A Peoria Park District Facility

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Apr
8
Sat
Science Treasure Hunt
Apr 8 – Sep 4 all-day

Join us for the 33rd Science Treasure Hunt in partnership with the Peoria Academy of Science! The Treasure Hunt is a combination family adventure and scavenger hunt focusing on science and technology facilities and resources in the Peoria area. To be eligible to participate, the hunter must be between 1st grade and 8th grade as of April 1, 2023. Multiple children may participate in the same family.

The Hunt runs annually with the opening day being April 8, and the closing day is September 4. Visit local science sites, participate in science experiments, and be entered to win fantastic prizes! Up to 100 winners will receive several prizes consisting of books, puzzles, and other neat science stuff. Three winners will be chosen for even bigger prizes!

How to Participate:

Visit ScienceTreasureHunt.org and create an account to view the various sites participating in this year’s Treasure Hunt.

Local Science Sites have created series of questions that can be answered as you visit them. Once you find out an answer, enter it on ScienceTreasureHunt.org using your computer or mobile device.

There are also several everyday science experiments listed on ScienceTreasureHunt.org, complete with materials and instructions. When you complete one, submit your results online.

Once you have visited eight or more Science Sites and completed five or more everyday science activities, you will be automatically entered into our prize drawing.

Following the end of the Treasure Hunt at 11:59 PM Central Time on Monday, September 4, up to 100 winners will be chosen at random from the eligible hunters.

Good luck!

Apr
12
Wed
Preschool Party at Peoria Zoo @ The Peoria Zoo
Apr 12 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am

Come party with the PlayHouse and The Peoria Zoo at a Preschool Party!

Discover our world through maker and S.T.E.A.M. activities, walks in nature, and stories depending on the location. This program is for preschool-aged children and their parents. For some locations, dress for outdoor fun!

Register for this program now!

May
13
Sat
PNC Worldwide Day of Play @ Peoria PlayHouse Children's Museum
May 13 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
PNC Worldwide Day of Play @ Peoria PlayHouse Children's Museum

PNC Worldwide Day of Play is part of a national effort by Nickelodeon to get children outside for 4 hours instead of in front of the television. The Peoria Park District Divisions and other community partners will have FREE outdoor games and activities throughout the day.

Join us to celebrate 10 years of fun! Meet friends from Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood! Games, face painting, touch a truck, bounce houses, and so much more! While Glen Oak Park is free, visit us at the Peoria PlayHouse and/or Peoriz Zoo for just $3 at each location.

PNC Worldwide Day of Play is a free day of fun put on by the Peoria Park District and sponsored by PNC Bank.
Jun
25
Sun
PlayHouse’s 8th Birthday @ Peoria PlayHouse Children's Museum
Jun 25 all-day
PlayHouse's 8th Birthday @ Peoria PlayHouse Children's Museum

It’s great to be eight! We’re celebrating 8 years of the PlayHouse.

In celebration of our birthday, admission is FREE ALL DAY! In addition, we’ll have story time in the Julep room, face painting, and a birthday hat maker space in our Open Art Studio.

Jul
21
Fri
Preschool Parties @ Forest Park Nature Center @ Forest Park Nature Center
Jul 21 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Preschool Parties @ Forest Park Nature Center @ Forest Park Nature Center

Come party with the PlayHouse and Forest Park Nature Center at a Preschool Party!

Discover our world through maker and S.T.E.A.M. activities, walks in nature, and stories depending on the location. This program is for preschool-aged children and their parents. For some locations, dress for outdoor fun!

Register for this program now!

Aug
4
Fri
Preschool Parties @ Forest Park Nature Center @ Forest Park Nature Center
Aug 4 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Preschool Parties @ Forest Park Nature Center @ Forest Park Nature Center

Come party with the PlayHouse and Forest Park Nature Center at a Preschool Party!

Discover our world through maker and S.T.E.A.M. activities, walks in nature, and stories depending on the location. This program is for preschool-aged children and their parents. For some locations, dress for outdoor fun!

Register for this program now!

Aug
6
Sun
Cultural Connections: Moon Festival @ Peoria PlayHouse Children's Museum
Aug 6 @ 12:30 pm – 3:30 pm

August Moon Festival is celebrated in Greece on the day of the full moon in August. The August Moon is the brightest moon of the year. In addition, this year August is special because we get to experience a once-in-a-blue-moon event with TWO full August moons, and they will both be SUPERmoons!

Join us at the Peoria PlayHouse as we host a special moon-themed story time and art activity this Sunday, August 6th in the Art Room from 12:30-3:30pm.

This program is free with the price of admission.

Aug
18
Fri
Preschool Parties @ Forest Park Nature Center @ Forest Park Nature Center
Aug 18 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Preschool Parties @ Forest Park Nature Center @ Forest Park Nature Center

Come party with the PlayHouse and Forest Park Nature Center at a Preschool Party!

Discover our world through maker and S.T.E.A.M. activities, walks in nature, and stories depending on the location. This program is for preschool-aged children and their parents. For some locations, dress for outdoor fun!

Register for this program now!

Sep
1
Fri
Preschool Parties @ Forest Park Nature Center @ Forest Park Nature Center
Sep 1 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Preschool Parties @ Forest Park Nature Center @ Forest Park Nature Center

Come party with the PlayHouse and Forest Park Nature Center at a Preschool Party!

Discover our world through maker and S.T.E.A.M. activities, walks in nature, and stories depending on the location. This program is for preschool-aged children and their parents. For some locations, dress for outdoor fun!

Register for this program now!

Sep
9
Sat
Hopscotch 2023: It’s Your Turn to Play
Sep 9 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Hopscotch 2023: It's Your Turn to Play

HopScotch is the Peoria PlayHouse Children’s Museum’s annual adults-only fundraising event. Leave the children at home and enjoy whiskey-based cocktails and craft brews from local restaurants and breweries. Enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres, play games, bid against other attendees in our silent auction, and take a chance to win the grand prize raffle.

Check out the Hopscotch 2023 page for information on our auction items and more!

Do you need more information?

Check out our FAQ page or email Executive Director, Melissa Sierra.

All proceeds go towards building and maintaining our exhibit spaces to empower children to become the creators and explorers of the world.

Sep
15
Fri
Preschool Parties @ Forest Park Nature Center @ Forest Park Nature Center
Sep 15 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Preschool Parties @ Forest Park Nature Center @ Forest Park Nature Center

Come party with the PlayHouse and Forest Park Nature Center at a Preschool Party!

Discover our world through maker and S.T.E.A.M. activities, walks in nature, and stories depending on the location. This program is for preschool-aged children and their parents. For some locations, dress for outdoor fun!

Register for this program now!

Sep
29
Fri
Preschool Parties @ Forest Park Nature Center @ Forest Park Nature Center
Sep 29 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Preschool Parties @ Forest Park Nature Center @ Forest Park Nature Center

Come party with the PlayHouse and Forest Park Nature Center at a Preschool Party!

Discover our world through maker and S.T.E.A.M. activities, walks in nature, and stories depending on the location. This program is for preschool-aged children and their parents. For some locations, dress for outdoor fun!

Register for this program now!

Oct
13
Fri
Preschool Parties @ Forest Park Nature Center @ Forest Park Nature Center
Oct 13 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Preschool Parties @ Forest Park Nature Center @ Forest Park Nature Center

Come party with the PlayHouse and Forest Park Nature Center at a Preschool Party!

Discover our world through maker and S.T.E.A.M. activities, walks in nature, and stories depending on the location. This program is for preschool-aged children and their parents. For some locations, dress for outdoor fun!

Register for this program now!

Oct
27
Fri
Preschool Parties @ Forest Park Nature Center @ Forest Park Nature Center
Oct 27 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Preschool Parties @ Forest Park Nature Center @ Forest Park Nature Center

Come party with the PlayHouse and Forest Park Nature Center at a Preschool Party!

Discover our world through maker and S.T.E.A.M. activities, walks in nature, and stories depending on the location. This program is for preschool-aged children and their parents. For some locations, dress for outdoor fun!

Register for this program now!

Oct
29
Sun
Cultural Connections: Papel Picado @ Peoria PlayHouse Children's Museum
Oct 29 @ 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

The Fall is a special time for many folks who identify as belonging to the Hispanic or Latinx culture.

Papel Picado is a way to decorate during times of fun and fiesta. We will learn about the history read a short bi-lingual story and have a fun time during this Culturally Connected Celebration!

Papel Picado is free with the cost of regular admission.

This program is in collaboration with the Epsilon Alpha chapter of Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc at Bradley University.