Free & Open to the Public!
Peoria Inventions that Changed the World: A Journal Star Panel Discussion
Wed, Oct 30, 6 pm
Giant Screen Theater
Moderated by Dennis Anderson, Executive Editor, Peoria Journal Star
PANELISTS
Chris Kaergard, Associate Editor | Caterpillar R&D
Phil Luciano, News Columnist | Penicillin mass production
Steve Tarter, News Reporter, ret. | Distilleries
Mike Rucker, Duryea Historian | Duryea car
Free & open to the public! Secure your seat by registering ahead - click here!
Join us for a special evening with our greatest keepers of history and storytellers, our journalists, as they discuss the remarkable, life-changing inventions from Peoria that changed the world.
Peoria, founded in 1680, is Illinois' oldest settlement. It's also home to some of the world's greatest minds and inventions: the first gasoline-powered automobile, invented by the Charles and Frank Duryea; the first diesel-powered engine, invented at Caterpillar; the mass-production of penicillin, invented at the Ag Lab (USDA National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (NCAUR)); the myriad inventions spawned by Peoria distilleries; the game-changing medical education work by Jump Simulation & Education Center, the White Cane for the Blind, invented by Lions Clubs International member George A. Bonham, and many others.
Moderated by Journal Star Executive Editor Dennis Anderson, our panel of Journal Star journalists, including Chris Kaergard, Phil Luciano, and Steve Tarter, along with historian Mike Rucker, will focus on four of Peoria's most important innovators and inventions.
Free & open to the public! Secure your seat by registering ahead - click here!
You may also register in person at the front desk or call 309.686.7000.
Sponsored by the Journal Star & the Visionary Society
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
November 7
6:00 – Laser Journey (new show!)
7:15 – Laser Stranger Things
8:30 – Laser AC/DC vs Guns n’ Roses
December 19
6:00 – Laser Holiday Magic
7:15 – Laser Journey (new show!)
8:30 – Laser Stranger Things
$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, November 8, 2025 | Performance 6:30 p.m. | Reception 8 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.
Join us for Sounds 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.
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.
Saturday, November 8, 2025 | Member exclusive show at 12:30 p.m. | General Public shows at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium returns with their Ocean Odyssey Touch Tank on Saturday, November 8, 2025! Enjoy learning about the wonders of our world’s oceans and the amazing creatures that live within the ocean waters.
Enjoy an amazing lesson on sharks from the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, then line up to meet a few of their friendly sharks.
Ticket pricing- All Patrons MUST have a ticket to enter the show
Members: $10
Non-Members: $15
Get tickets to the Member Exclusive Touch Tank HERE
Get tickets to the 11 a.m. Touch Tank HERE
Get ticket to the 2 p.m. Touch Tank HERE
Enjoy an educational presentation that breaks down common misconceptions surrounding sharks and rays, as well as highlighting the unique adaptations these animals have to survive. This program allows participants to explore the important roles sharks and rays that live thousands of miles away, and how people can help protect them.
Participants will have an opportunity to get their hands wet and touch some of the animals.
This program in conjunction with with Finding Titanic: The Secret Mission .
Finding Titanic: The Secret Mission is a traveling exhibition produced by Flying Fish in collaboration with Ocean Exploration Trust and generously sponsored by the Office of Naval Research and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Finding Titanic: The Secret Mission is presented by CEFCU.
The exhibition is sponsored by Gilmore Foundation, OLLI Bradley University, Merle and Adeline Dargel Fund for Science and Engineering, Gretchen Hagen Petrakis, and Corporate Visionary Society Council.
Sunday, November 9, 2025 | 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. | Museum-wide
Thanks to the generous support of Art Bridges Foundation, every second Sunday at the Peoria Riverfront Museum is FREE to the public!
Join us Sunday, November 9, 2025 from 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. as we celebrate Access for All day at the Peoria Riverfront Museum.
This Access for All day at the Peoria Riverfront Museum, enjoy make and take art activities, planetarium shows, guided tours, and so much more.
Schedule:
12 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Sensory Cart: Underwater Exploration | Finding Titanic: The Secret Mission | 25 Points
Bradley University STEM Stations | 25 Points per station
Learn more about the museum's Achievement Passport, and how to earn points HERE
Re-member, members get double points! Earn 100 points and receive a FREE prize!
Generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation's Access for All program and Midwest Agricultural Endowment Fund
Wine and Cheese Under the Stars
Top Space Stories of 2025
Friday, November 14 | 7-9 PM
Dome Planetarium
Enjoy and evening out in the Dome Planetarium where we will review the top space stories from 2025. Planetarium Director Renae Kerrigan will share gorgeous new images from space, review milestones in spaceflight, and top discoveries from missions exploring the Solar System. We will end the evening with a flight to the edge of space and back.
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.
Saturday, November 15, 2025
Doors open at 5 p.m. | Crafts 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. | Tour of Finding Titanic: The Secret Mission at 5:30 p.m. | Movie Screening at 6:30 p.m.
Join us at the Peoria Riverfront Museum for a special Movie Mixer event!
Go on an undersea adventure with a tour of Finding Titanic: The Secret Mission presented by CEFCU, then journey into the ocean with Nemo and friends with a screening of Pixar's Finding Nemo on the largest Film Society screen in the nation! Crafts will be available up until the start of the movie.
Schedule:
Doors open | 5 p.m.
Crafts | 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Tour of Finding Titanic: The Secret Mission | 5:30 p.m.
Screening of Finding Nemo | 6:30 p.m.
Get tickets HERE
Sponsored by Visionary Society, Film Society, Family Fun Club
ONE DAY ONLY!
$10 OFF ALL MEMBERSHIPS!* 30% OFF MUSEUM STORE!**
Use code 10OFF for online sales!
Our Peoria Riverfront Museum team of staff, volunteers and board members want to say “Thank you!” for your support as a member of the Museum family. Please join us Friday, November 28, 2025 for Member Appreciation Day. Take advantage of these members-only perks!
*New, Renewal or Gift Memberships. Offer valid November 28, 2025 only.
**Consignment items not included.
MUSEUM ACTIVITIES
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Planetarium activity with Nick Rae on the Sun Plaza
12 p.m. 3 p.m. - Crafts and sensory cart in the lobby and galleries
12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.- A tour of Finding Titanic: The Secret Mission , presented by CEFCU.
DOME PLANETARIUM SCHEDULE
Free for members
GIANT SCREEN THEATER SCHEDULE
Free for members
Members get more at the Peoria Riverfront Museum!
Not a member? Join on our website today
, get details at the ticket counter, or call (309) 686-7000.
Tuesday, December 2, 2025 | 6:30 p.m. | Outside on Water Street
Join us on December 2, 2025 as we light up Peoria's Community Christmas Tree!
This 60-ft tree will stand tall on the Peoria Riverfront Museum's beautiful riverside campus, bringing cheer and holiday spirit to our community! This event is FREE to the general public, and will include a live brass quartet and more magical holiday cheer!
See the tree in all it's fully lit Christmas glory at Christmas in the Village , December 5, 2025 and December 6, 2025.
Presented by Doug and Diane Oberhelman and Cullinan Properties
CHRISTMAS IN THE VILLAGE
Friday, December 5, 2025 and Saturday, December 6, 2025 | Museumwide Event!
Village open Friday from 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. | Village open Saturday from 12 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Tickets:
Members: Family $50 | Individual $20
General public: Family $60 | Individual $25
Family tickets allow for two adults and up to four children. Children under the age of two get in free. More information on what your ticket includes HERE
Get tickets at either link below. One ticket covers Village admission both Friday and Saturday!
One ticket will admit you to both days of Christmas In The Village, Friday and Saturday.
Join us for Christmas in the Village at the Peoria Riverfront Museum, in support of the Every Student Initiative
Alison Unkovich, who worked as an educator in Chicago for a decade, has returned to her hometown of Peoria, IL. Her vision of Christmas in the Village is to create a magical Christmas event that will provide an opportunity to bring our community together during the holiday season, as well as raise resources for the Museum’s Every Student Initiative. Alison is grateful for the amazing community and sponsors whose support helps raise up this village and bring this wonderful event to life on the Peoria Riverfront.
We are excited to present the fourth annual Christmas in the Village in Peoria, IL! This special event continues to grow each year, featuring an exciting line up of local food trucks and vendors, hot chocolate and holiday cocktails, horse-drawn carriage rides, a holiday laser light show, carolers, live animals, the Peoria Ballet Nutcracker ballerinas, holidays movies in the Giant Screen Theater, museum exhibitions, some special exciting surprises, and Peoria’s LARGEST live Christmas tree!
A one stop shop for all your holiday decor and gift giving for the special people in your life! We can’t wait to once again enjoy the magic of the Christmas season with our community! All proceeds from the Village will go towards the Museum's Every Student Initiative.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE...THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS!
Christmas Angel Presenting Sponsor
Christmas Village Sponsor
Snow Globe Sponsor
Snowman Sponsor
Candy Cane Sponsor
Neighborhood Sponsor
Jingle Bell Sponsor
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
December 19
6:00 – Laser Holiday Magic
7:15 – Laser Journey (new show!)
8:30 – Laser Stranger Things
$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.)
Yoga Under the Stars
Join us for a one-of-a-kind winter yoga experience beneath the stars at the Dome Planetarium. This guided flow will invite you to slow down, ground deeply, and reconnect to yourself as the year comes to a close. Under the glow of the night sky, we’ll move through intentional poses that restore balance, release tension, and create space for renewal as we step into a new season. Whether you’re a regular on the mat or brand new to yoga, this evening offers a peaceful reset, a moment to breathe, reflect, and realign beneath the celestial canopy.
Participants are asked to bring their own mats.
Each session will be an hour and 15 minutes long.
Saturday, December 20
Doors open at 5:45, Event starts at 6 PM
$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.
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.)
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.)
