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
May 15, 2025 | Rogue Parade (The Greg Ward Band)
Get tickets HERE
Saxophonist, composer and producer Greg Ward out of Chicago, Illinois, with Peoria ties, presents his new band Rogue Parade to kick off the 2025 Rhumboogie on the Plaza Series. Born in Peoria in 1982, Greg Ward has evolved into a musician with focus and vision. As a student at Northern Illinois University, began composing for NIU’s jazz combos and started performing in jazz clubs in Chicago. After graduating with a degree in in Jazz Studies/Saxophone Performance, Ward stayed in the Midwest to expand his musical experiences, composing and performing with the International
Contemporary Ensemble, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Chamber Series, and commissioned by the Jazz Institute of Chicago for a new composition, Ward performed at the Chicago Jazz Festival in 2009. That same year, he made the move to NYC, became immersed in the jazz scene, produced and released his first CD, and collaborated with renowned jazz musicians. In 2012, Ward was selected as one of the New Music USA Van Lier Fellows. In 2014, he premiered Capturing Sunlight, and hour-long septet performance that included a short documentary by Diana Quinones Rivera.
Commissioned by the Jazz Gallery, the collaborative project was inspired by the life and work of Preston Jackson. Ward tours internationally and performs with various prestigious ensembles, but continues to favor Peoria, Illinois with occasional performances, with a very warm welcome home.
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
SENIOR FREE DAY
SENIOR MORNING PROGRAM
Third Wednesday of Each Month
10:00 a.m. Coffee and Pastries | 10:30 a.m. Discussion
Please be aware, museum doors will not be unlocked until 9:45 a.m.!
Gilmore Auditorium
COME FOR THE MORNING, STAY FOR THE DAY!
Please join us for Senior Day on the third Wednesday of each month where members and seniors 60+ can enjoy all exhibitions and daytime planetarium shows for free.
Schedule:
May 21 - Senior Citizen Band
Come listen to the amazing Peoria Area Senior Citizen Band. Breakfast will start at 10 am in the Gilmore Auditorium, and the band will perform from 10:30 until 11:15 a.m. upstairs in the Grand Lobby!
June 18 - Peoria County Bicentennial
Join Ed Barry from the Peoria Historical Society to present regarding the history of Peoria County and hear from Peoria County representatives on programs coming up about Peoria County's historic birthday!
July 16 - World's Largest Dinosaurs with Renae Kerrigan
Curator of Science and Planetarium Director Renae Kerrigan will give a presentation on the newest exhibition, World's Largest Dinosaurs! Learn about these amazing giants and the science behind them.
August 20 - Behind the Scenes: Transformation with Curation
Learn from Exhibitions Coordinator Harry Sidebotham on what it takes to make this museum come to life! See behind the scenes photos of installations and learn about all things curations.
NOTE: Registration is not necessary but groups are encouraged to call ahead so that we will be prepared. Senior groups, please contact Assistant Director of Education, Sadie Helmick, 309-863-3016
Sponsored by Peoria Falcon Circle, Visionary Society
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!
May 23
6:00 – Laser AC/DC
7:15 – Laser Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon
8:30 – Laser Floyd: The Wall
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.)
With Carver Mark McNair and Decoy Specialist at Copley Fine Art Auctions Colin McNair
Saturday | June 7, 2025 | 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Decoys are in their DNA.
Colin McNair has been in the decoy carving business since birth. His father, Mark McNair is a carver, and Mark himself went on to be a decoy specialist for one of the most important fine art auctions in America, Copley Fine Art Auctions. Enjoy a carving demonstration, a special introduction to decoys by Colin McNair and a gallery tour of Folk: Selections from the American Folk Art Museum with curator of art Zac Zetterberg, in conversation with the McNairs.
Schedule of events:
Generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation, Copley Fine Art Auctions, Visionary Society, and Illinois Arts Council.
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.)
