Peoria residents can mark their calendars for a dose of holiday cheer as the Peoria Holiday Festival sets up camp at Johnny E. Osuna Memorial Park on December 14, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. With 83rd Avenue transforming for the event between Washington and Jefferson Streets, attendees can expect a lineup of local talents and entertainers, a detail shared by the City of Peoria on their events page.

According to the City of Peoria's announcement, local musicians like People Who Could Fly will perform, along with Peoria Unified School District choirs. For those looking for sights beyond ground level, violinists on stilts and aerial acrobats will take their skills to the air. Not to be left out, roaming holiday characters will keep festival-goers entertained throughout the evening.

Competitive spirits can look forward to the Candy Cane Chaos Nerf wars, which will unfold in the Community Center. The Jam Tram Karaoke Truck invites all aspiring vocalists to register and showcase their singing prowess. These events are nestled in a broader campaign, dubbed the Second Saturdays Shop Downtown Peoria, aimed at driving local commerce and holiday shopping with a selection of local merchants and craft vendors.

To cap off the varied palate of activities, a string of food trucks will be parked, offering an assortment of eats and drinks to the festival crowd. Adding a touch of Peoria's public service charm, Santa and Mrs. Claus are slated to swing into the scene aboard a fire truck at 6 p.m., while the tree lighting ceremony at the park, a traditional centerpiece of the festival, lights up at 7:15 p.m. as indicated on the city's official website.