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Plan ahead! Visit our Events Calendar for great entertainment in the Peoria area.

The Festival of Lights' FOLEPI's Winter Wonderland takes place tonight through December 31st at the VFW Post 2078 Park off Springfield Road in East Peoria (Entrance address: 123 Par 3 Lane, East Peoria). Hours are 5 - 9 pm Sunday-Thursday and 5 - 11 pm on Friday and Saturday. Admission is $5 Mondays -Thursdays for cars and vans, or $10 on Fridays through Sundays, Limousines and RVs are $20, party buses (holding more than 15 passengers) are $50 and full-size buses are $150.The almost 2-mile drive-through electric park is the Festival of Lights' signature event.

The Festival of Lights FOLEPI's Freedom Parkalso runs tonight through Dec. 31st from dusk to 10 pm nightly. Admission is free. Featuring lighted emblems from each branch of the military and lighted displays such as the toy tank and American flag parade floats, also on display will be memorials for East Peorians lost in World War I, World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War, as well as a memorial for the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

The Festival of Lights Narrated Nativity is open 24 hours a day through December 31st. Admission is free. The nativity is located at the Intersection of Taylor Street and Springfield Road, just across from the East Peoria Post Office. Admission is free.

We Need A Little More Christmas, an original Christmas revue featuring lots of seasonal music and comedy, continues at the Barn 2 Dinner Theatre in Goodfield this weekend. Showtimes are tonight (Thursday), Friday & Saturday (doors open at 6 pm, buffet at 6:30 pm, and show at 8 pm) and on Sunday (doors & the buffet open at noon, show is at 1:30 pm). Prices are $30 for Thursdays, $32 for Fridays and Sunday brunch and $34 for Saturdays. For more information, call 965-2545 or go to www.barn2.com

International award winning sleight of hand artist Mitch Williamsbrings his unforgettable, mind blowing close up magic to the Whammy Bar in downtown Peoria tonight (Thursday) from 5:30 - 8 pm.

REO Speedwagon is back in Bloomington and ready to rock the stage at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum at 7:30 pm tonight (Thursday). Tickets are $43 and $36 and available online at Ticketmaster.com, by phone at 800-745-3000, select Walmart locations, in person at U.S. Cellular Coliseum Box Office and all Ticketmaster outlets.

White Christmas continues at Peoria Players Theatre beginning at 7:30 pm tonight (Thursday), Friday and Saturday, 1:30 pm on Saturday and at 2:30 pm on Sunday. Tickets are $17 for adults and $12 for patrons 18 & under and tickets are available at the Peoria Players Box Office, by calling 688-4473 or online atwww.peoriaplayers.org

Henry Phillips performs this weekend at the Jukebox Comedy Club at 8 pm tonight (Thursday) and on Friday & Saturday at 8 pm & 10:30 pm. Tickets are $14 except for the Thursday and Friday late shows which are $10 and are available at www.jukeboxcomedy.com or by calling 673-5853.

The Luthy Botanical Garden's Annual Poinsettia Show runs through Friday, December 31st. Regular Conservatory hours are Tuesday - Saturday from 10 am - 7 pm and Sundays from 12 - 5 pm. The Garden is closed on Mondays. Visit the Conservatory, where a tropical collection blends with hundreds of poinsettias to create a wonderland unmatched anywhere in Peoria. Conservatory admission will be waived during the holidays, although donations are always accepted

Enjoy the Candlelight Walks at Luthy Botanical Gardens featuring the Garden's Poinsettia Show at night, under the warm glow of hundreds of candles, while enjoying live performances of holiday music from 7 - 9 pm on Friday & Saturday. Conservatory admission is waived during the holidays: donations will be accepted.

Enjoy a Holiday Shop & Stroll at Forest Park Nature Center with a nighttime stroll on Friday & Saturday on a forest path lit with luminaries and live holiday music, storytelling and caroling, hot wassail and homemade goodies. Musical guests are Mike Anderson (mountain dulcimer) on Friday from 6 - 7:15 pm, Forest Flute Ensemble (4-5 flutes) from 7:15 - 8:30 pm and on Paul Adam from 6 -7:15 pm on Saturday and Cygnet String Quarter from 7:15-8:30 pm. Find unique artwork from the Nature Art Show & Sale or shop for eco-friendly, organic and Fair Trade items at the Trailhead Nature Store. Admission is free, however donations are appreciated.
Editor's Note: Use the coupon from Peoria-Deals.com on Saturday & Sunday at the Trailhead Nature Store - click HERE for a printable coupon.

Live at the Five Spot is the Contemporary Art Center's music event that runs Friday nights from 5:30 - 7:30 pm featuring the best regional talent performing jazz, blues and more. This week will feature Ed Kaizer performing holiday music.Admission for members is $7, non-members are $10.
Salsa at CAC is a Latin dance event held on Friday night with a dance lesson from 8:30 - 9:30 pm followed by open dancing from 9:30 - 12:30 am. Admission is $3 CAC members and $6 non-members.

Enjoy the peace and tranquility of years gone by with Carriage Rides on the Prairie as you ride through the Shoppes at Grand Prairie in a horse drawn carriage during the holidays from 5 - 8 pm on Friday & Saturday and from 1 - 5 pm on Sunday. Pick-up is at Johnny's Italian Steakhouse and rides are free.

The Peoria Area Civic Chorale will present "An American Family Christmas" at 7:30 pm on Friday & Saturday night & at 2:30 pm on Sunday at the Caterpillar Performing Arts Center at the Five Points Center in Washington. Tickets are $24 for adults, $12 for students and $20 each for groups of 10 or more and are available by calling 693-6725. For more information, visitwww.peoriacivicchorale.org

Have Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Jillian's benefiting Easter Seals on Saturday from 9 -11 am. Kids can come and enjoy breakfast, receive a free $5 Jillian's Game Card, and also enjoy various entertainment and a balloon artist. Tickets are $10 each with reservation or $15 each at the door. Call 692-3672 ext. 0 to make reservations.

The Lakeview Museum Shop will host a Consignment Artist Demonstration on Saturday from 10 am - 4 pm featuring 5 artists who have products available for sale in the shop: four jewelry artists who work with various mediums and a glass artist. Admission is free.

The Peoria Rivermen will take on the Grand Rapids Griffins at the Peoria Civic Center (Carver) Arena beginning at 7:05 pm on Saturday.
Then on Sunday, the Rivermen will take on the Lake Erie Monsters beginning at 3:05 pm. Tickets for both games range from $10 to $25 and are available at the Civic Center Box Office, by calling 676-1040, at any Ticketmaster outlet or online at Ticketmaster.com

The annual Skate with Santa at Owens Center will take place from 5 - 7 pm on Saturday. Admission is $3 for ages 12 and under, $4 for adults and $3 for senior citizens, plus skate rental. Special Family Holiday Skate hours will run again from 3 to 4:45 pm on Sunday. Call 686-33668 for more information.

The Nebraska Caravan Theater will present "A Christmas Carol" at the Peoria Civic Center Theater on Saturday at 8 pm. Tickets are $22, $32 and $42 and are available at the Peoria Civic Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 1-800-745-3000 and online at Ticketmaster.com

A Giant Flea Market will be open at Expo Gardens on Sunday from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm. Admission $1.50 or free for ages 12 and under with an adult. For more information, call 217-529-6939.

Christmas with the ICC Philharmonic Chorale(rescheduled from December 12th due to weather) will be presented at the ICC Performing Arts Center on Sunday beginning at 3 pm. Tickets are $7 for adults & $5 for students & senior citizens and are available at the ICC Performing Arts Box Office or by calling 694-5136.

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Central Illinois Perspective

News

A grand opening for the Ray and Kathy LaHood Center for Cerebral Palsy will be held at 9:30am on Friday, December 17th, at Easter Seals, 507 E. Armstrong in Peoria. Easter Seals and its community partners—-Children’s Hospital of Illinois, the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria and Bradley University—-will mark the completion of a project three years in the making. Guests will have a chance to tour the center, see the new equipment available and meet local families living with cerebral palsy. For more information, call (309) 686-7755, ext. 2298.
Facing a serious shortage, The Salvation Army is in need of more toys for its annual Toy Shop. Anyone wishing to donate toys can drop them off anytime today or before 11am tomorrow at the Corps Community Center, 2903 W. Nebraska in Peoria. Approximately 5,000 children of low-income families will receive toys through this program. Call (309) 253-9909 or (309) 655-1348 for more information.
The Live Healthy Central Illinois 100 Day Wellness Challenge registration begins this week. The program connects co-workers, friends and family to get active and become conscious of the lifestyle decisions they make on a daily basis. The program will run from January 20th to April 29th. An informational meeting will be held tomorrow, December 17th, at 10am at the Peoria NEXT Innovation Center. Visit livehealthycentralillinois.org for more information.
The Peoria Ad Club has issued a call for entries for its annual ADDY Awards competition recognizing exceptional advertising created in the central Illinois market in all media. Entries must be received by 4:30pm on January 21st at Adams Outdoor Advertising, 911 SW Adams Street in Peoria. For more information or to receive an entry packet, call (309) 691-6500, ext. 210, or email sara@go2pip.com or bwwmarketing.nikki@gmail.com.

Events

Friday, December 17th @ Bard Optical
Bard Optical will host a Holiday Open House and Trunk Show at its Metro Centre location to benefit Dress for Success, a division of Friendship House. Refreshments will be served. Call (309) 692-8222 for more information.
Friday, December 17th to Sunday, December 19th @ Five Points Washington
The Peoria Area Civic Chorale will perform “An American Family Christmas” in the Caterpillar Performing Arts Center at Five Points Washington at 7:30pm on Friday and Saturday and 2:30pm on Sunday. Tickets are $24/adults, $20/group, and $12/students. Call (309) 693-6725 or visit artstix.artspartners.net for tickets.
Saturday, December 18th @ Owens Center
The annual Skate with Santa event will take place from 5 to 7pm. Admission is $3 for those 12 and under, $4/adults and $3/seniors, plus skate rental. Special Family Holiday Skate hours will run again from 3 to 4:45pm on Sunday. Call (309) 686-33668 for more information.
Tuesday, December 21st @ Fox Pub & Café
Prairie Folklore Theatre will present “The Celtic Winter Solstice: A Celebration in Story and Song” at 7:30pm at 7800 N. Sommer St., Suite 302, off Pioneer Parkway in Peoria. Songs, storytelling, poetry and dance blend in this celebration of the winter season. No cover charge, but donations are appreciated. Call (309) 692-FOX3 or visitprairiefolkloretheatre.com for more information.

Seasons Greetings From the Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau

Home Price Increase in Peoria Zip Code 61606 - Above Downtown

The graphic below shows home value change in zip code 61606 in Peoria, Illinois. Pretty impressive

You can find info on your own zip code by simply doing a google or bing search for your zip code. There is a lot of interesting data. But it is not all that accurate.

Houses and condos: 3,259
Renter-occupied apartments: 81

% of renters here:	28%
State:	33%

Dec. 2009 cost of living index in zip code 61606: 74.4 (low, U.S. average is 100)

Land area: 1.3 sq. mi.
Water area: 0.0 sq. mi.

Population density: 7330 people per square mile

(high).

Estimate of real estate property taxes paid for housing units in 2009:

This zip code:	3.5% ($1,348)
Illinois:	2.7% ($2,285)

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2009 in Peoria: $2,664 (2.1%)
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2009 in Peoria: $2,101 (1.9%)

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