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Wednesday, July 25, 2007 6:03 PM CDT
Entertaining weekend marks Civic Center milestone
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PEORIA -- Creamy-smooth pop legend Art Garfunkel's Saturday night concert is the climax to a three-day celebration of the Peoria Civic Center's quarter-century birthday.

Technically, the venue hit the milestone a month ago, on June 6. That was the day in 1982 when country singer Kenny Rogers broke the PCC's arena in with a show that attracted 11,712.

Twenty-five years later, the Civic Center is in the midst of a $55 million expansion and upgrade project.

Following is a sampling of everything that will be happening between today and Saturday:

Today

• Rock 'n' Roll Up Your Sleeve, 3 to 11 p.m.: A combo Red Cross blood drive and rock concert, with the red-stuff-gathering scheduled for 3 to 9 p.m. in Meeting Rooms 135-136, and the concert from 4 to 9 p.m. in Exhibit Hall B. Performing in the latter will be area rockers Asleep on the Couch, 3-AM Project, Stepdown, JTM and Mindset Evolution. The deal: blood donors get into the concert free; blood keepers have to pay $10.

Friday

• Rededication Ceremony, 4 p.m.: Speeches by Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis and Civic Center Authority Chairman Peter Couri and an anniversary plaque unveiling in the Great Hall.

• City Services Trade Show, 4 to 11 p.m.: Peoria city service fair with booths, vehicle displays, kids' area, games, free soft drinks and popcorn, giveaways, door prizes and more, all in the Great Hall.

• Civic Center Tours, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.: Free guided tours every half hour beginning at the Great Hall's guest services desk.

• Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, 8 p.m.: The Champaign native and her band play the Arena (tickets, $37.50/$48.50).

Saturday

• City Services Trade Show, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: See above.

• Civic Center Tours, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.: See above.

• Art Garfunkel, 8 p.m.: See accompanying interview.

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