Peoria Civic Center

A downtown parade Friday afternoon will celebrate the Peoria Rivermen winning their first professional hockey championship in 22 seasons, with a ceremony to follow at the Peoria Civic Center.

The Peoria Rivermen embark on the last stage of their quest for the Southern Professional Hockey League championship Thursday night at the Peoria Civic Center.

Peoria Civic Center General Manager Rik Edgar tells WCBU that recent concert crowds have exceeded expectations after the venue stayed dormant during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Peoria Rivermen will play their first postseason hockey game at the Peoria Civic Center in nearly four years Friday night. Wherever this playoff road leads, the franchise's long-term relationship with the Civic Center beyond next season is unclear.

Sybrina Fulton addressed a crowd of hundreds in Peoria on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The three-day Greater Peoria Farm Show, with free admission, opened Tuesday, celebrating its 40th anniversary at the Civic Center after COVID-19 canceled last year's show.

Nearly four months ago, Peoria Civic Center general manager Rik Edgar declared “it’s time to turn the machine back on,” after the downtown entertainment venue had been shuttered for more than 500 days by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As fans began to enter Carver Arena on Friday night, songs like “The Boys Are Back In Town” and the theme to “Welcome Back, Kotter” played on the PA system.

The Peoria Rivermen haven't played a hockey game in almost 19 months, with COVID-19 halting the 2019-20 season last March and the team opting not to participate last season.

The community-based COVID-19 testing site at the Peoria Civic Center will reopen Friday after more than two months.