Irish dancers entertain the audience at Peoria Irish Fest. The dancers will perform at this year’s Irish Fest on the riverfront.

PEORIA

City hall’s new security system in place

Peoria City Hall has a new security system that will affect how visitors get into the building.

Visitors will be required to enter the building through the Fulton Street entrance, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and for all scheduled evening meetings. The doors facing the Peoria Civic Center will be emergency exit only while the doors exiting to the side parking lot will be for handicapped access only.

Handicapped visitors may use the ramp on the parking lot side of the building and push the button to gain entrance from a security guard. Security personnel will have the right to inspect bags or parcels if needed.

The new system includes cameras and onsite security officers.

Art group seeks votes to win a grant

Earlier this year, ART, Inc. purchased the former Greely School with plans to transform it into a community arts center. The center will be a non-profit co-op/incubator that will provide affordable studio space for artists and offer free after-school art programs. To finance this effort, Art, Inc. is asking the public for help to win a grant.

Art, Inc. is vying for $25,000 through a national contest from State Farm Neighborhood Assist. The grant will assist with repair costs for Art, Inc. site, the former Greely School, and help meet its objective of providing productive, fun, and creative activities for young people who otherwise could not afford them, in a safe environment.

U.S. residents who are 18 and older with a valid email address can vote up to 10 times daily for ART, Inc.’s cause at bit.ly/vote4peoria. Voting closes at 11:59 p.m. Aug. 24.

On Sept. 25, the top 40 vote-receiving causes will be announced at neighborhoodassist.com, and a $25,000 grant will be awarded to each of the affiliated nonprofits.

Irish Fest to be held at the riverfront

The city of Peoria’s 20-year sister city link with Clonmel, Ireland, will be acknowledged during this year’s Peoria Irish Fest. The fest will bring three days of Irish entertainment and Celtic culture to central Illinois, Aug. 24-Aug. 26. The festival will sell Clonmel-based hard cider Magners, and those who attend will have the opportunity to meet Clonmel officials and residents. Festival organizers also will announce a special surprise related to the sister city anniversary.

Bands from Ireland, Scotland, Canada and all across America will performed. Along with Irish dancers, Highland games, unique crafts and shopping, and food and beverages, this will be the largest Irish festival in Illinois outside of Chicago. It will be held at the Peoria Riverfront. 200 NE Water St.

Children under 12 are free if accompanied by an adult. Entry will be free 9:30 – 11 a.m. Aug. 26 with a canned good donation or if you wear a kilt.

Acts such as The High Kings, The Outside Track, Seven Nations and Daimh will serve as the high profile purveyors of Celtic music, while local favorites Roundstone Buskers, Turas and Bogside Zukes also will perform during the weekend. Another highlight will be Paddy Homan, a gifted Irish tenor who will be perform all three days of the festival. The full music schedule can be found at peoriairishfest.com/stage-schedule.

The Cultural Village will be the location for exhibits about customs and features of Celtic life, including Celtic jewelry, Irish boxing, Irish wolfhounds and the Ancient Order of Hiberians exhibit. The Hive will conduct Celtic art classes for two hours starting at noon on Aug. 26 and 27.

Athletes can test their strength at the Highland Games on Aug. 25, which is an exhibition, and Aug. 26, a sanctioned competition. Those who participate in the Highland Games will toss the Braemer stone and the Caber log as well as the Sheaf toss, where a bundle of straw in a burlap wrap is tossed vertically from a pitchfork. The games will take place in the athletic fields on the riverfront. For those who simply want to partake in a little cardio, the Happy Hour 5K will start at 6 p.m. Aug. 24, with participants receiving free admission, a souvenir pint glass and two beverage tickets.

Irish food and alcohol can be purchased at the festival’s four pubs.

The Catholic Diocese of Peoria will celebrate mass, the Peoria Irish Fest annual Liturgy for Peace and Justice at the North Stage. Music will begin at 10 a.m., followed by the service at 10:30 a.m.

–Peoria County News Briefs–