Things to Do in Peoria, IL With Your Children

Peoria, Illinois, is the world headquarters for Caterpillar Inc. and is home to "the world's most beautiful drive." The city's businesses and government sponsor clean and inexpensive fun for families year-round. Along with scenic views of the Illinois River and downtown areas, many organizations provide a variety of entertainment. Peoria's Chamber of Commerce brags that Peoria is "easily accessible" with "natural beauty," making it a popular spot for parents and their kids.

  1. Sports

    • Bradley University is in Peoria, and many children enjoy watching the school's soccer, baseball and soccer games. The minor league baseball team, the Chiefs, lets families sit on the green with a picnic blanket. Children can run the bases after the game, and night games frequently end with a firework display. If kids want to move around, they can play at Monkey Joe's, an auditorium full of slides and jumpy houses.

    Shows

    • Bradley University and the Civic Center provide child-appropriate theater productions, ballets and concerts. Additionally, the Cajun Festival hosts a variety of music players. The Peoria Riverfront has a band every Saturday night. Families dance and eat, or walk along the river. The "world's most beautiful drive," named by President Theodore Roosevelt, is officially named Grandview Drive. Driving through this road, visitors will see historic homes along the Illinois River.

    Educational

    • The Caterpillar Visitors Center allows children to see large machines. Aside from sitting on large tractors and using simulators, children can see the math and analytics that Caterpillar engineers use to make large vehicles. Sitting next to the Caterpillar Visitors Center is the Peoria Riverfront Museum, which has an entire area specifically for kids. Children can build with enormous blocks, construct water pipes, play in recycled plastic sand and test their strength on a variety of machines. For an outdoor experience, the Spirit of Peoria is a paddlewheeler that takes excursions on the Illinois River. Families listen to a narration about the boat's history as it travels.

    Year-round

    • Peoria hosts March Madness at the Civic Center, with boys and girls state basketball championships. Aside from the games, children can play at the March Madness Experience, an interactive basketball play area. Enjoy a fireworks display at the Riverfront for the Fourth of July. The Taste of Peoria is in August and many vendors provide fare for children. Kids can gather candy and watch the Labor Day parade. Peoria is home to the longest-running holiday in the country: the Santa Claus parade, held the day after Thanksgiving.

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