Caterpillar Visitors Center

Opened in October 2012, this new visitors center celebrates the long history of the Caterpillar company. Visitors can explore the past by taking a journey back in time via historic photos and antique equipment. Visitor favorites include a 24-foot tall 797 mining truck that doubles as a movie theater and a product floor complete with simulators to explore its world-famous product line.

CITY: Peoria

Peoria RiverFront

You’ll find art galleries, music venues, specialty shops, and great restaurants all located along Peoria’s beautiful RiverFront. Whether it’s a quick bite at a casual café or a relaxing dinner, we have something for everyone. You can enjoy live music and entertainment every weekend, shop the largest Antique Center in Central Illinois or find the perfect gift or home accent at one of our fun and inviting RiverFront shops. Throughout the summer, we offer an endless assortment of outdoor concerts and events. And don’t miss the RiverFront Market featuring local produce, art, and musicians, Saturday mornings, June – September. Peoria’s RiverFront… Where fun, food and friends meet!

CITY: Peoria

Martini's on Water

Visit Martini's to enjoy one or more delicious concoctions from the expansive beverage menu. The selection includes key lime pie, bloody Mary, cheesecake, and cinnamon apple. Martini's offers outdoor seating on the patio, which has magnificent views of the river. Live entertainment and Monday specials are sure to make your visit memorable.

CITY: Peoria

Peoria Civic Center

Downstate Illinois' largest center is a four-building complex with a 12,000-seat arena. With 110,000 square feet of exhibit space, a 2,200-seat theater, a ball-room seating 1,500 for banquets and 16 meeting rooms this venue can house it all. As the premier entertainment facility in downstate Illinois, the Civic Center plays host to a variety of concerts, family shows, sporting events and Broadway Theater Series each year.

CITY: Peoria

Peoria Riverfront Museum

Opened in October 2012, this brand new 80,000 square-foot building is a world-class facility located on Peoria’s downtown riverfront. The museum features a 3D giant screen theater and digital planetarium, as well as history, science, art and achievement exhibits for all ages.

CITY: Peoria

Ewing Cultural Center

Located on the wooded Sunset Hill estate of the late Hazle Buck Ewing, the Ewing Cultural Center encompasses the open-air Theatre at Ewing (summer home of the Illinois Shakespeare Festival), the elegant Ewing Manor (which is open for tours) and the beautiful Genevieve Green Gardens.

CITY: Bloomington

Lakeview Museum of the Arts and Planetarium

The largest private downstate museum features art & science exhibitions, Children's Discovery Center, Planetarium, Illinois Folk Art Gallery, Illinois River Decoy and Illinois Jacquard Coverlet exhibitions, the Museum Store and more.

CITY: Peoria

Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts

Built in 1922 to house the original American Passion Play, the former Scottish Rite Temple is the centerpiece of downtown Bloomington's Cultural District. The Performing Arts Center has a 1,200-seat theater and 1,000-person ballroom.

CITY: Bloomington

Landmark Recreation Center

This recreation complex features 12 movie theaters, 50 bowling lanes, a racquet and health club, Peoria OTB, a sports bar, a barbershop and a bowling pro shop.

CITY: Peoria

Conklin's Barn 2 Dinner Theatre

Your home for hospitality with a bountiful buffet and the funniest live dinner theatre in Central Illinois.

CITY: Goodfield

BlueLine Night Club

There's great bands and sophisticated atmosphere at the BlueLine Night Club in Downtown Bloomington!

CITY: Bloomington

Howlin on Water...Dueling Pianos at the Waterhouse

The Waterhouse is a reception, rental and performance facility located in downtown Peoria along the beautiful Illinois River. Get crazy every Friday night at this hilariously entertaining show.

CITY: Peoria

The Loft - Bloomington

Enjoy this newly renovated martini bar with a wonderful atmosphere! No food served.

CITY: Bloomington

Laugh Comedy Club

Some of the nations best comedians grace the stage every week at Bloomington's ONLY Comedy Club! We offer low ticket prices, great food and drinks and under 21 is permitted to enter. Join us every Thursday for College Night! Shows are Thursday, Friday, Saturday!

CITY: Bloomington

Gateway Building

An elegantly appointed venue along Peoria’s Riverfront, the Gateway offers the finest surroundings for your next business or social function. Constructed in 1997, this beautiful building was designed and created to be the focal point of Peoria's Riverfront. The Gateway is conveniently located downtown just one block from Interstate 74 and is within walking distance of hotels, major businesses, and many restaurants. The Riverfront provides a spectacular backdrop with its stunning views and the vibrant nightlife offers a unique and festive atmosphere. This is an affordable, convenient site for any meeting, banquet, or conference occasion. With the comfort and versatility the Gateway offers, you will want to make this the new home for your annual banquets and weekly meetings.

CITY: Peoria

Conklin's Barn II Dinner Theatre

dinner theatre

CITY: Goodfield

Peoria Symphony Orchestra

Professional symphony orchestra performing 7 classical concerts per season and various pops and youth performances.

CITY: Peoria

Peoria Area Civic Chorale

A volunteer chorale group of around 100 singing members, PACC performs two concert series annually, May and December.

CITY: Peoria

The Framer's Gallery

If you are looking for a unique shopping experience stop at The Framer's Gallery and see all the great one-of-kind gifts from over 20 local artists including jewelry, pottery, wood carving, photography and various mediums of art work. The gallery also offers experienced custom framing at competitive prices. This is always a fun place to be. Come and enjoy the day on Washington Square.

CITY: Washington

Community Players Theatre

The Community Players Theatre is committed to presenting quality theater at an affordable price. Call for current performances and tickets.

CITY: Bloomington

Fine Line Studio

Give a gift that will be treasured forever. Beautiful graphite pencil and watercolor portraits created from your favorite photos. Homescapes, portraits and pets. Local watercolor prints and notecards available. Gift certificates available.

CITY: Peoria

Eastlight Theatre

A regional community theatre presenting 4 main stage musicals a year.

CITY: East Peoria

Jukebox Comedy Club

Regarded by many as one of the best clubs in the country. The home of Richard Pryor & Sam Kinison should accept nothing less!

CITY: Peoria

Peoria Ballet

The Peoria Ballet offers a season of spectacular dance performances featuring the Peoria Ballet Company and guest artists from across the globe, while the Peoria Ballet Academy provides excellent dance education in ballet, modern, jazz, tap and hip hop.

CITY: Peoria

Toraason Glass

A contemporary hand blown glass art studio. Original works of art created by Hiram Toraason. The studio provides a number of glass making opportunities, for the beginner to the advanced. Customize your experience! Formal classes to team building workshops are available. The gallery offers a variety glass from functional to the one of a kind creations. Ready to get hands-on with glass blowing yourself? Call for an appointment and let Torasson Glass help you create the perfect glass creation for you!

CITY: Peoria

Illinois Symphony Orchestra

The Illinois Symphony Orchestra performs diverse concerts for the communities of Springfield and Bloomington-Normal. Single tickets or affordable subscription packages are available.

CITY: Bloomington

Crossroads Global Handcrafts

Crossroads Global Handcrafts is a respected outlet for fairly traded handcrafts and food products from around the world including handmade art objects, utilitarian items, textiles, baskets, carvings, jewelry, ceramics, premium coffees, tea and chocolate.

CITY: Bloomington

Peoria Players Theatre

The Peoria Players Theatre is the longest continuously running community theatre in Illinois, and the 4th oldest in the nation. Peoria Players has been in continuous operation since 1919.

CITY: Peoria

Pumpkin Glass Gallery and Studio

Welcome to Pumpkin Glass -- featuring exquisite lampwork glass beads, crystal, handmade jewelry, fused pendants, sterling silver jewelry, natural stone, and bead / jewelry making supplies and classes.

CITY: Morton

Heartland Theatre

Heartland Theatre Company is located on the old Soldiers & Sailors campus where Lincoln and Beech Streets intersect in Normal. Besides presenting a season of five plays each year, Heartland hosts an annual 10-Minute Play Festival, a one-act competition and workshop for Midwest playwrights. Heartland also partners with local universities and organizations to offer historical or musical theatre to the community.

CITY: Normal

Three Sisters Park

Three sisters, Sadie, Lillian, and Goldie Cohen, expressed a wish that the 400-acres of farmland located adjacent to the city of Chillicothe, IL be dedicated as park land and a model farm for educational, recreational, and conservational purposes. While the Cohen sisters lived just off Moss Avenue in Peoria, they loved their family farm. Their vision was for the property to remain agriculturally related. The master plan envisions the creation of a living history farm, a central activity building, large festival areas, a welcome center, restaurant, agricultural equipment museum activity area, and outdoor natural amphitheater. The open fields and forested areas offer unique space for special events, concerts and festivals.

CITY: Chillicothe

Contemporary Art Center of Peoria

Peoria's cultural hub featuring art exhibitions, artist studios, art instruction, comedy improv, poetry nights, yoga and tai chi classes, and jazz and blues performances. The Contemporary Art Center exhibits the work of living artists at the forefront of their fields. About 20 resident artists are constantly creating art on-site, and prolific artist and co-founder Preston Jackson continues to maintain his sculpture and painting studio.

CITY: Peoria

Children's Discovery Museum

Come experience three floors of unique, hands-on, larger-than-life exhibits! This museum is designed to create a sense of wonder that excites the love of learning in children of all ages. Be sure to discover the new Children's Discovery Museum.

CITY: Normal

Mulligans

Famous for Long Island Iced Teas! Always a packed crowd in Downtown Bloomington!

CITY: Bloomington

Ronald Reagan Museum and Peace Garden

Housed in the Donald B. Cerf Center at Eureka College, the museum collection numbers over 10,000 items from President Reagan's Eureka College student days, his movie and TV career, his governorship of California and two terms as president of the United States. The Reagan Peace Garden located on the historic campus includes a bust of the 40th president and a section of the Berlin Wall.

CITY: Eureka

Arts Partners

Founded in 1999, ArtsPartners of Central Illinois, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to building awareness and economic viability of the arts by facilitating collaborative initiatives among arts organizations and other entities; expanding audiences; acting as a liaison and coordinator of arts information and resources; expanding educational opportunities; and encouraging public participation in the arts.

CITY: Peoria

Funk Gem & Mineral Museum

Located at the Funk Prairie Home, this museum houses the largest single-owner display of rare gems, minerals, fossils and lapidary art in the state. Also view the agriculture exhibit, along with several antique sleighs and carriages.

CITY: Shirley

Ecology Action Center

This walk-in information and environmental education center offers workshops on recycling, composting and energy saving.

CITY: Normal

Galaxy 14 Cinema

The Galaxy movie theater features 14 screens, stadium seating, digital surround sound, full-service concessions and a mega screen.

CITY: Bloomington

Didley's Place

Didley's is a '50s outdoor restaurant with carhops on rollerblades, a playground, an outdoor movie theater, a miniature golf course and a concession stand.

CITY: Metamora

Illinois Wesleyan University Merwin Galleries

The galleries display rotating exhibits created by Illinois Wesleyan University students throughout the school year.

CITY: Bloomington

Peoria Art Guild

The Peoria Art Guild has been a visual arts leader in Central Illinois for over 125 years. The Peoria Art Guild stands today as a non-profit art center dedicated to education, exhibits and community service. The gallery and gallery store feature local and national artists working in painting, sculpture, jewelry, and photography. Gift certificates and education classes are also available.

CITY: Peoria

Peoria Journal Star Tours

Peoria's largest newspaper offers hour-long group tours of their printing facility. The tour includes mechanical, business and editorial aspects of the newspaper, and gives a basic overview of publishing a newspaper from news gathering to finished product.

CITY: Peoria

Illinois Mennonite Heritage Center

Mennonite museum, archives, historical and genealogical library, farm museum, restored barn, and grandfather house. Surrounded by native Illinois trees, prairie grasses, and flowers. Please call for a guided tour.

CITY: Metamora

Illinois State University Planetarium

The night sky is recreated in this 100-seat celestial theater-in-the-round operated by ISU's Physics Department.

CITY: Normal

McLean County Arts Center

The McLean County Arts Center presents approximately twelve exhibitions yearly, including the annual Holiday Treasures exhibition and the annual Amateur Competition and Exhibition which for over 85 years has showcased the best amateur artists from the region. The Center also offers art classes, artist lectures, art workshops for children and adults and associated performing and literary arts presentations. Visitors can purchase or rent artwork through the Center's Sales & Rental Gift Gallery.

CITY: Bloomington

Illinois State University Farms

Open for group tours only, this farm includes a dairy operation, animals fed and monitored by computer, Crops of the world seen during growing season and the Aqua-Culture Center.

CITY: Normal

Challenger Learning Center

The Challenger Learning Center at Heartland Community College offers interactive, simulated space and science experiences through scheduled team missions for students and the public.

CITY: Normal

ISU Galleries

ISU Galleries consists of three galleries that exhibit nationally known works and the latest projects from ISU students. Call for summer hours.

CITY: Normal