GO DAY is back!

Mark your calendars for Sunday, September 7, 2025. 

Athletes and artists. Families and food trucks. Good vibes and community connection. It’s all going down at GO DAY. Here’s a quick peek at what’s in store: 

• GO DAY Stage featuring live performances + storytelling from local talent
• Big Picture Street Festival with murals, pop-up galleries and artists painting live
• Interactive art zones where you can get messy (in a good way) and make some cool
• Sports + movement area to try new stuff and connect with local clubs
• Food trucks and summer treats because well, this event wouldn’t be as fun without them

It’s free. It’s for all ages. And it’s only in downtown Peoria. Trust us, you’ll wanna be there.

Stay in the Know About GO DAY

Follow Choose Greater Peoria on Facebook and/or Instagram for the most up-to-date information. 

You can also follow the GO DAY social channels (Facebook or Instagram), for event-specific highlights.

GO DAY Run of Show

○ 11:00AM: Peoria High Band and Drumline
○ 11:10AM: Welcome to GO DAY by Greg Batton
○ 11:15AM: Peoria High Dance
○ 11:35AM: Dance Party
○ 12:00PM: Peoria Players
○ 12:30PM: Peoria High Drumline
○ 12:45PM: Regional Office of Education #48
○ 1:00PM: Friendship House Emerging Leader Story
○ 1:25PM: CREW 309
○ 1:35PM: HISRA
○ 1:45PM: Flynn School of Irish Dance
○ 2:05PM: Bradley University Women’s Tennis and Baseball
○ 2:30PM: Coach Bre Cottage Cheerleading & Dance Company
○ 2:45PM: Dance Party
○ 3:00PM: Manual Drumline
○ 3:15PM: ICC Theatre Department
○ 3:45PM: Big Picture Winners Announced
○ 3:55PM: Thank You
○ 4:00PM: Event Concludes

We are also excited to be honoring three emerging leaders in our community whose work is making a difference in our region!

Big Picture Peoria Street Festival Run of Show

○ 11:00AM: Flower Up Fulton
○ 1:30PM: Big Art Needs a Hand
○ 2:45PM: Acoustic Stage Winners Announced
○ 3:45PM: Chuck’s Chalk Challenge Winners Announced

Flower Up Fulton Community Mural
Artist: John Seckler
Help Beautify and Brighten Fulton Plaza—Future Home of These Murals 
Sponsor: Cefcu

Singer/Songwriter Showdown & Music Stage
Creative Director: Peoria Music Live
Emcee: Roxy Baker
Local artists go head-to-head with their original tunes.
Sponsors: Jerry Kolb and Simantel

Paint It, Plant It
Decorate a pot here and take a plant to-grow!

Chuck’s Chalk Challenge
Cast your vote for your favorite pavement Picasso
Cash Prizes
Voting 1:30-3:00
Sponsor: CT Gabbert

Do A Doodle
Dudes and Dudettes Make Your Mark On Our Doodle Wall
Sponsor: Fritch Heating and Cooling Lennox

Ready To Rock Paint?
It’s not hard!
Sponsor: First Ascent

Catch the Sun
With Ruth Inman  Bedazzle a disc for fun with the sun.

Jump for Joy
With Judy Yale  T-shirts to toys. Make a jumprope or rag doll for a child in Africa from recycled tees.

Kind Words Count
With Jody Tockes  Draw a self portrait and write a friendly greeting to the community

Lay of the Land
With Jacqueline Heisel, Kimberly Pierpont, Cannan McCadd, Brayden Reyes, and Jack Pritchett  A short improv game for a world-building experience

Knock a Gnome
Elijah Vroman  A virtual reality game where a lawn mower takes on garden gnomes

Bend It Like Gene-O
Artist Gene Mialkowski
Of GENE-O’S ART

Button, Button
Fashionable fun. Make your own button art.

Clay Creations
With Connie Andrews  Create a critter or build a buddy out of clay

Stage Stars
Make Your Own Star for the Stage with Hand Puppets and Wooden Stick Figures

Costume Creation
Let your ideas flutter and fly while decorating your own wings, capes, and masks

Stamp Stomp
With Jamie Wunning  Carve Your Own Stamp

Art Takes Flight
Let you creativity soar designing paper airplanes and fabric frisbees

Abstract Forest
Make a collage out of beautiful photos from Trees by Art Wolfe

Big Art Needs a Hand
Painting with Hands 1:30-2:30
Roll up your sleeves and have a hand in Peoria County’s Bicentennial.
Sponsor: Born Paint

Bookmark Bonanza
Chillicothe Public Library, Peoria Public Library, and Alpha Park Library
Design Your Own Bookmark

Art Spot
With Steve Curtis
Balloon critters and more

All Make-and-Take Art is Sponsored by:
Shared Blessings
City of Peoria/Discover Peoria
Sharon and John Amdall
The Krause Family
Friends of BPP
Illinois Arts Council

○ Gramma Nana’s Kitchen
○ Tony’s on Wheels
○ Grill ‘em All
○ Tin Roof Smokehouse
○ The Station

○ Minis on the Go
○ Cloud 9 Cotton Candy
○ Miranda's Cakes & Confections
○ Birdhouse Coffee
○ Kona Ice

○ City of Peoria
○ Discover Peoria
○ Peoria Riverfront Museum
○ Girl Scouts of the USA
○ Ivy Rehab
○ HISRA

○ Scouting America
○ Peoria Youth Hockey Association
○ CREW309
○ Peoria Music Live

Event Map

The Greater Peoria Tailgater will be an experience like never before. Check out the lay of the land and plan your stops for an afternoon of fun, food and football-related festivities!