Ignite Peoria 2023: Arts and Makers Fest Returns to the Peoria Civic Center with Car and Bike Show
Saturday, August 12 | 9am – 5pm
Free Admission
Peoria, IL – ArtsPartners of Central Illinois is pleased to present Ignite Peoria, central Illinois’ premiere arts and makers fest, at the Peoria Civic Center on Saturday, August 12 from 9am to 5pm. The one-day festival is free to the public and showcases hundreds of local makers, musicians, artists, innovators, dancers, and actors in one STEAM-inspired, interactive day of fun and learning that is perfect for the whole family.
Returning to Ignite Peoria for the first time since 2015 will be the All or Nothing Kustom Car and Bike Show.
“ArtsPartners is thrilled to bring so many members of our Greater Peoria creative sector together,” notes executive director Dr. Mae Gilliland Wright. “All who attend will encounter something exciting, inspiring, and new. We’re also very happy that we are once again able to collaborate with the organizers of the All or Nothing Car and Bike Show!”
Located inside the Peoria Civic Center’s Exhibition Halls, the event features over 100 interactive booths and workshops, 2 performance stages, a fashion event, and 40,000 square feet of vehicle exhibit space, providing a full day of free, immersive arts, innovation, and makers experiences for attendees.
Joe Spanier, Ignite Committee Chair, states: “We are excited to bring this one-of-a-kind creation fair back to the Peoria Civic Center, celebrating all forms of art and science around the Greater Peoria area. From yarn spinners to robots, you can find it at Ignite this year!”
All or Nothing co-hosts Darius Donaldson and Farai Kasambira agree, adding: “We’ve been involved in the custom car scene since the 1990s and started All or Nothing in 2009. Cars are art, and we’re excited to display this art form at Ignite Peoria. Some of the best cars, trucks, and bikes in the entire country will be there. You don’t want to miss this!”
The Ignite Peoria Main Stage will feature performances from local performing arts organizations. The Follow Your Arts Corridor will offer a range of interactive arts activities, demonstrations, and experiences offered by area artists and organizations. Located within the Follow Your Arts Corridor, Fashion Ignite will feature fashion photo shoot setups with professional models, make-up artists, hairdressers, and photographers. The Launchpad is a smaller stage launching the next phase of performance in the Greater Peoria area. The space will have an open mic setup and the public is invited to bring their acoustic instruments to perform or share spoken word. Workshops will also be offered.
Midwest Makerfest will be in Exhibit Hall C and will feature DIY projects, Robot Olympics, 3D printing, resin casting, cosplay, engineering and coding games, displays, and more.
Sensory Ignite, taking place from 10am to 2pm, is a special area of the festival designed to gently spark creativity, serving attendees with sensory sensitivities and special needs. Sensory Ignite is equipped with an adult changing room. A quiet room will be open 9am-5pm to support the needs of all attendees.
The All or Nothing Kustom Car and Bike Show, now in its eighth year, features some of the best vehicles in the country. The focus of the show is “cars as art,” and participants will be competing for awards — including the ArtsPartners Award for the vehicle that best displays artistic excellence.
A full schedule of performances and workshops will soon be available at https://artspartners.net/ignite-peoria, along with complete festival details and an interactive map.
Admission to Ignite Peoria is free to the public with support from the City of Peoria and the Peoria Civic Center – SMG. Ignite Peoria is also made possible in part from a grant from the Illinois Arts Council and a grant from the Community Foundation of Central Illinois.
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ArtsPartners of Central Illinois promotes the arts as a vital component of central Illinois’ cultural and economic development. Founded in 1999, ArtsPartners of Central Illinois, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, not-for-profit organization whose mission is to build awareness and strengthen the arts for the economic and cultural enrichment of central Illinois.