Presented by Commerce Bank
May 15, 2025 - September 25, 2024 | Thursday Nights | Doors Open at 6 p.m., Performance at 7 p.m.
Join us on the Peoria Riverfront Museum's Sun Plaza for a summer music series featuring local and regional jazz artists, inspired by Preston Jackson's Bronzeville to Harlem: An American Story . This series event will take place select Thursdays from May 15, 2025 to September 25, 2025, featuring artists from the Chicago area as well as regional and local musicians. Get down and boogie with us!
Cash bar available. Food available for purchase from WRap City, founded by Branden "Chef B-Doe" Jackson. Menu items will include wraps, mac n' cheese and more!
Ticket prices
Members- $10
Non-Members- $15
Student- $7
Visionary Society-$7
Ticket price includes admission to Preston Jackson's Bronzeville to Harlem: An American Story.
Schedule of events
June 26, 2025 | Todd Kelly and the Central Illinois Jazz Orchestra ft. Maggie Sloter
Get tickets HERE
Central Illinois Jazz Orchestra, founded in 1998, is a seventeen-piece big band committed to keeping the ‘big jazz’ sound alive in central Illinois. CIJO is made up of professional and semi-professional musicians from the heart of Illinois that include music educators, business professionals, and full time performers. The group plays classic jazz charts from Count Basie, to Stan Keaton, and from Duke Ellington to Maynard Ferguson. The CIJO is fronted by trumpeter and Bradley University’s Todd Kelly. and at this performance, the vocal stylings of the one and only Maggie Sloter.
July 24, 2025 | Pippi and Daniel Music & the Experience
Get tickets HERE
Pippi Ardennia and Daniel Leahy are composers and recording artists that create intentional, soul-stirring music that ignites self-empowerment and inspires positive change. The will showcase a 9-piece jazz band to perform at this special Rhumboogie on the Plaza in July. Pippi and Daniel are songwriters and performers that have individually been in the Music and Entertainment Business for the majority of their lives. When these two dynamos connected they realized they shared the same vision and purpose for themselves and the planet. Their purpose is to create a legacy of transformational music which can change lives by allowing new perspectives and ideas to entertain the listeners. This powerful and loving couple have set the intention to restore humanity one heart at a time.
August 28, 2025 | Lenard Simpson Quartet
Get tickets HERE
Lenard Simpson is a saxophonist, composer and educator from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Lenard was mostly self-taught through high school, but his natural ability and musicianship earned him accolades such as membership in the esteemed Grammy Camp Jazz Session, and an outstanding soloist award at the Mingus Jazz Competition in New York City. Lenard has had the opportunity to play and travel with artists such as pianist and composer-Billy Childs, Kurt Elling, Marquis Hill, and Clayton Cameron. Lenard received a B.M in Jazz performance at Northern Illinois University. While studying at NIU, Lenard was awarded first place in Chicago’s esteemed Luminarts Jazz Competition. Upon graduation, Lenard moved to Chicago and soon became one of the city’s top call saxophonists playing sideman to legendary local drummers, George Fludas and Charles Heath. Lenard’s trio has appeared at premier clubs and jazz festivals throughout the Chicago and Milwaukee area. Lenard recently graduated from the Thelonious Monk Institute Fellowship, which has since been renamed to the Herbie Hancock Institute where he was selected by a panel of Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, James Newton and Ambrose Akinmusire.
September 25, 2025 | Preston Jackson and Friends | Season Finale!
Get tickets HERE
American painter, sculptor, educator, and musician, Preston Jackson is bringing some of the best of Peoria's jazz scene to the grand finale of Rhumboogie on the Plaza. We’re ending our Rhumboogie 2025 series by highlighting the inspiration of the entire series: Preston Jackson’s Bronzeville to Harlem: An American Story. Joined by some of the most experienced musicians in the area, Preston Jackson and Friends performing at the Peoria Riverfront Museum is always a delight. See Preston himself, Judy Page, Mike Nellas, Manny Lopez II, Manny Lopez III and John Miller in the final sendoff of summer, right here at the Peoria Riverfront Museum.
Rhumboogie on the Plaza is presented by Commerce Bank
Sponsored by Linda Beth and Ed Sutkowski, Visionary Society, Friends of Bronzeville to Harlem and Friends of Performance
FREE with General Admission
Join us at the Peoria Riverfront Museum and make the most of your visit with tours and storytimes themed around current exhibition The World's Largest Dinosaurs , presented by the Gilmore Foundation.
Earn passport points on each activity. Learn more about the Peoria Riverfront Museums Achievement Passport and how your family can win a trip to New York City today!
Dino-Mite Storytimes | 11 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. every Thursday and Saturday
A gallery guide will take you into The World's Largest Dinosaurs, presented by the Gilmore Foundation for a short storytime under the amazing, true to life models of the largest dinosaurs to ever walk the earth. After the story, explore the world of Sauropods, the titans of the dinosaur world! Earn 10 achievement passport points per storytime
Dig Deep Dino Tours | 1 p.m. every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
Four special tours through The World's Largest Dinosaurs, presented by the Gilmore Foundation! Completely all four Dig Deep Dino Tours and receive a FREE ticket to our Dino Family Trivia event on August 2, 2025. All Deep Dive Dino Tours are worth 100 achievement passport points.
Tours:
Dino Diet- Learn about what the Sauropods ate to sustain their massive bodies
Dino Giants- Learn why these amazing animals grew to their huge size.
Dino Differences- Learn about the differences between dinosaurs, and what makes a sauropod so special among so many amazing species
Dino Detectives- Ever wonder about how these pieces of history were found? Put on your detective hat and learn more about the Paleontology profession!
Sponsored by Visionary Society and Family Fun Club
Laser Light Nights are back at the DOME featuring an all-new 3D experience & fresh playlist!
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!
June 13
6:00 – Laser ABBA (new show!)
7:15 – Laser Prince
8:30 – Laser Zeppelin: Lazed and Confused
$7 Members | $10 Public
Buy tickets online 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.)
This Member Saturday, the Peoria Riverfront Museum invites you to a member exclusive preview of a NEW show coming to the Dome Planetarium: Spark: The Universe In Us.
Reserve your ticket HERE
Members are also free to visit all museum galleries.
Members enjoy sneak peeks and special perks, every second Saturday of the month!
Not a member? Join on our website today,
get details at the ticket counter, or call (309) 686-7000.
Member Saturday sponsored by Sun Collectors, Visionary Society, Planetarium Club
Sunday, June 15, 2025 | 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.
FREE with admission!
Join us for "Folk Fest!" at the Peoria Riverfront Museum! Excite all of your senses with musical performances, artist demonstrations, makers stations and so much more!
Celebrating current exhibition FOLK: Selections from the American Folk Art Museum the Peoria Riverfront Museum is thrilled to be bringing a festival that uplifts American folk arts like decoy carving, basket weaving, loom weaving, storytelling, folk music and so much more!
Schedule of Events
PerformancesArtist Demonstrations | 12 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Folk Maker's Stations | 12 p.m.-3 p.m. | Gilmore Auditorium
Generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation, Visionary Society, Illinois Arts Council
Yoga Under the Stars
Fri, June 20 | 6 p.m.
Let's get together and celebrate the luminous power of the sun and the summer solstice with Yoga Under the Stars in the Dome Planetarium.
The summer solstice represents light, power, illumination, growth & upward energy. The energy of the season is big, and we can harness its power through meditative yoga movement, breath and guided visualization. Access the power of 10,000 suns with-in, and set your inner light ablaze.
Yoga is led by Tammy Mitchell aka TamoVision from OM on the River Yoga Center in Downtown Peoria. This is a community class with the intent to cultivate a feel good vibe and memorable yoga experience. This class is appropriate for beginners & beyond. You are encouraged to move at your own pace and lean into the support of the collective. Please bring a yoga mat and blanket.
Purchase tickets here: $20 Members | $25 Public
All sessions are an hour and 15 minutes in length.
Limited mats are available, please bring a mat and a light blanket. Doors open at 5:45 pm. All supplies provided for programs unless otherwise noted. All paid programs require a minimum number of participants to run or will be cancelled two business days prior to the start date. Pre-registration required.
Saturday, June 21, 2025 | Performance 6:30 p.m. | Reception 7:30 p.m.
The Peoria Riverfront Museum is pleased to announce a new series of performances taking place in current exhibition Solitude: The Necessity of Art. Kicking off this exciting new series, the Peoria Riverfront Museum is thrilled to welcome back pianist Leon Lewis-Nicol.
Join us for Solos in Solitude , a special music series where art and music come together in a beautiful and moving way. In each event, a musician picks artworks from the exhibition Solitude: The Necessity of Art and performs a solo piece inspired by what they see.
Through music, they share their personal response to the art, creating a powerful connection between sound and image. The musician may also perform other pieces that add to the story they want to tell.
A museum curator will join the performance to walk the audience through the selected artworks, giving insight into the art and the creative exchange between the musician and the visuals.
Experience this one-of-a-kind journey where music brings new life to art — and art inspires unforgettable music.
A Native of Sierra Leone, Leon Lewis-Nicol is a jazz pianist whose musical inspiration, compositions, and improvisational voice are deeply rooted in his West African Heritage and Christian beliefs. Leon is an active performing/touring artist who leads his own group and has made numerous appearances with other groups including the New York based band ‘Michael Mwenso and the Shakes’ whom he made his debut performance with at The Lincoln Center in New York City.
Lewis-Nicol will play a one-hour set in Solitude: The Necessity of Art , pairing his unique, modern sound with an outstanding piece of contemporary art for a visual and auditory experience like no other.
Tickets
Light hors d'oeuvres will be served after the performance. A cash bar will be available.
Generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation
Sponsored by Visionary Society, Friends of Performance and Illinois Arts Council.
Wednesday, June 25, 2024 | 5:15 p.m.
The state of the museum is strong! Join us at the Peoria Riverfront Museum as we look back on a fantastic year, and look forward to another one, even better.
"State of the Museum" presentation led by Board Chair Todd Baker and President and CEO of the Peoria Riverfront Museum, John Morris.
Peoria Riverfront Museum
The only multidisciplinary museum of its kind in the nation, the Peoria Riverfront Museum uses art, science, history and achievement to inspire confidence, lifelong learning, and talent. Since opening in 2012, the privately funded museum has provided more than one million experiences through major exhibitions, a permanent collection, interactive galleries, a dome planetarium, giant screen theater and educational programming including curricula-related student visits. The AAM-accredited, Smithsonian-affiliated private nonprofit museum is supported by more than 4,000 members and donors, and is housed in a county-owned LEED Gold-certified building on a campus overlooking the Illinois River.
Laser Spirit of America
Saturday July 5 | 12:15 PM
Enjoy a family friendly patriotic music show in this Saturday matinee time.
$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.
Pub Night Under the Stars: New Era of Astronomy – The Vera Rubin Telescope
Friday, August 8
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
A new telescope is opening the skies to astronomers better than ever before, set on the Andes Mountains in Chile. See some of the first images from the Vera Rubin Telescope and learn about this new great science tool from Planetarium Director Renae Kerrigan, who has toured the site before it opened!
Your evening will also include a tour of the night sky, the latest images from the James Webb Space Telescope, and a flight to the edge of space and back.
Each guest receives an individual snack box featuring nachos, cheese, pretzels, fruit, nuts & more; up to three servings of beer, seltzer or soda; and an entertaining evening under the stars.
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.
