New two-day interactive festival at Peoria Civic Center features a $50,000 Collegiate Esports Showdown, hands-on gaming and entertainment experiences, plus Future Play After Dark with Lil Jon and James Hype
PEORIA, Ill., Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- This October, the future of entertainment is coming to Peoria — and audiences won't just watch it. They'll play it.
k5:G 4=2DDlQ!#}0x>365565pDD6E#676C6?46Q :5lQs:GpDD6E!=246w@=56C`QmkA E:E=6lQ':56@ 7@C uFEFC6 !=2J u6DE:G2=Qmk:7C2>6 :5lQ!=2J|65:20`Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^>>I]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^>65:2^|$`hgdd`_^':56@\7@C\uFEFC6\!=2J\u6DE:G2=]>Acn:5l~pahc_faaQ H:5E9lQde_Q 96:89ElQbadQ 7C2>63@C56ClQ_Q D4C@==:?8lQ?@Q ?2>6lQ!=2J|65:20`Qmk^:7C2>6mk^Amk^5:Gm
kAmkDEC@?8muFEFC6 !=2J u6DE:G2=k^DEC@?8m[ 2? 2==\?6H :?E6C24E:G6 82>:?8[ 6DA@CED[ 6?E6CE2:?>6?E 2?5 E649?@=@8J 6IA6C:6?46[ E2<6D @G6C E96 kDEC@?8m!6@C:2 r:G:4 r6?E6C ~4E@36C b–c[ a_aek^DEC@?8m[ 3C:?8:?8 E@86E96C 4@>A6E:E:G6 82>:?8[ :>>6CD:G6 2EEC24E:@?D[ 4C62E@CD[ >FD:4 2?5 92?5D\@? 6IA6C:6?46D 7@C @?6 24E:@?\A24<65 H66<6?5]k^Am
kAm&?=:<6 2 EC25:E:@?2= 4@?G6?E:@? H96C6 2EE6?566D DA6?5 E96 52J H2=<:?8 A2DE 6I9:3:ED[Â kDEC@?8muFEFC6 !=2J :D 3F:=E E@ 36 6IA6C:6?465]k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmu2?D 42? DE6A :?D:56 :?E6C24E:G6 2EEC24E:@?D[ 4@>A6E6 2?5 A=2J[ 6IA6C:6?46 ?6H E649?@=@8J[ H2E49 D@>6 @7 E96 4@F?ECJVD E@A 4@==68:2E6 6DA@CED 4@>A6E:E@CD 32EE=6 =:G6[ >66E 4C62E@CD[ C246 #r 42CD[ C65:D4@G6C 4=2DD:4 2C4256 82>6D[ 6IA6C:6?46 =:G6 6?E6CE2:?>6?E — 2?5 $2EFC52J ?:89E[ EFC? FA H:E9 kDEC@?8m{:= y@? 2?5 y2>6D wJA6 2E uFEFC6 !=2J p7E6C s2C<]k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m%:4<6ED 2C6 @? D2=6 ?@H[ H:E9 76DE:G2= 25>:DD:@? DE2CE:?8 2E ;FDE S`h]hh]k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmQuFEFC6 !=2J H2D 4C62E65 2C@F?5 2 D:>A=6 :562i kDEC@?8m5@?VE ;FDE 4@>6 2?5 H2E49 — 4@>6 2?5 A=2J[ 4@>A6E6 2?5 6IA6C:6?46 :E 7@C J@FCD6=7k^DEC@?8m[Q D2:5 kDEC@?8msJ=2? |2C6C[ tI64FE:G6 !C@5F46C 2E r:?6>2E:4[ {{r][ E96 AC@5F46C @7 uFEFC6 !=2J u6DE:G2=]k^DEC@?8m Q(6VC6 3C:?8:?8 82>:?8[ 6DA@CED[ :>>6CD:G6 6?E6CE2:?>6?E[ E649?@=@8J 2?5 =:G6 >FD:4 E@86E96C F?56C @?6 C@@7 E@ 4C62E6 2 4@>A=6E6=J 5:776C6?E <:?5 @7 H66<6?5 6IA6C:6?46] (6 H2?E A6@A=6 E@ H2=< E9C@F89 E96 5@@CD 2?5 4@?E:?F2==J 5:D4@G6C D@>6E9:?8 ?6H]Qk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mSd_[___ r~{{tvxp%t t$!~#%$ $w~(s~(}k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmpE E96 46?E6C @7 uFEFC6 !=2J H:== 36 E96Â kDEC@?8muFEFC6 !=2J r@==68:2E6 tDA@CED $9@H5@H?k^DEC@?8m[ H96C6 4@==68:2E6 4@>A6E:E@CD H:== 32EE=6 =:G6 7@C 2Â kDEC@?8mSd_[___ #@4<6E {628F6 AC:K6 A@@=k^DEC@?8m]k^Am
kAm%96 E@FC?2>6?E 3C:?8D E96 6I4:E6>6?E @7 4@>A6E:E:G6 4@==68:2E6 6DA@CED @FE 7C@> 369:?5 E96 D4C66? 2?5 @?E@ E96 =:G6 DE286[ 8:G:?8 72?D E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ 6IA6C:6?46 E96 DA665[ DEC2E68J 2?5 :?E6?D:EJ @7 9:89\=6G6= #@4<6E {628F6 4@>A6E:E:@? :? A6CD@?]k^Am
kAmqFE E96 4@>A6E:E:@? :D @?=J A2CE @7 E96 6IA6C:6?46]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m%wx$ x$}V% y&$% p $w~(] x%V$ p !{p*v#~&}s]k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmp4C@DD E96 !6@C:2 r:G:4 r6?E6C[ uFEFC6 !=2J H:== 8:G6 2EE6?566D 2? 6?E:C6 H66<6?5 @7 E9:?8D E@Â kDEC@?8mA=2J[ ECJ[ 6IA=@C6 2?5 6IA6C:6?46k^DEC@?8m[ :?4=F5:?8ik^Am
kF= EJA6lQ5:D4Qmk=:mkDEC@?8mp:CD@7E %24E:42= $9@@E w@FD6 tIA6C:6?46k^DEC@?8mk^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^t'xzt]4@>Qmt'xzt]4@>k^2m p:CD@7E $9@@E:?8 #2?86k^DEC@?8mk^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8mp##|p #r #24:?8 tIA6C:6?46Dk^DEC@?8mk^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8m#6EC@ pC4256 v2>:?8 {@F?86k^DEC@?8mk^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8mrC62E@C $EF5:@k^DEC@?8mk^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8mx>>6CD:G6 2?5 6>6C8:?8 E649?@=@8J 6IA6C:6?46Dk^DEC@?8mk^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8m{:G6 syD 2?5 6?E6CE2:?>6?Ek^DEC@?8mk^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8mr@DA=2Jk^DEC@?8mk^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8mr6=63C:EJ 82>:?8 2AA62C2?46Dk^DEC@?8mk^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8mx?E6C24E:G6 82>:?8 2?5 3C2?5 24E:G2E:@?Dk^DEC@?8mk^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8muFEFC6 !=2J r@==68:2E6 tDA@CED $9@H5@H?k^DEC@?8mk^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8mp?5 >@C6 6IA6C:6?46D E9C@F89@FE E96 H66<6?5k^DEC@?8mk^=:mk^F=m
kAm(96E96C J@FVC6 2 D6C:@FD 82>6C[ 4@==686 DEF56?E[ 6DA@CED 72?[ 4C62E@C[ E649 6?E9FD:2DE[ >FD:4 72?[ A2C6?E :?EC@5F4:?8 J@FC <:5D E@ E96 82>6D J@F 8C6H FA A=2J:?8 — @C D:>A=J =@@<:?8 7@C D@>6E9:?8 4@>A=6E6=J 5:776C6?E E@ 5@ — kDEC@?8muFEFC6 !=2J :D 56D:8?65 E@ @776C 2? 6IA6C:6?46 7@C J@F]k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmQ|@DE 6G6?ED DE2J :? @?6 =2?6[Q |2C6C D2:5] Q%96C6 2C6 82>:?8 4@?G6?E:@?D] %96C6 2C6 6DA@CED E@FC?2>6?ED] %96C6 2C6 E649?@=@8J D9@HD] p?5 E96C6 2C6 4@?46CED]Â kDEC@?8muFEFC6 !=2J 3C:?8D 2== @7 E9@D6 H@C=5D E@86E96C 2?5 >2<6D E96 2F5:6?46 A2CE @7 E96 6IA6C:6?46]k^DEC@?8mQk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m(wt} %wt $&} v~t$ s~(}[ u&%&#t !{p* v~t$ pu%t# sp#zk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm%96 6IA6C:6?46 86ED 6G6? 3:886C $2EFC52J ?:89E]k^Am
kAm~? kDEC@?8m$2EFC52J[ ~4E@36C bk^DEC@?8m[ uFEFC6 !=2J EC2?D7@C>D 7@C kDEC@?8muFEFC6 !=2J p7E6C s2C<k^DEC@?8m[ 2? 6IA=@D:G6 =:G6 >FD:4 6IA6C:6?46 762EFC:?8 kDEC@?8m9:A\9@A :4@? {:= y@?k^DEC@?8m 2?5 kDEC@?8m8=@32= 6=64EC@?:4 >FD:4 DE2C y2>6D wJA6k^DEC@?8m]k^Am
kAmuC@> kDEC@?8mgi__–``ib_ A]>]k^DEC@?8m[ E96 6?6C8J >@G6D 7C@> E96 82>:?8 7=@@C E@ E96 4@?46CE 6IA6C:6?46 2D EH@ :?E6C?2E:@?2==J C64@8?:K65 2CE:DED 3C:?8 uFEFC6 !=2JVD @A6?:?8 52J E@ 2 9:89\6?6C8J 7:?2=6]k^Am
kAmu6DE:G2= 8F6DED 42? 49@@D6 7C@>Â kDEC@?8m76DE:G2=\@?=J[ 4@?46CE\@?=J 2?5 4@>3:?2E:@? E:4<6E @AE:@?Dk^DEC@?8m[ >2<:?8 :E A@DD:3=6 E@ 3F:=5 E96:C @H? uFEFC6 !=2J H66<6?5]k^Am
kAmu@C 72?D =@@<:?8 7@C E96 4@>A=6E6 6IA6C:6?46[Â kDEC@?8mEH@\52J 76DE:G2= Z uFEFC6 !=2J p7E6C s2C< A24<286D @776C E96 36DE H2J E@ 6IA6C:6?46 E96 6?E:C6 H66<6?5]k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m!t~#xp qtr~|t$ %wt !{prt %~ !{p*k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmuFEFC6 !=2J :D 2=D@ A2CE @7 2 =2C86C 677@CE E@ 6DE23=:D9 !6@C:2 2D 2 |:5H6DE 56DE:?2E:@? 7@C 6DA@CED[ 6>6C8:?8 6?E6CE2:?>6?E 2?5 ?6IE\86?6C2E:@? =:G6 6IA6C:6?46D]k^Am
kAmQ!6@C:2 92D 366? :?E6?E:@?2= :? C64CF:E:?8 2?5 :?G6DE:?8 :? 4FEE:?8\6586 6?E6CE2:?>6?E 2?5 6G6?E D68>6?ED E92E 3C:?8 H@C=5\4=2DD E2=6?E[ ?6H 2F5:6?46D 2?5 :?4C62D65 G:D:E2E:@? E@ @FC C68:@?[Q D2:5Â kDEC@?8mys s2=7@?D@[ rt~ @7 s:D4@G6C !6@C:2k^DEC@?8m]k^Am
kAmQ~?6 H2J H6 2C6 5@:?8 E9:D :D 3J 3@=DE6C:?8 @FC 677@CED :? 6DA@CED 2?5 E96 6?E6CE2:?>6?E @AA@CEF?:E:6D E92E 4@>6 H:E9 E9:D C2A:5=J 8C@H:?8 :?5FDECJ] uFEFC6 !=2J C6AC6D6?ED 2? 6I4:E:?8 ?6IE DE6A :? E92E H@C<] xE H:== 3C:?8 G:D:E@CD 7C@> 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ E@ 6IA6C:6?46 !6@C:2[ H9:=6 D9@H42D:?8 @FC 4@>>F?:EJ 2D 2 56DE:?2E:@? H:==:?8 E@ 6>3C246 ?6H :562D[ ?6H 2F5:6?46D 2?5 ?6H 7@C>D @7 6?E6CE2:?>6?E]Qk^Am
More from this section
kAms2=7@?D@ 25565[ Q(6 D66 E9:D :?2F8FC2= 6G6?E 2D E96 368:??:?8 @7 D@>6E9:?8 >F49 3:886C 7@C 6DA@CED[ E@FC:D> 2?5 E96 C68:@?[ 2?5 H6 2C6 AC@F5 E@ 36 A2CE @7 H92E 4@>6D ?6IE]Qk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mt)!t#xt}rt (wp%V$ }t)% — %xrzt%$ ~} $p{t }~(k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8muFEFC6 !=2J u6DE:G2= E2<6D A=246 ~4E@36C b–c[ a_ae 2E E96 !6@C:2 r:G:4 r6?E6C :? 5@H?E@H? !6@C:2[ x==:?@:D]k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mu6DE:G2= E:4<6ED DE2CE 2E ;FDE S`h]hhk^DEC@?8m[ H:E9 D:?8=6\52J[ EH@\52J[ uFEFC6 !=2J p7E6C s2C< 4@?46CE 2?5 76DE:G2= Z 4@?46CE 4@>3:?2E:@? @AE:@?D 2G2:=23=6]k^Am
kAmr2A24:EJ 7@C :?5:G:5F2= 6IA6C:6?46D 2?5 E:4<6E 42E68@C:6D >2J 36 =:>:E65]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mv6E J@FC E:4<6ED[ 3C:?8 J@FC 7C:6?5D 2?5 86E C625J E@ A=2J]k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8muFEFC6 !=2J u6DE:G2=k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m~4E@36C b–c[ a_aek^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m!6@C:2 r:G:4 r6?E6C M !6@C:2[ x==:?@:Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm%:4<6ED 2?5 76DE:G2= :?7@C>2E:@?ik^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^uFEFC6!=2Ju6DE:G2=]4@>QmuFEFC6!=2Ju6DE:G2=]4@>k^2mk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m!{p*] r~|!t%t] t)!t#xt}rt (wp%V$ }t)%]k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mpq~&% u&%&#t !{p* ut$%x'p{k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8muFEFC6 !=2J u6DE:G2=k^DEC@?8m :D 2 ?6IE\86?6C2E:@? :?E6C24E:G6 6?E6CE2:?>6?E 6IA6C:6?46 3C:?8:?8 E@86E96C 82>:?8[ 4@==68:2E6 6DA@CED[ :>>6CD:G6 E649?@=@8J[ >FD:4[ 4C62E@CD 2?5 92?5D\@? 24E:G2E:@?D F?56C @?6 C@@7]k^Am
kAm%2<:?8 A=246 kDEC@?8m~4E@36C b–c[ a_ae 2E E96 !6@C:2 r:G:4 r6?E6C :? !6@C:2[ x==:?@:Dk^DEC@?8m[ uFEFC6 !=2J :D 56D:8?65 E@ EFC? 2F5:6?46D :?E@ A2CE:4:A2?ED — 8:G:?8 72?D E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ kDEC@?8mA=2J[ 4@>A6E6[ 5:D4@G6C[ 4@??64E 2?5 tIA6C:6?46 (92EVD }6IE]k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8muFEFC6 !=2J u6DE:G2=k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm~4E@36C b–c[ a_aek^Am
kAm!6@C:2 r:G:4 r6?E6Ck^Am
kAm!6@C:2[ x==:?@:Dk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^uFEFC6!=2Ju6DE:G2=]4@>QmuFEFC6!=2Ju6DE:G2=]4@>k^2mk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mRuFEFC6!=2J M RtIA6C:6?46(92ED}6IEk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mxvi o7FEFC6A=2J76DE:G2=k^DEC@?8m k^Am
k5:G 4=2DDlQ!#}0x>365565pDD6E#676C6?46Q :5lQs:GpDD6E!=246w@=56CaQmkAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^>>I]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^>65:2^|$`hgdcg`^u=J6C\7@C\uFEFC6\!=2J\u6DE:G2=\r:?6>2E:4];A8n:5l~pahc_eagQ E:E=6lQu=J6C 7@C uFEFC6 !=2J u6DE:G2=Q 2=ElQu=J6C 7@C uFEFC6 !=2J u6DE:G2=Q ^mk^AmkAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^>>I]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^>65:2^|$`hgdcga^uFEFC6\!=2J\u6DE:G2=\{@8@];A8n:5l~pahc_eecQ E:E=6lQuFEFC6 !=2J u6DE:G2= {@8@Q 2=ElQuFEFC6 !=2J u6DE:G2= {@8@Q ^mk^Amk^5:Gm
kA :5lQ!&#{Qmk:>8 E:E=6lQr:D:@?Q H:5E9lQ`aQ 96:89ElQ`aQ 2=ElQr:D:@?Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^:>8^72G:4@?]A?8nD?l}*ccfgcU2>AjD5la_ae\_h\`_Q ^m ':6H @C:8:?2= 4@?E6?E E@ 5@H?=@25 >F=E:>65:2ik2 :5lQ!#}&#{Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQ 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^?6HD\C6=62D6D^7FEFC6\A=2J\E2<6D\@G6C\A6@C:2\@4E@36C\bc\H:E9\82>:?8\6DA@CED\:>>6CD:G6\6IA6C:6?46D\2?5\=:G6\>FD:4\b_agfcfee]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm9EEADi^^HHH]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^?6HD\C6=62D6D^7FEFC6\A=2J\E2<6D\@G6C\A6@C:2\@4E@36C\bc\H:E9\82>:?8\6DA@CED\:>>6CD:G6\6IA6C:6?46D\2?5\=:G6\>FD:4\b_agfcfee]9E>=k^2mk^Am
kAm$~&#rt r:?6>2E:4[ {{r]k^Am
kAmk:>8 2=ElQQ DC4lQ9EEADi^^CE]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^CE]8:7n}6HDxE6>x5l}*ccfgcU2>Aj%C2?D>:DD:@?0x5la_ae_h`__h__!#0}t($0&$!#00000}*ccfgcU2>Ajs2E6x5la_ae_h`_Q DEJ=6lQ3@C56Ci_AIj H:5E9i`AIj 96:89Ei`AIjQ ^mk^Am
