Thursday, 10/3. Business leaders from area organizations will gather at the East Peoria Oktoberfest Business Expo at the Par-A-Dice Hotel from 4 to 7pm. Network with potential clients while enjoying food samples from local restaurants. epcc.org
Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, 10/4 thru 10/13. Prairie Folklore Theatre presents the 17th annual Historic Springdale Cemetery Tours. Take a walk back in time and learn the true stories of prominent Peorians who are buried at Springdale Cemetery! 309tix.com/organizations/prairie-folklore-theatre
Saturday, 10/5. The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary annual fundraiser, “Hope Has an Army,” takes place at the Par-A-Dice Hotel, featuring guest speaker Leigh Anne Tuohy, the mother who inspired the movie The Blind Side. hopehasanarmy.com
Wednesday, 10/9. The Mayor’s Roast of Washington Police Chief Mike McCoy kicks off at the Peoria Civic Center at 6pm, with proceeds benefiting Dream Center Peoria, Sophia’s Kitchen and Camp Hope. Call (309) 423-3723 or email [email protected].
Thursday, 10/10. The Peoria Area World Affairs Council presents “Escape to Barbados with Edith Barnard,” a tropical-themed evening of stories, music, food and drinks. The event starts at 6:30pm at the Baum Family Center in Peoria Heights. pawac.org/events
Thursday, 10/10. Laura and Allen Cullinan will host Farm to Table Peoria, an open-air dining experience at Junction City from 6 to 9:30pm, raising funds to support OSF HealthCare Foundation’s proposed comprehensive cancer initiative. osfhealthcarefoundation.org/event/peoriafarmtotable
Saturday, 10/12. The Walk to End Alzheimer’s will take place at Northwoods Community Church. Registration is at 8:30am and the walk begins at 10am. alz.org/walk
Tuesday, 10/15. Big Table: Greater Peoria, a day of community building through open conversations focused on how to strengthen the region, takes place at the Peoria Civic Center from 8:30am to 6:30pm. bigtablegp.com
Wednesday, 10/16. Kathryn Spitznagle presents “What Millennials Want… The Secret to Engaging & Empowering Them for Success” at the Public Relations Association of Central Illinois luncheon at Childers Banquet Center at 11:45am. pracentillinois.org
Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, 10/18 thru 10/27. Wildlife Scary Park returns with a kid-friendly Halloween experience including hayrack rides, a giant trick-or-treat trail, rides on the Train-sylvania Express and more. wildlifeprairiepark.org
Tuesday, 10/22. Quinn Johnston will host its annual Business & Tax Seminar at the Par-A-Dice Hotel, followed by complimentary cocktails and hors’ oeuvres. quinnjohnston.com
Wednesday, 10/23. NAWBO Central Illinois will celebrate its 40th anniversary as the third NAWBO chapter in the country from 5:30pm to 8:30pm at Mt. Hawley Country Club. nawbo-cil.org
Thursday, 10/24. Instructors from the Peoria City/County Health Department will present “How to Prevent a Kitchen Nightmare!” featuring best practices for keeping your food, kitchen and dinner parties safe on the ICC North campus at 6pm. cce.icc.edu/acp
Saturday, 10/26. Mythili Dance Academy presents Shyam, A mega dance musical showcasing the tales of Lord Krishna, the legendary hero in Hindu mythology at ICC Performing Arts Center. 309tix.com/events/SHYAM
Saturday, 10/26. ART Inc. presents Dia De Los Muertos: Love Never Dies at the Romain Arts & Culture Center. This inaugural fundraiser—a tribute to Glen Barton—features cocktails, food, silent and live auctions and special performances supporting ART Inc’s mission to inspire the community through the arts. 309tix.com/events/Dia-De-Los-Muertos PM