Pekin gets the holiday season started with the Winter Wonderland celebration this weekend Nov. 26-27. Parade is Sunday. Tree lighting will be at Mineral Park. (Photo courtesy of city of Pekin)

NOV. 25

East Peoria Festival of Lights

Friday, 5-11 p.m.

VFW Post 2078 Park, 123 Par 3 Lane

$10 per vehicle; full-sized buses $150

Drive-through that features the majority of the lighted floats from the Festival of Lights Parade. Extends through December. For more information, visit folepi.org.

NOV.  26

Saturday after Thanksgiving
Start the holiday season with a parade, bonfire, hot chocolate and Christmas Carols. Fireworks proceed the flipping of the switch to light the park’s Christmas trees. Mineral Springs Park remains lit throughout December for all to drive through and enjoy. Facebook 

The Second City’s Dysfunctional Holiday Revue

Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

Illinois Central College Performing Arts Center, E. Peoria

$30 (rated R)

Chicago’s Second City give a holiday-themed performance. For more information, call (309) 694-5316.

Holiday Lunch Show Cruise

Saturday, noon-2:30 p.m.

Spirit of Peoria, 100 Northeast Water St., Peoria

$39 adults; $19.50 children

Prairie Folklore Theater with Barry Cloyd and Brian “Fox” Ellis will entertain. Reservations required by calling (309) 637-8000.

Gospelfest Christmas Concert

Saturday, 7 p.m.

Five-Points Washington, 360 N. Wilmor Road

Free

Christmas classics will be performed by Shawn Degenhart and the GospelFest Singers. For more information, call (309) 472-0027.

Behind the Scenes at the Zoo

Saturday, begins at 9 a.m.

2320 N. Prospect Road, Peoria Hts.

$24 per person

Learn things about the animals and how the zookeepers care for them. Pre-registration is required by calling (309) 681-3559.

Shop Small Business Saturday

All Day

Join local chambers of commerce and celebrate locally owned businesses for Shop Small Business Saturday on Nov. 26.   Check your local communities for holiday shopping specials.

NOV. 26-27

Winter Wonderland

Downtown Pekin

Start the holiday season with a parade (at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 27), bonfire, hot chocolate and Christmas Carols. Fireworks proceed the flipping of the switch to light the park’s Christmas trees. Mineral Springs Park remains lit throughout December for all to drive through and enjoy.

NOV. 28

Teen Craft at the Library

Monday, 7 p.m.

Morton Public Library, 315 W. Pershing St.

Free

Teens gather to create something ‘cool.’ Pre-register by calling (309) 263-2200.

NOV.  29

Library Lego Club

Tuesday, 4 p.m.

Washington District Library, 380 N. Wilmor Road

Free

Kids can build original creations using library-supplied Legos. For more information, call (309) 444-2241.

NOV. 29-DEC. 1

Greater Peoria Farm Show

Tuesday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Peoria Civic Center Exhibit Halls, 201 SW Jefferson St.

Free

Illinois’ largest indoor farm show with over 150,000 square feet of agricultural exhibits where you can view all the latest in agriculture with over 350 companies representing over 1000 product lines and services.  For more information, visit http://greaterpeoriafarmshow.com.

— Tazewell County Events —