The Mishler sisters, Brynn, 4, left, and Brystol, 7, of Germantown Hills play a stream of water at the new Levee Park Splash Pad on Wednesday, July 1, 2026 in East Peoria.
REENIE BIRD’S – Maureen Fitzgerald has opened a resale clothing and fashion boutique called Reenie Bird’s Clothing and Gifts in the former Leaves ’N Beans Roastery at 4416 N. Prospect Road, Suite B in the Trefzger’s Building in Peoria Heights. Fitzerald, a seamstress, also operates a successful alterations business out of the shop.
REENIE BIRD’S – Reenie Bird’s Clothing and Gifts is tucked away in the lower corner of the Trefzger’s Building at 4416 N. Prospect Road, Suite B in Peoria Heights.
REENIE BIRD’S – Customers can choose from a wide variety of clothing and accessories at Reenie Bird’s Clothing and Gifts in the Trefzger’s Building in Peoria Heights.
REENIE BIRD’S – Reenie Bird’s Clothing and Gifts in the Trefzger’s Building is full of stylish decor like these unique clothes hangers.
REENIE BIRD’S – A variety of plants, lamps and other stylish decor foster an inviting vibe at Reenie Bird’s Clothing and Gifts in the Trefzger’s Building in Peoria Heights.
A common water snake hunts for prey in a pond Saturday, July 4, 2026 in Washington.
New owner Jolene Howard plans to maintain the Old World charm and highly-regarded menu of iconic Bartonville restaurant Tyroni’s Italian Café at 5908 S. Adams Street. The entrepreneur also co-founded the Upstage Theatre Company with her husband Craig, based at the GAR Hall in Downtown Peoria.
RISING STAR – Stand-up comedian Ruben Ramirez does a little crowd work with a couple attending his show Friday, July 10, 2026 at the Avanti’s Center in Pekin. The show was a homecoming for the Chicago-based comic who attended Pekin Community High School.
RISING STAR – Ruben Ramirez laughs during his stand-up comedy show Friday, July 10, 2026 at the Avanti’s Center in Pekin.
RISING STAR – Stand-up comic Ruben Ramirez takes a selfie with a crowd of about forty who turned out for his show Friday, July 10, 2026 at the Avanti’s Center in Pekin.
Local Realter and hockey enthusiast Madison Maloof has been named the new head coach of the Bradley University women’s club hockey team.
SOUL FOOD CHEF – Shaun Gist is back as head chef at Castle’s Patio Inn at 802 W. Loucks Ave. in Peoria. Gist has brought back some of his popular menu after a solo foray, including Soulfood Sundays and his famous pot roast.
SOUL FOOD CHEF – A sampling of Shaun Gist’s wings, including Buffalo Ranch, Cajun, Dry Ranch Rub and P-Town Tang, share a table with Castle’s Patio Inn’s famous cheese spread at the popular Peoria pub. Castle’s offers a Wings Wednesday special for $1 per wing.
SOUL FOOD CHEF – Chef Shaun Gist mixes up a set of wings at Castle’s Patio Inn in Peoria.
MUDDY MADNESS – Youngsters run, climb and splash their way through the obstacle course during the Kids’ Muddy Madness fundraiser for St. Jude on Saturday, July 18, 2026 at Westwood Park in Morton. The event, open to kids aged two to 17, marked its 14th year raising money for the Morton to Peoria St. Jude Satellite Run.
MUDDY MADNESS – Youngsters run, climb and splash their way through the obstacle course during the Kids’ Muddy Madness fundraiser for St. Jude on Saturday, July 18, 2026 at Westwood Park in Morton. The event, open to kids aged two to 17, marked its 14th year raising money for the Morton to Peoria St. Jude Satellite Run.
MUDDY MADNESS – Youngsters sprint through a giant pile of foam at the beginning of the obstacle course during the Kids’ Muddy Madness fundraiser for St. Jude on Saturday, July 18, 2026 at Westwood Park in Morton. The event, open to kids aged two to 17, marked its 14th year raising money for the Morton to Peoria St. Jude Satellite Run.
MUDDY MADNESS – Youngsters run, climb and splash their way through the obstacle course during the Kids’ Muddy Madness fundraiser for St. Jude on Saturday, July 18, 2026 at Westwood Park in Morton. The event, open to kids aged two to 17, marked its 14th year raising money for the Morton to Peoria St. Jude Satellite Run.
MUDDY MADNESS – Youngsters run, climb and splash their way through the obstacle course during the Kids’ Muddy Madness fundraiser for St. Jude on Saturday, July 18, 2026 at Westwood Park in Morton. The event, open to kids aged two to 17, marked its 14th year raising money for the Morton to Peoria St. Jude Satellite Run.
MUDDY MADNESS – Dakota Dudley 7, of St. Louis laughs as she’s sprayed down after her run in the Kids’ Muddy Madness fundraiser for St. Jude on Saturday, July 18, 2026 at Westwood Park in Morton. The event, open to kids aged two to 17, marked its 14th year raising money for the Morton to Peoria St. Jude Satellite Run.
DRAG WARS – Drag wars host Decevia Mann performs for the crowd during the River City Pride Festival on Saturday, July 18, 2026 on the Peoria riverfront.
DRAG WARS – A crowd attracts drag king Fil A Gotts with tips during the River City Pride Festival on Saturday, July 18, 2026 on the Peoria riverfront.
DRAG WARS – Drag king Austyn Otto performs on the saxophone during his Drag Wars performance at the River City Pride Festival on Saturday, July 18, 2026 on the Peoria riverfront.
DRAG WARS – Drag queen Y-Kiki Mickey Mini performs during the River City Pride Festival on Saturday, July 18, 2026 on the Peoria riverfront.
DRAG WARS – Drag queen Ish-Male Adonis performs on a set of Segway eskates during the River City Pride Festival on Saturday, July 18, 2026 on the Peoria riverfront.
DRAG WARS – Drag queen Storm Kouture performs during the River City Pride Festival on Saturday, July 18, 2026 on the Peoria riverfront.
DRAG WARS – Fans are impressed by during drag king Apollo Venom Summers during the River City Pride Festival on Saturday, July 18, 2026 on the Peoria riverfront.
MOM’S TACKLING NIGHT – Dee-Mack Chiefs linebacker coach Bobby Kellum gives a few pointers to a football mom before taking down her son during Mom’s Tackling Night on Monday, July 27, 2026 at Dee-Mack High School in Mackinaw.
MOM’S TACKLING NIGHT – Football moms tackle their senior sons during Mom’s Tackling Night on Monday, July 27, 2026 at Dee-Mack High School in Mackinaw.
MOM’S TACKLING NIGHT – A Dee-Mack senior and his mother run through some fog for a photo during Mom’s Tackling Night on Monday, July 27, 2026 at Dee-Mack High School in Mackinaw.
MOM’S TACKLING NIGHT – A football mom runs with determination towards her son during Mom’s Tackling Night on Monday, July 27, 2026 at Dee-Mack High School in Mackinaw.
MOM’S TACKLING NIGHT – A football mom taunts her son for a social media video before tackling him during Mom’s Tackling Night on Monday, July 27, 2026 at Dee-Mack High School in Mackinaw.
Caterpillar equipment speeds by during a demonstration Wednesday, July 29, 2026 at the Edwards Learning and Demonstration Center in Edwards. Cat announced a new investment of up to $10 million in their Building the Future Workforce Initiative in Illinois to prepare works for a new future in modern manufacturing.
Cora Tyler, 5, of Germantown Hills takes flight on a new swing pushed by her mother Lauren during a family visit Thursday, July 30, 2026 to Endres Park in Peoria Heights. The park recently underwent a massive improvement project including a new inclusive modern playground, pathways and fencing. Part of the old playground is being repurposed for use in the goat exhibit at Peoria Zoo.
