Community Calendar

The Next Picture Show is pleased to welcome back the Winter Scenes & Holiday Dreams Art Exhibition. Winter Scenes & Holiday Dreams captures the beauty and magic of the holiday season. From snowy paths to fresh pine and the glimmering lights of the season, artists were encouraged to submit both 2-D and 3-D work that captures the whimsy of winter.

The opening reception and artist award ceremony will be held on November 21 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. We will provide light refreshments and a cash bar.

This exhibition is sponsored by G&M Distributors.

Chicago-based artist Michael x. Ryan gathers the quiet imprints we leave behind — from sidewalk stains and river paths to shower puddles and fallen tree limbs — and gives them form, weight, and voice. Through drawing, mapping, wood relief, and 3D printed objects, Ryan captures traces of human presence — the edge of a river, the imprint of a wet body, the marks on a street — and renders them as physical forms that evoke movement, memory, and place.

This exhibition brings together key installations spanning over four decades, from early works shaped by the Ox-Bow landscape to large-scale reliefs inspired by the streets of Chicago to one tree of interest on the family property in Woodstock, Illinois. By drawing attention to overlooked details, Ryan invites us to consider how our everyday movements shape the spaces we inhabit — and how those spaces, in turn, record and reflect our presence and passage through time.

Homecoming: In Color celebrates the reopening of Rockford Art Museum after a year-long renovation closure. This exhibition features a selection of popular pieces and hidden gems, showcasing the rich diversity of our revered collection. Come witness the power of art and community as we welcome you back to a vibrant space of creativity!

“High Strangeness" is an exhibition that explores the intersection of the uncanny and the unknown, where the boundaries between reality and the surreal blur. Featuring a diverse array of photography, painting, and sculpture, this show invites viewers into realms of altered perception, mysterious phenomena, and the strange undercurrents of contemporary life. Each work in the exhibition engages with the concept of "high strangeness"—a term often used to describe encounters with the unexplained, the bizarre, and the otherworldly.

The Freeport Art Museum is thrilled to host Resilient Wonder, two solo exhibitions through Dec. 27. These exhibitions feature impressive works by Chelsea Bighorn from Chicago Illinois and Hattie Lee Mendoza from Peoria Illinois.

Chelsea Bighorn was born and raised in Tempe, Arizona, and is Lakota, Dakota and Shoshone -Paiute. Bighorn’s work is the result of her combining traditional Native American design with elements from her Irish American heritage. Using this process, she tells her personal history through her art. Bighorn has shown her work at the Museum of Contemporary Native Art, SITE Santa Fe, Catharine Clark Gallery in San Francisco, and The Center for Native Futures in Chicago, IL. She graduated from The Institute of American Indian Arts in 2021 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Arts. Bighorn received her Master of Fine Arts in Fiber and Material Studies from School of The Art Institute of Chicago in 2024. She currently resides in Chicago, IL where she is an artist in residence with Chicago Artist Coalition.

Hattie Lee Mendoza is a multi-disciplinary artist who grew up in Fowler, Kansas, and now lives in Peoria, Illinois. She has an MFA from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, and a BA in graphic design from Tabor College, Hillsboro, KS. She is influenced by her Great Grandmother and namesake’s Cherokee heritage and stories, desiring to revive and continue that legacy within her family after generational loss of cultural connection. She spent three years living in Thailand, as well as traveling to various countries, while working with a non-profit organization on their fine art and media team. The experience gave her opportunities to interact and learn from many people groups and tribes in Asia and the Middle East. Afterward, she returned to the States and was motivated to connect to her own ancestral heritages. Her maternal grandmother’s frugal values, stemming from a depression era childhood, are also reflected in Mendoza’s practice by including repurposed and recycled personal, family and community items, as well as thrifted and found objects.

Peoria Camera Club

Taft Gallery, December 1 – January 31
We are pleased to host the photography work of 12 artists from the Peoria Camera Club during December and January.

Participating artists include Joe Virbickis, Jill Attaway, Marilyn Rierma, Becky Dailey, Ray Keithly, Cindy Brackney, LaDean Spring, Tom Ruhland, Lori Townzen, Andrea Monninger, Bennett Johnson and Dan Ricks.
The Peoria Camera Club (PCC) was founded in 1954. Over these 70+ years, the PCC has worked to promote the art and science of photography in Central Illinois. As a group, PCC members produce a diverse array of images in both digital and print formats. They have received awards and recognitions at the local, regional and national levels. The PCC meets twice monthly from September through May. Website: www.peoriacameraclub.com

Celebrate winter break and the holidays in a cozy, stress-free space. Make ornaments and holiday cards and enjoy a hot cocoa station and other sweet treats!

This program is intended for grades 6-12. No registration is required.

For more information, please contact Cheyenne at cheyennet@dkpl.org or (815) 756-9568 ext. 6109.

A PEACEFUL ALTERNATIVE TO THE HOLIDAY HUSTLE

FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS ONLY — NOVEMBER 28 THROUGH DECEMBER 20, 2025
5:00PM – 8:00PM

Escape into a serene winter landscape at The Thankful Path, a new outdoor light experience at Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden focused on reflection, calm, and quiet connection during this special time of year.

- A ½-mile walking trail through softly glowing evergreens and woodland settings
- Subtle uplighting and beautifully illuminated winter scenes set a tranquil mood
- Timed entry every 30 minutes with limited group sizes to preserve intimacy
- Begin your journey indoors with a complimentary seasonal drink and sweet treat provided by The Vintage Goose Café (one drink & treat combination per ticket, choose at checkout).
- Multiple fire pits along the trail offer warmth and space for reflection, with gentle prompts to inspire gratitude
- No loud music, flashing lights, characters, or advertising — just winter stillness, natural beauty, and meaning
- Soft ambient music floats over the chilled air to enhance the peaceful atmosphere
- A unique outdoor experience — dress warmly and bring your sense of calm

“The Thankful Path invites guests to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with what matters most,” said Alex Mills, Executive Director of Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden. “It’s a restorative experience rooted in nature, gratitude, and quiet wonder – showcasing all the beauty of Klehm with inspiration to be thankful at this special time of year.”

🎟️ Advance tickets required — Select your preferred date and entry time between 4:30PM and 7:30PM. The event concludes nightly at 8:00PM.

Engage Dance Theatre Presents
The Nutcracker
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2025 | 6:00PM

TICKETS*
$25 Adults

$17 Students

A SWEET HOLIDAY TRADITION FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!

This performance is a 60 minute adaptation of the classic holiday tale.

Join Clara at her annual Christmas Eve party at the Staulbaum house enjoying a night full of celebration, dancing, and magic! As the party comes to a close Clara sneaks downstairs to find her precious new Nutcracker doll and falls asleep dreaming of her wonderful evening. Clara, startled awake by a group of mischievous mice, takes on an exciting journey with Drosselmeyer and her precious Nutcracker.

Battling a life-size mouse Queen, slipping & sliding with snowmen & dazzling Snow Queen, and then flying off on an enchanted crystal sleigh to meet the Queen of the Angels, Clara visits the Land of Sweets in an adventure not to be missed this holiday season!

Nutcracker is co-produced by Engage Dance Academy and Raue Center For The Arts.

Recommended: ALL AGES

This performance is sponsored by:

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*Tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.

Processing Fee – A $4 per ticket charge to support the ticketing software.

Facility Fee – A $8 per order charge that helps operate and invest back in our historic venue.

Premium Seat Fee – $6 Premium seat fee is based on location/additional leg room and indicated with a light blue color on the seating chart.

Patron Code of Conduct: Be courteous. Inform staff if you feel or observe any harassment. We reserve the right to remove any guest at any time. For more information, please visit rauecenter.org.

Questions? Contact our Box Office at 815-356-9212; boxoffice@rauecenter.org
Raue Center For The Arts is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of all through the arts.

Join us this holiday season for a unique dance-adventure into Wonderland!

WSSR Dance+Theater presents an original adaptation of Alice’s Adventures! Drawing on the traditions of ballet, modern, tap, and hip hop— and incorporating the poetry of Lewis Carroll— join Alice as she tumbles down the rabbit hole into an exciting world of curious characters and amazing adventures!

She’ll meet the White Rabbit, Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter and March Hare, the Queen of Hearts— and many more!

COME IN COSTUME!!

Audience members who come dressed as a character from Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland get Wonderland Cash good for one free snack or candy from the concession stand!