On this week's episode of Out and About, Mae Gilliland of ArtsPartners of Central Illinois talks with David Commanday, artistic director and conductor of the Heartland Festival Orchestra, about the HFO’s upcoming season, opening Sept. 11 at Crossroads Global Methodist Church in Washington.

On this week’s episode of Out and About, Mae Gilliland of ArtsPartners of Central Illinois talks with Joyce Blank of Gems of the Prairie Quilters about the group’s annual quilt show, taking place Aug. 22 and 23 at the Life Together Center in Peoria. Visitors can explore more than 300 quilts created by local quilters, along with demonstrations, vendors, a traditional bed turning and special Quilts of Valor presentations.

On this week’s episode of Out and About, Mae Gilliland of ArtsPartners of Central Illinois talks with Barry Cloyd about For What It’s Worth: A Tribute to Stephen Stills in Song & Story, coming Aug. 22 to the Contemporary Art Center of Peoria. Blending live music with storytelling, the multimedia performance traces Stills’ career through Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and his solo work.

Beau Sutherland has been named general manager of the Peoria Civic Center after filling the role in an interim capacity for the past two months.

The Cincinnati based Americana duo which once called Bloomington-Normal home has a three city tour in Central Illinois next week

Bradley University administrators, alumni, faculty and staff gathered on campus Thursday to mark the 210th anniversary of founder Lydia Moss Bradley’s birthday. The event at the Hayden-Clark Alumni Center featured actress Laura Keyes portraying Moss Bradley.

On this week’s episode of Out and About, Mae Gilliland of ArtsPartners of Central Illinois talks with Rhonda Ossola Parker of the Italian American Society about the annual Summer Festa Picnic on Aug. 9 at Hickory Grove Park.

Visitors to a section of Peoria’s Warehouse District will find things a touch brighter now. Twelve strands of string lights spanning the 800 block of SW Adams Street are in place and functional, completing a placemaking collaboration.

On this week’s episode of Out and About, Mae Gilliland of ArtsPartners of Central Illinois talks with Roseanne Urbanc of Chillicothe Players Theatre about their upcoming production of The Great Gatsby. Running Aug. 6-9 at Shore Acres Clubhouse, the production combines the glamour of the Roaring Twenties with an immersive theater experience, inviting audiences to dress in 1920s attire and become part of Gatsby's world. The adaptation explores timeless themes of ambition, love, friendship and the pursuit of the American Dream.

On this week’s episode of Out and About, Mae Gilliland of ArtsPartners of Central Illinois talks with Cory Boulton of Bradley University about The Lost Birds, a powerful choral work presented by the Gratus Choral Ensemble on July 26 at First Federated Church at 4 p.m.

On this week’s episode of Out and About, Mae Gilliland of ArtsPartners of Central Illinois talks with Salil Bavdekar of Heartland Latin Dancers about Latin Dance Night at Casa de Arte, located in Peoria's Warehouse District. Held on the last Saturday of every month, the evening features a beginner-friendly dance lesson followed by an outdoor social dance where no partner or experience is required. Bavdekar says the goal is to help people build friendships while learning something new: “Anyone can learn it as long as you want to just come out there and have fun.”

On this week’s episode of Out and About, Mae Gilliland of ArtsPartners of Central Illinois talks with Jake Bowers of Peoria Proud about this year’s River City Pride Festival on July 18 at the Peoria RiverFront.