Mennonite Church of Normal will present Rain Gardens with Native Plants on July 9. (Photo courtesy of Mennonite Church of Normal)

JULY 5

Magician Rick Entertains at the Library
Thursday, 2 p.m.
Pekin Public Library, 301 S. 4th St.
Free

Program includes balloon modeling, balloon twisting, and comedy magic. For more information, call 309-347-7111, ext. 0.

Veterans’ Night Hosted by the Eureka Library
Thursday, 6:30 p.m.
Select Care’s Gathering Place, 700 N. Main St., Eureka
Free

Veterans Pete Hanner and Michael Haerr will be sharing their service experiences. For more information, call 309-467-2922.

Ladies’ Washington Ride
Thursday, 9-10 a.m.
Russell’s Cycle & Fitness, 10 Valley Forge Plaza

A spirited “Ladies Only” ride. Sponsored by the Illinois Valley Wheelm’n. For more information, call 309-444-2098.

JULY 6

Groove in the Garden at the Library
Friday, 6:30 p.m.
Morton Public Library, 315 W. Pershing
Free

Enjoy a variety of local talent including singing and guitar playing. Snack on pizza samples courtesy of Papa Murphy’s Pizza and water provided by the Library. For more information, call 309-263-2200.

Bicentennial Movie: History of Pekin Railroads and Depots
Friday, 11 a.m.
Pekin Public Library, 301 S. 4th St.
Free

In honor of the Illinois Bicentennial, the Library will be showing historic local videos from the Pekin History Project. For more information, call 309-347-7111, ext. 0.

Moonlight Cruise on the Illinois River
Friday, 7:30-9:30 p.m.; boarding begins at 7
Peoria Riverfront
$23; seniors $21; $14 for ages 4-15

Barry Cloyd will entertain as you ride the riverboat and see the Illinois shoreline. For more information, call 309-637-8000.

JULY 7

Free Movie: ‘Lilo and Stitch’
Saturday, 2 p.m.
Pekin Public Library, 301 S. 4th St.
Free

Enjoy the family movie on the big screen. For more information, call 309-347-7111, ext. 0.

‘The Boat Drunks’ Perform on the Riverfront
Saturday, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
CEFCU Center Stage, 200 NE Water St., Peoria
$7

Tangy, tropical rock & roll. For more information, visit www.boatdrunks.com.

JULY 8

Old Time Folk and Country Jam
Sunday, 3:30-5 p.m.
Forest Park Nature Center, 5809 N. Forest Park Drive,
Peoria Heights
Free, but donations appreciated

Bring your guitar, fiddle, banjo or other acoustic instrument to meet other musicians and learn some new songs. For more information, visit peoriaparks.org.

JULY 9

Rain Gardens with Native Plants
Monday, 7-8:30 p.m.
Mennonite Church of Normal, 805 S. Cottage Ave., Normal
Free

Jeff Kohmstedt shares ways to manage storm water with rain barrels and rain gardens. For more information, call 309-454-1371.

JULY 10

Not All Insects Are Bad
Tuesday, 1:30 p.m. and Thursday, July 12 at 6:30 p.m.
University of Illinois Extension
Free

U of I Extension Webinar, “Beneficial Insects: Garden Warriors,” will be presented by Kelly Allsup, Extension Horticulture Educator. For more information, call 309-685-3140.

Genealogist Presents
‘Research on a Tight Budget’
Tuesday, 7 p.m.
Ehrlicher Research Center, 719 N. 11th St., Pekin
Free

Lecture by nationally known genealogist Michael John Neil discusses some no-cost and low-cost ways to expand your genealogical research. Neil will also mention those times when “free” or “low-cost” is simply not possible. For more information, call 309-477-3044.

JULY 11

Senior Morning at the Museum:
Solar Super Storms
Wednesday, 10 a.m.-noon
Peoria Riverfront Museum, 222 SW Washington St.
Free

Seniors will watch the new education planetarium show ‘Solar Superstorms.’ After the movie, enjoy the museum exhibits. Free parking in the covered parking deck off Water St. For more information, call 309-686-7000.

–Tazewell County Calendar of Events July 4 – July 11–