River City Pride: 36+ acts, food drive, 'clear bags' only
PEORIA — Tomorrow’s River City Pride Festival, expected to draw 7,500-plus to the riverfront, will once again double as a food drive for Neighborhood House and its twice-weekly food pantry. If you haven’t yet bought your $5 online ticket, at-the-door admission of $10 will be discounted $1 for each can of donated food. Neighborhood House is a “cradle to grave” support nonprofit that also provides a free weekly meal for those in need, and serves an estimated 1,000 people annually with food and social services support. Festival organizers also emphasize that only small, clear bags are allowed and all are subject to search under the city’s overall security policy. Among the 36 performers to be featured on three stages throughout the 12-hour festival: Nini Coco, Kennedy Davenport, and Dida Ritz from various RuPaul’s Drag Race shows; local favorites Miss FloNoMo, Artemisia VanHO, Decevia Mann and more; and live musicians Cheryl Roday, Ouzo Bozo and more. For maps, more Frequently Asked Questions, a schedule of all performers, all sponsors and more. head to the River City Pride Festival Facebook page, or organizer Peoria Proud‘s page. The event is 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with food donations accepted through 7 p.m. Peoria Riverfront is located at 200 Northeast Water St.
Mural honoring child care legend Jettie Rhodes defaced
URBANA — Family and community members are at work cleaning up vandalism to the new Jettie Rhodes memorial mural, just unveiled three weeks ago (WCIA). Artist Christopher Logan worked more than 60 hours to create the larger-than-life tribute to the late Rhodes, at MLK Park on Wascher Drive. Vandals scribbled a moustache and goatee on the huge piece of art. Rhodes is a former Urbana City Council member in the 1980s who also became known for supporting children’s services and asking ” Who’s Your Neighbor?” Rhodes is also the namesake of an annual event held for years at the end of June to commemorate community service.
Day of Baseball at McLean County Museum of History
BLOOMINGTON — Baseball and softball trivia, ball-themed snacks, some local history about baseball, a jazz concert, a baseball-themed movie, and lawn games: that’s what’s happening all day Saturday at McLean County Museum of History’s celebration of the exhibit, “More Than a Game: a Community History of Baseball and Softball.” The music is by the Heartland Jazz Orchestras; the movie is “A League of Their Own,” the award-winning 1992 fictional but “based on real life” look at an early women’s baseball players. The celebration is 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the museum, 200 N. Main St. Check out the full schedule here.
