as a musician, concert promoter, record label co-founder and producer of more than 15 vinyl/CD projects. He co-authored the award-winning book Punks in Peoria and is currently writing a book about Peoria's soul, jazz and blues scene. As a DJ, he’s spun at Black Band Distillery, The Twelve Bar, Broken Tree, Contemporary Art Center, Studios on Sheridan, and for many weddings, parties, fundraisers and other special events.
Sponsored by Friends of Performance, Visionary Society
Wine and Cheese Under the Stars
Romance
Friday, February 13 | 7-9 PM
Dome Planetarium
Enjoy an evening out in the Dome Planetarium and learn about new space discoveries, including a new moon around Uranus, an asteroid family, new images from the Webb and Hubble Space Telescopes, and more recent space news. Planetarium Director Renae Kerrigan will show you what you can see in the evening sky, and end the night with a flight through our Solar System and beyond. Enjoy a romantic evening under the stars in the Dome Planetarium, exploring myths and constellations in the night sky. We will fly you to some of the most beautiful places in the universe, such as the Heart Nebula, the Rosette Nebula, and more. Snuggle up with your date and learn how to find your anniversary star in the night sky.
Each ticket includes up to three pours of wine or other beverages, and a charcuterie box by Bella’s Charcuterie.
Doors open at 6:50 PM
The program will be in two parts, allowing time to socialize and refill your wine glass between the shows.
Ages 21+
$45 members | $55 public
Tickets can be purchased here.
Upcoming event: March 6, 2026
A Museum+ Performance
Saturday, February 14, 2026 | Doors open at 6 p.m. | Performance at 7 p.m.
Join us for another incredible performance in the museum galleries, with Joe George Shadid: Valentine's Performance. Enjoy a romantic date night set to the tune of an ensemble performance of selections from Shadid's new album The Art of Speaking Softly, as well as other original tunes.
Schedule
Doors open | 6 p.m.
Performance begins at 7 p.m.
Joe George Shadid is a songwriter, film composer, and video host of music YouTube channel, REVERB .
Joe’s debut record, Beautiful Dreams, was signed to German indie label, Eternal Sound Records, in early 2019. The release was followed by a European tour. Joe supported this record on a solo tour in Japan later that year. Joe’s songs encompass a range of color, from folk and Americana, to cinematic and spacious. His tasteful use of string quartet on recordings adds a breath and emotion to his music.
Joe’s work with REVERB has been featured in The New York Times, Consequence of Sound, Guitar Player Magazine, and People Magazine. And a number of the videos he has hosted/performed in have gone viral, earning him global notoriety amongst music and gear lovers.
Tickets:
Adult: $25
Member Adult: $20
Get tickets HERE
Sponsored by Vicky and Doug Stewart, Friends of Performance, and Visionary Society
February 21, 2026 | 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Take advantage of an exciting partnership between the W. D. Boyce Council, the Peoria Riverfront Museum, the Caterpillar Visitor Center and Museum, and other downtown Peoria venues. In this afternoon-only event, Scouts can earn one of a wide range of merit badges, some not commonly offered, but made available here thanks to the resources and expertise of our hosts!
Scouts can register and attend individually, but units are encouraged to travel together. Field ("Class A") uniforms are preferred so you can show how your Scout spirit "Plays in Peoria!"
Register for Merit Badge University
Event Times:
Noon - 12:30 p.m.. | Check-in (Main Lobby - Peoria Riverfront Museum)
12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Opening (Giant Screen Theater - Peoria Riverfront Museum)
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Merit Badge Classes - Various Downtown Locations
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. | Peoria Riverfront Museum Open for Scouts
5:00 p.m. | Peoria Riverfront Museum Closes
Merit Badges Offered:
American Business
American Cultures
Citizenship in the World
American Heritage
Cooking
American Labor
Crime Prevention
Art
Cyber Security
Artificial Intelligence
Engineering
Astronomy
Entrepreneurship
Bird Study
Insect Studies
Chemistry
Inventing
Chess
Mining in Society
Citizenship in the Community
Reptile & Amphibian Study
Citizenship in the Nation
Scouting Heritage
Sponsored by Robert and Kathleen Temple
Laser Light Nights are back at the DOME featuring an all new experience!
Sit back, relax and rock out with our new laser light system from "the worldwide leader in planetarium laser light shows," Laser Fantasy! Experience the full 3D excitement! The system features a graphics laser projector with special effects, a haze machine & a new beam projector, plus a fresh playlist of 20+ performances, from Beyoncé to The Beatles! Pick up show-enhancing spectrum glasses and refreshments at concessions!
SHOW SCHEDULE
February 27
6:00 – That 90s Laser Show (new show!)
7:15 – Laser Daft Punk
8:30 – Laser Lady Gaga
March 13
6:00 – Laser Movie Magic (family friendly, 30 minutes)
7:15 – Laser Beatles
8:30 – Laser Lizzo
$5 Visionary Society Members | $7 Members | $10 Public
Buy tickets online now
click here.
Tickets & more info also available at the Museum or by phone at 309.686.7000.
(Note: These shows contain lyrics to popular songs and some may not be suitable for all ages.)
Laser Light Nights are back at the DOME featuring an all new experience!
Sit back, relax and rock out with our new laser light system from "the worldwide leader in planetarium laser light shows," Laser Fantasy! Experience the full 3D excitement! The system features a graphics laser projector with special effects, a haze machine & a new beam projector, plus a fresh playlist of 20+ performances, from Beyoncé to The Beatles! Pick up show-enhancing spectrum glasses and refreshments at concessions!
SHOW SCHEDULE
March 13
6:00 – Laser Movie Magic (family friendly, 30 minutes)
7:15 – Laser Beatles
8:30 – Laser Lizzo
$5 Visionary Society Members | $7 Members | $10 Public
Buy tickets online now
click here.
Tickets & more info also available at the Museum or by phone at 309.686.7000.
(Note: These shows contain lyrics to popular songs and some may not be suitable for all ages.)
A MUSEUM+ Program
Friday, March 27, 2026 and Saturday, March 28, 2026 | Performances at 7 p.m.
Experience “I Hear America Singing” – A Musical Journey Through 250 Years of Liberty Presented by Shot in the Dark Productions | A Signature America 250 Event
FRIDAY TICKETS | SATURDAY TICKETS
As part of the Peoria Riverfront Museum’s commemoration of America 250, we are proud to present I Hear America Singing, an original performance created in partnership with Shot in the Dark Productions. This two-performance celebration brings America’s story to life through the power of song—honoring 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This is the inaugural performance of a show that will go on to travel as a gift to the nation to celebrate 250 years of America, and share our music with the next generation.
This pioneering performance adds the voices of Americans from various walks of life to a reading of the Declaration of Independence, then combined with the performance itself.
Presented in conjunction with the centerpiece of the Peoria Riverfront Museum's celebration of America 250, The Promise of Liberty, guest curated by acclaimed documentarian Ken Burns, this performance also complements a landmark exhibition featuring the largest assemblage of American historical documents ever shown on this scale. Visitors will encounter extraordinary artifacts, including a 1776 copy of the Declaration of Independence, an Emancipation Proclamation signed by Abraham Lincoln, and the manuscript of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech.
Inspired by Walt Whitman’s famous poem, I Hear America Singing weaves together a dynamic collection of music that reflects the nation’s evolving pursuit of liberty and the promises set forth in 1776. From traditional spirituals and work songs like “Deep River” and “Bound for the Promised Land,” to the works of celebrated composers and songwriters such as Paul Simon, Charles Ives, Jason Robert Brown, and Stephen Schwartz, this performance traces the American journey toward freedom, unity, and hope.
Echoing the voices of Whitman, Lincoln, Langston Hughes, Dr. King, and generations of Americans striving toward a more perfect union, this musical evening invites audiences to reflect, remember, and reimagine the nation’s ongoing quest to fulfill the ideals of its founding.
This signature performance will also be accompanied by Deep Rivers | Long Roads: The Journey of America . This special two month-long exhibition of Americana celebrates the nation’s path toward its own “promised land”—a vision carried forward not only by those who came before us, but by those who will follow.
This performance is made possible through the generous support of Linda Beth and Ed Sutkowski, whose sponsorship powers the museum’s MUSEUM+ initiative—a bold commitment to expanding performance, arts, and cultural experiences for the people of central Illinois.
Join us for two unforgettable performances where history, music, and hope converge—and hear America singing anew.
Sponsored by Linda Beth and Ed Sutkowski, America 250 donors, Visionary Society, Friends of Performance.
Run the Planets!
Interplanetary 5K Race + 1 Mile Fitness Walk
Registration is open for 2026! April 18, 2026
LOCATIONS
Peoria Riverfront Museum (packet pickup), Gateway Building (start & finish Line)
Course: Entirely flat (no hills) along the Riverfront Trail (from Gateway Building to Detweiller Marina)
TIMES
Packet Pickup: Friday, April 17, from 12:30-5:30 PM, and race day starting at 7:30 AM, in the museum's auditorium on the lower level.
April 18, 2026:
• 7:30-8:30 am: Race day registration; packet pickup
• 9 am: 5K Race start
• 9:05 am: 1 Mile Fitness Walk start
• 9:30 am: Kids' 1/2 Mile Fun Run start
• Refreshments after 5K race; awards after the Kids' Fun Run
Participants can choose to receive a race shirt, or skip it for a discount on registration. Must register by March 25 to guarantee a shirt.
FEES
REGISTRATION
Inquires: please contact Renae Kerrigan at rkerrigan@peoriariverfrontmuseum.org or 309.863.3030.
Checks can be mailed to:
Peoria Riverfront Museum
222 SW Water St
Peoria, IL 61602
The Interplanetary 5K is sponsored by the Rucker Family and the Visionary Society
