Now Playing in Peoria
By Mark Loehrke
Appears in the August 2025 issue.
Take a trip downstate this month for a trio of festivals
Whether for chess or speech or cross-country, plenty of Naperville-area families have made the trek down I-55 to Peoria over the years for a school competition of one sort or another. With its centralized location and sprawling civic center, the riverside city has long been a logical option for these types of statewide gatherings.
But given that these obligatory trips rarely lend themselves to any decent exploration beyond the confines of the event itself, even repeat visitors probably don’t have a good sense of what the eighth-biggest city in Illinois really has to offer. That’s why August presents a great opportunity to check out another side of Peoria, with a trio of vibrant summer festivals—the River City Soul Fest, India Fest, and Peoria Irish Fest—all helping to enliven the city’s signature shoreline along the Illinois River.
“These festivals have become part of the fabric of Peoria,” says Nick Conrad, superintendent of community and special events at the Peoria Park District. “Each is hosted on Peoria’s Riverfront, which offers a unique setting, and each highlights a different culture that is very prevalent in the community and contributes to the vibrancy in our downtown region.”
Best of all, there’s not a school-mandated agenda in sight. Will it play in Peoria? That’s up to you.
River City Soul Fest
AUG. 1 TO 2
The month kicks off with the 26th incarnation of this popular celebration, which generally draws more than 4,000 music lovers to the Peoria Riverfront over its two-day run. Soul Fest actually serves as a two-for-one showcase, featuring a night of gospel on Friday with artists like Zacardi Cortez with Highly Phavord, followed by soul and R&B favorites on Saturday with headliners Donell Jones and J. Holiday. In addition to the music, the fest also features a variety of soul food purveyors and local vendors. Tickets range from $20 to $40.
India Fest
AUG. 16
For the past nearly 25 years, visitors have been flocking to the Peoria Riverfront to sample the sights, sounds, and flavors of Indian culture. This event packs a lot into its one-day celebration, with a wide array of culinary options, stage performances, traditional arts and crafts, kids’ activities, and a come-one, come-all dance floor.
Irish Fest
AUG. 22 TO 24
What started as Sunday afternoon picnic sponsored by the St. Patrick Society of Peoria more than 40 years ago has grown into one of the city’s most beloved and well-attended annual events, welcoming more than 7,000 attendees over a three-day celebration of Irish culture and heritage. The weekend features five stages of entertainment for nonstop music and dancing, cultural displays, Irish merchandise vendors, food and drink, and a Highland games competition (with events like sheaf toss, caber toss, stone put, and hammer throw). One-day tickets are $14.75, while a $33 weekend pass will get you in for the full three-day run.
For more information, visit peoriaparks.org/events.
More to Peoria
Be sure to make the most of your road trip with a stop at some of these attractions.
PEORIA RIVERFRONT MUSEUM
Opened in 2012, this privately funded museum (222 SW Washington St.) bills itself as a multidisciplinary institution of art, science, history, and achievement. Featuring a permanent collection of 15,000 objects, a 40-foot dome planetarium, and a 194-seat giant-screen theater, it also organizes more than 20 self-curated and visiting exhibitions each year in five major galleries and 25 total display spaces. peoriariverfrontmuseum.org
UNCLE BOB’S HOMEMADE ICE CREAM
Just outside Peoria proper, in the appropriately named town of Eureka, ice cream lovers have been discovering the joy of summer by the scoopful at this shop (409 E. Center St.) for the past 45 years.
WICKED
Those looking for a little more green beyond Irish Fest—or those who simply can’t wait for November’s big-screen sequel—can hit the Peoria Civic Center (201 SW Jefferson Ave.) for the touring version of this beloved Broadway blockbuster during its Aug. 20–31 run. peoriaciviccenter.com
PEORIA CHIEFS
Catch a minor-league baseball game at Dozer Park (730 SW Jefferson Ave.) in downtown Peoria. milb.com/peoria
WALLY’S
This gargantuan Pontiac-area landmark is more than just a convenient rest stop along your journey down I-55—it’s a true American road-trip experience. wallys.com
Photos: Discover Peoria; istock (skyline)
