Events

  • Membership Swap Weekend 2025

    (General - From Friday, April 25, 2025 until Sunday, April 27, 2025)

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    MEMBERSHIP SWAP WEEKEND

    Friday, April 25, 2025 - Sunday, April 27, 2025

    Peoria Riverfront Museum | Peoria Zoo | Peoria PlayHouse Children's Museum | Wildlife Prairie Park

    Membership Swap Weekend is April 25, 2025- April 27, 2025!

    If you are a member with the Peoria Riverfront Museum, enjoy FREE general admission to these awesome Peoria-area attractions: Wildlife Prairie Park, the Peoria PlayHouse Children's Museum, and the Peoria Zoo!

    All you have to do is present your membership card & a photo ID and then go enjoy your weekend!

    Charges may apply for additional experiences.

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  • FREE DAY | Fuse Interactive Experience 2025

    (General - Saturday, April 26, 2025)

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    FREE DAY! BRADLEY FUSE INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE

    PLAY • WATCH • INTERACT

    Saturday, April 26, 2025  | 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

    Bradley’s FUSE brings award-winning interactive design & high-tech fun to Peoria Riverfront Museum!

    FREE and open to the public: all FUSE activities, museum exhibitions, Dome Planetarium and Giant Screen Theater 

    From advertising and entertainment, to education, health care, gaming and more, interactive media professionals are the bridge between industry and creative solutions. Now Bradley University’s internationally recognized Department of Interactive Media is inviting the public to experience their groundbreaking work at FUSE 2025.

    FUSE is a dynamic and engaging showcase of Bradley’s interactive media students’ work, free of charge.

    Join us for a free day of family fun! We invite you to bring your imagination and take this opportunity to experience the creative works of Bradley's amazingly talented students.

    Sit down and engage in original animations, immerse yourself in new technologies, and explore the future of animation, game art, game design, and user experience.

    To learn about this year’s FUSE, visit Bradley's website HERE

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  • Custom Car Show

    (General - Sunday, April 27, 2025)

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    Custom Car Show with the Peoria Riverfront Museum

    Sunday, April 27, 2025 | 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. | Apply to display YOUR custom vehicle!

    Join us for a Custom Car Show on the beautiful Peoria Riverfront! The Peoria Riverfront Museum is finishing off current exhibition BUILT: American Custom Car Culture with a car show on the riverfront, featuring only customized vehicles.

    Apply to have your vehicle included in our Custom Car Show HERE

    We will be parking some of the most amazing customized vehicles in Peoria on the waterfront. See the map below for placements. 

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    FAQ

    What is custom?

    Any combination of custom paint jobs, rims, interior, engines, lights, etc. If you’d like to see some examples, visit the exhibition BUILT: American Custom Car Culture. This car show will showcase the creativity and engineering of our region.

    What vehicles can enter?

    We welcome vehicles from central Illinois, Chicago, St. Louis, and any other place near enough to drive to the Peoria riverfront. These vehicles include: cars, trucks, motorcycles, bikes, and trikes of all makes, models, and years.

    How are vehicles selected?

    Complete and submit the Google form by April 11, 2025, with as much information as possible. You must include photos of your vehicle for the selection committee to review. The selection committee is comprised of a group of community leaders and automotive enthusiasts. We know there are countless amazing builds in our community, but there are limited spots available and we want to demonstrate a variety of builds for guests to enjoy.

    What if it rains?

    This car show will take place rain or shine.

    Is the museum open during the car show?

    Yes! Please come inside to see BUILT: American Custom Car Culture as April 27, 2025 is the last day to view the exhibition. For this day only, enjoy half price admission.

    Sponsored by SJ and Tammy Boyd, Visionary Society and Illinois Arts Council

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  • Disney Fest 2025

    (General - From Friday, May 2, 2025 until Sunday, May 4, 2025)

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    DISNEY FEST 2025

    Friday, May 2, 2025 - Sunday, May 4, 2025

    This May, the Peoria Riverfront Museum becomes the Happiest Place on Earth! Join us, for Disney Fest!

    Disney Fest 2025 brings to life decades of Disney, with special activities that are fun for the whole family! Experience classic Disney films, shorts, and documentaries on the Peoria Riverfront Museum's Giant Screen Theater, the largest Film Society screen in America. 2025's Disney Fest brings more to the movies: join us for a Disney Trivia Night, a Dinner and a Movie experience, animation workshops, and so much more! 

    Renowned Disney author and historian J.B. Kaufman will join us for fascinating pre-film talks and post-film Q&As as well as book signings after select films. Mr. Kaufman is a film historian and author who specializes in Disney animation history and silent films. His books include The Fairest One of All, Pinocchio: The Making of the Disney Epic, and Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse

    Award-winning author, historian, filmmaker, educator and musician, Mindy Johnson will return to the Peoria Riverfront Museum for pre- and post- film discussion on the history of women in Disney animation. Her books include Ink & Paint: The Women of Walt Disney’s Animation, Tinker Bell: An Evolution, and Pencils, Pens & Brushes: A Great Girls’ Guide to Disney Animation.

    For the full schedule of Disney Films, click HERE.


    Programming Schedule:

    Friday, May 2, 2025

    • Disney Trivia and Cocktail Night
      6 p.m. - 8 p.m. 
      Test your knowledge on all things classic Disney at this 21+ event. One ticket includes Nick-N-Willy's pizza, one free drink, and dessert. Costumes encouraged! Bring your best to our costume contest and if you win, take home a Disney-themed prize! Prizes will be given to the winning trivia team and best costume! Prizes includes tickets to Disney Fest events.
      *Teams up to 8 members

      Get tickets HERE

    Saturday, May 3, 2025

    • Screening of Cinderella
      10 a.m. 
      With a brief introduction by collector Steve Spain and author J.B. Kaufman, see this Disney classic as you've never seen it before, on the Giant Screen!  To celebrate the 75th anniversary of this beloved classic, music director and arranger Shawn Degenhart will tell stories about his efforts to preserve the full musical score of the film in Walt Disney’s Cinderella: Full Score. Book signing with Shawn Degenhart to follow.
      Get tickets HERE
                
    • Laser Movie Magic 
      1 p.m. in the Dome Planetarium
      Join us for a laser light show featuring all your favorite Disney movies, including songs and visuals from classic Disney films like The Lion King to newer additions to the Disney family like Star Wars!
      Get tickets HERE
            
    • Hyperion Hub Podcast Recording LIVE!
       1 p.m.
      Join us in the Peoria Riverfront Museum's Grand Lobby for a live recording of the Hyperion Hub podcast with Shawn Degenhart and John Alois, as they interview guests J.B. Kaufman, Steve Spain and Mindy Johnson. 
               
    • Tour of Cinderella | Peter Pan: The Classic Disney Collection of Steve Spain with Steve Spain
      2 p.m.
      Join us in the gallery for a special tour through the classic Disney collection of Steve Spain, with Steve himself! See rare Disney cels, posters, and more as you learn the history behind the animation. 
          
    • Screening of Alice in Wonderland
      2:30 p.m. in the Giant Screen Theater
      With an introduction by Mindy Johnson, speaking about Mary Blair and the artistry of ink and painting that followed, see this Disney classic in all it's beauty, on the GIANT screen! There will be a book signing after the film with Mindy Johnson and Mr. Kaufman. 
      Get tickets HERE
             
          
    • Saturday Night Feature: Peter Pan
      Dinner at 5:30 p.m. | Film at 6:30 p.m. 
      Join us for a Dinner and a Movie experience based on the classic Disney film Peter Pan (1953) Enjoy a meal that a lost boy would love, one free glass of wine, a themed photo opportunity, and an exclusive talk from author Mindy Johnson about the creation of fairy icon Tinker Bell! Following the film, join Steve Spain, J.B. Kaufman, and Mindy Johnson for a Q&A.
      Get tickets for the full Dinner and a Movie experience HERE
      Get tickets for only the film HERE

    Sunday, May 4, 2025

    • Donald Duck Shorts
      12: 30 p.m.
      in the Giant Screen Theater 
      Join us as author J.B. Kaufman presents five selected shorts of Donald Duck, and provides commentary on the evolution and animation of the character. There will be a book signing to follow with Mr. Kaufman. 
      Get tickets HERE
       
    • Laser Movie Magic 
      1 p.m. in the Dome Planetarium
      Join us for a laser light show featuring all your favorite Disney movies, including songs and visuals from classic Disney films like The Lion King to newer additions to the Disney family like Star Wars!
      Get tickets HERE
             
    • Draw It! A workshop with Joe the Art Guy!
      1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
      in the Gilmore Auditorium
      The Peoria Riverfront Museum invites you to a drawing workshop with Joe the Art Guy who will show you how to draw realistic and cartoon depictions of all your favorite animals; everything from dogs, horses, kitty cats, birds, and more. Joe will guide you through a step-by-step process, using basic shapes to help you create the animal of your choice! All materials are provided, including sketch paper, pencils, colored pencils and ink.
      Get tickets for the 1:30 workshop HERE
      Get tickets for the 2:30 workshop HERE
            
    • Tour of Cinderella | Peter Pan: The Classic Disney Collection of Steve Spain with Steve Spain
      2 p.m. Join us in the gallery for a special tour through the classic Disney collection of Steve Spain, with Steve himself! See rare Disney cels, posters, and more as you learn the history behind the animation.
             
    • Screening of The Reluctant Dragon
      2:30 p.m. With an introduction by author J.B. Kaufman, join us in the Giant Screen Theater for a special screening of Disney anthology The Reluctant Dragon (1941). 
      Get tickets HERE

    THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

    Disney Fest 2025 is sponsored by Visionary Society, Friends of Art, and Illinois Arts Council

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  • Wine & Cheese Under the Stars | Exploring the Universe

    (General - Friday, May 9, 2025)

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    Wine and Cheese Under the Stars: Exploring the Universe 

    May 9 | 7-9 PM

    Astronomers have been using the Hubble Space Telescope to discover new views of our ancient universe for 35 years. We will be celebrating some of Hubble’s best images this evening, including the new anniversary image released in April. 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, to the Milky Way and beyond.

    Each ticket includes up to three glasses of wine or other drinks and a charcuterie box from 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 

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  • Laser Light Nights | AC/DC, Dark Side of the Moon, The Wall

    (General - Friday, May 23, 2025)

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    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.)

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  • Laser Light Night | ABBA, Prince, Led Zeppelin

    (General - Friday, June 13, 2025)

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    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.)

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