ExplorePeoria.com Contest Winners
2024
2024 Peoria Oktoberfest: Daryl Claudin, Bob Harrmann, Diana Kuykendall & Matt Raher
2024 Peoria Irish Fest: Nancy Howard, Leigha Adelsberger, Krista Nicely & Mark Davidson
2024 India Fest: Catherine Thompson, Lori Caulkins, Susan Drissi, Brittany Roberts & Samantha Howard
2024 Soul Fest: Kathie Belt & Robert Stanley
2024 Fiesta en el Rio: Nicole McGill, Whitney Lefler, Jennifer Mendez & Jamie Mauerman
2024 HOI Fair: Kayla Wilson and Gregg Friend
2024 Illinois Shakespeare Festival: Anna Oxborrow, Nathan Gaik, Travis Olson, Bernie Frank, Stacy Kidd, John Beck & Jonathan Armstrong
4th of July BBQ at East Port Banquet Center: Margie Henderson
2024 Carden Circus: Kathy Ross & Tina Fouche
2024 Mother’s Day Brunch: Erin Whitley
Dueling Pianos at the Waterhouse (May): Sarah Olson, Greg Kendall, Fred Martiens, Jessica Rocke, Steven Warfield &Hayley Adolphson
Easter Brunch at Barrack’s Cater Inn: Tim Twardowski
Dueling Pianos at the Waterhouse (March): Barb Kellington, Meghan Sneed, Aimee Oliver, Lisa Fate, & Joshua Hopkins
Nitsch Theatre Arts Godspell: Tina Knight, Nancy Aldridge & Catharine Schaidle
Valentine’s Day Contest: Erin Whitley
Peoria Rivermen Contest: Jennifer Fleming, Cassie Evans, Nick Lentz, Jennifer Bailey, Jeff Willis, Ariel Wade, Penny Stone, Christy Naylor & Elizabeth Harthan
2023
Holiday Feast Contest: Richard Fisler & Melanie Blessin
Jurassic Quest: Allison Carlson, Jessica Rocke, Valerie Shields, J.D. Hasler, Madelin Jennings
2023 Haunted House Contest: Jasmine Gleason, Shanna Taylor, Chantel Woods, Madelyn Wilson, Brittany Gentry, Sarah Hankins, Erin McCarty, Rondaia Moore, Jennifer McKenzie, Meranda Bassham, Julieta Maciel, Greg Kendall, Hillary Lee, Natalie Mencis, Shakira Benson, Sara McRoy, Jorge Ocampo, Andre White, Kayla Moran, Samantha Smith, Michael Coleman, Nyesha Polk, Cora Shults, Shadawnteau Doublin, Richard Cotton, Cody Hankins
Baby Shark Live Big Broadway Tour: (Win Before You Can Buy Contest): Molly Thomas
Royalty at the Castle: Donald Morrison
2023 Peoria Art Guild Fine Art Fair: Lori Tipton, Allison Hanson, Sarah Bunch, Kelly Driscoll, Tobi Allsup, Summer Pappan, Debra Frericks, Teresa Leach, Gabrielle Kolditz & Oksana Greer
2023 Peoria Oktoberfest: Dane McClintick, Timothy Irons, Dawn Dravo, Pat Schwarzentraub, John Dickerson, Tammy Welcome, Greg Kendall, Robyn Wiedman, Evan McDaniel & Kathryn Tranel
2023 Irish Fest: Kevin Collins, James Choma, Lynne Bruesch, Joe Franklin, Matt Nitsch, Dennis Anderson, Lori Palmer & Rita Mehrkens
2023 River City Soul Fest: Debracca Hangen, Hernan Herrera, Carleathara Mays & Brian Ludwig
2023 Fiesta en el Rio: Joshua Hopkins, Patti Mykrantz, Lauren Opper, Dana Marie, Barry Wolff, JaLyssa Brown, Michael Farmer & Tricia Middleton
Heart of Illinois Fair: Marsha Roberts & John Arrowood
4th of July Riverfront Museum Backyard BBQ: Lisa Disney & Victoria Barnett
Illinois Shakespeare Festival: Trish Ballard, Kristen Shaner, David Russell, Spring Hyde, Nathan Gaik, Rachael McDonald, Lori Helms, Brittany Anderson, Zulma Escobar, Alexandra Lewandowski, Swarupa Garapati
Carden Circus: Cami Weyeneth, Alfredo Garcia, Stefanie Curtis & Carrie Hayes
Mother’s Day Contest: Angela Stephens
Easter Brunch Contest: Shalonda Freeman
Peoria Theatre Contest: Shena Friend, Jean Rutschke, Jackie Staab & Nicole Rodgers
Valentine’s Day Contest: Erin Whitley
Peoria Rivermen: Angela Friend, Whitney Lefler
2022
Holiday Contest: Rachel Burnett
Peoria Rivermen: Thomas Baker & Alberta Trilikis
Owens Center: Debbie Zielke-Arends, Brittany Boyer, Lisa Fate & Christina Legaz
Jurassic Quest: Edward Dennis, Cassandra Blankenship, Laura Erwin, Tammie Jamgochian, Karter Smith, John Boltz & Phyllis Edwards
Vienna Light Orchestra: Linda Cooper
Halloween Contest: Jasmine Gleason, Barbara Whitlow, Sarah Lehman, Amy Tesson, Margaret Klinebough, Kerri Berry, Tania Alessandra Eyre, Kelly Williams, Brandon Crosier, Vicki Montgomery, Elizabeth Stice, Amanda Neltner, AlyssaHathaway, Dwayne Benson, Ava Salvati, Jessica Stace, Erin McCarty, Kenneth Kampmann, Rachel Gritzmacher, Megan Smith, Shanna Taylor, Sondra Yates, Chelsea Dozard, Rondaia Moore & Tracy Hoover
Peoria Oktoberfest: Robin Willis, Kellie Roecker, Michelle Bashusen, Melissa Tackman, Richard Fisler, Mindy Shirley, Angie Yeater, Andy Brody & Brenda Strickler
Peoria Park District Fun Prize Package Contest: Kristina Leeper, Becky Hutton, Bianca Schmutz & Bree Williams
River City Soul Fest – Kari Childers, Tameka Flores, Tammy Marquardt, Angela Dixon, Brandon Hightower
Heartache Tonight & Fiesta En El Rio: Cheryl Owen & Michael Robinson
Way Down Wanderers Concert on the Peoria Riverfront: Ann Bunnell & Laura Sherman
Staycation Contest: Tabitha Wittrock, Katie Wolf, Laura May, Kimberly Hermann, Dawn Kelley, Sally Saul, Donnie Grant Melinda Ledbetter, Hilary McEvoy, Janet Manzi, Megan Koontz, Amy Quotskyva, Bob Gross, Kelly Hobson, Emily Hayes, Erin McCarty, Randall Blair, Melissa Olsen, Christine Gaspardo, Jennifer Scharp, Julie Parks, Jaylee Hall, Judy Feazle, Elizabeth Stice, Tera Kincaid, Christine Grebe
2022 Illinois Shakespeare Festival (Much Ado About Nothing/King Lear): Autumn Fulk, Jsessica Donahoo, Jamie Blanchard, Dawn Krohn
Peoria Riverfront Concerts (July): Sandi Beck, Emmalee Lewis, Christine Reynolds, Stephanie Dare, Todd Ingles
4th of July at Eastport Banquet Center: Amy Capie
2022 Carden Circus: Jo Gutierrez, Fred Martiens, Shelette Nelms & Terry Heid
2022 Illinois Shakespeare Festival (Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged): Carol Endres, James Wilhelm, Amanda Doyle & Kelleen Nitsch
Broadway Lounge Contest: Don Baker, Linda Phillips, Michael Larson, Lauren Brown, Suzanne Cook & Krista Nicely.
Mother’s Day Brunch: Shawn Livengood & Sheila Scheck
Brian Regan Show: Mary Selburg, Vince Iadipaolo, Mike Peterson & Lorraine Caulkins
Easter Brunch: Nancy Davis & Mary Ann Galik
Irish Contest: Dorothy Musick, Michael Cotton, Katie Wallace & Nicholas Grant
Valentine’s Day Date Contest: (1st Place) Jerrica Glispie (2nd Place) Kristina Tull
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks: Molly Halberg & Mike Kocher
The Long & Winding Road (Beatles Tribute) Concert at the Scottish Rite Theatre: Patty Kweram
Peoria Rivermen: Regina Streitmatter, Heather Soviar, Anne Lawson, Avis Janes, Robin Lukehart, Kelley Frederickson, Daniel Nagel, Katie Grohsmeyer, Dick Simpson & Melanie Ellison
Harlem Globetrotters: Kristen Thomas & Jessica Woods
2021
Owens Center Passes: Cheryl Schertz, Melissa Stevenson, Tina Hunsley, Jane Baize, Jessica Keith, Richard George & Leigh Talyor Jose
Way Back Wanderers at the Scottish Rite Theatre: Jennifer Gallas
Christmas at the Movies at the Scottish Rite Theatre: Michelle Einhorn
Peoria Ballet’s Nutcracker: Andrea George
A Christmas Carol at the Scottish Rite Theatre: Amy Nofsinger, John Christenberry, Vickie Hall & Susan Drissi
Halloween Events Contest: Mark Freeman, Meredith Baldwin, Brandon Hightower, Josh Shamrock, Patricia Beach, Stephen Lawson, Steven Johnson, Kindra Matheny, Katie Honaker & Samantha Smith
Howlin’ on Water Dueling Pianos at the Broadway Lounge: Jaelithe McLintock, Gina Hirstein, & Alice Gold-Pearce
Peoria Art Guild Fine Art Fair: Krista Nicely, Kirsten Hanson, Dina Diefenbach & Lisa Clarke-Koehrsen
Broadway Lounge GIT Comedy Show: Tina Hunsley
Peoria Octoberfest: Timothy Irons, Michael Hanson, Nicole Kirley, Angie Menold, Randy Kaebitzsch & Dave Orzel
Spirit of Peoria: Melissa Hamilton, Christine Reed, Ramona Halverson & Joy Hossler
Cirque Italia: Kitty Kelley, Jada Culberson & Allison Hanson
Peoria Irish Fest: Rhonda Crank, Salina Hazelwood & Greg Kendall
Illinois Shakespeare Festival: Tim Lynch, Christa Roland, Cheryl Rich, Kathy McCormick, Kelly Driscoll, Trish Ballard, David Russell, Alexandra Lewandowski, Angela Horan, Greg Fletcher, Jack Corzine & Stephen MacLeod
2020
Irish Murder Mystery Dinner: Jennifer Olson & Cheryl Rich
St. Patrick’s Day Dueling Pianos: David Eggert, Sherry Lindee & Richard Schulze
2020 End of Winter PPD Fun Prize Package: Lori Havenga
2020 Monster Jam: Bethany Ferguson, Stacy Mowers, Christina Mounce, Shaun Bacon & Kim Hostetter
2020 Valentine’s Day Date: Rachel Burnett
Sesame Street Live: Kelly Alwood
Lunch with Captain America at the Central Illinois Auto Show: Carol Stadel
2019
A New Orleans New Year’s Eve: Jeanette Errion
End of Year Peoria Park District Contest: Kelly Godar, Karen Agnoletti, Kim MacDonald, Angie Schwader, John Beck & Tim Lynch
2019 Holiday Contest with Pottstown Meat & Deli: Kayla McKagan & Jana Winkler
Christmas Cabaret at the Betty Jayne: Diana Klein
Marshall Crenshaw Concert at the Betty Jayne: Janie Allen
Peoria Ballet’s Nutcracker: Jason Henderson
Best of the Barn Christmas Show at Barn III Dinner Theatre: Willard Kruse
Fall Vacation Contest: Donald Calvert, Scott Moore, Kierr Williams, David McBride, Sarah Whitley, Nicky Halvorson, Brandon Deatherage, Sabra Benedict, Erica Etcheson, Matt Sheehan
Halloween Murder Mystery: Sue Phelps, Sandra Ingles & Amy Mann
Steve Trevino (Comedian): Jessica Rocke & Charley Connell
2019 Wildlife Scary Park: Scott Nicely, Amy Kershner, Debra Curry, Melanie Steinseifer, Marie Hidden, Tim Fortune & Kristy Stephens
2019 Spook Hollow: Jenni Wickert, Kim Szczerba, Tina Chapin, Ryan Davis, Gina Hirstein, Alexis Hammond, Barbara Renton, Annette Cheney, Carly Turner, Jasmine Gleason, Ann Oesterle, Derek Aire & Taylor Adams
2019 Spider Hill: Angie Campbell, John Cox & Kathryn Fife
Spirit of Peoria Cruises: Sally Sumner, Donita Boland, Pat Fatigato, Scott Archer, Sharon Nevitt, Kaitlyn MacDonald, Wesley Wilkinson, Christine Schneider, Krista Miller, Jane Kleveland, Alexandra Lewandowski, John Horn, Philip Long, Donna Phillips & Marina Gemidopoulos
Beat MSA Blues Concert: Kelly Williams
Funny Money @ Barn III: Bill Griffis
2019 Disney on Ice: Worlds of Enchantment: Sabra Benedict & Sue Calvillo
2019 Peoria Art Guild Fine Art Fair: Keena Neeley & Richard Bradley
2019 Peoria Oktoberfest: Reinhold Kaebit
2019 PBR Velocity Tour: Jo Ellen Wise
2019 Illinois Blues & Heritage Music Festival: Kathryn Parrott & Brenda Antonacci
2019 Peoria Irish Fest: Lisa Willis
2019 PPD Fun Prize Package: Lori Tipton & Tracy Dotson Miller
2019 Staycation: Jessica McBride
GI Jukebox at the Barn III Dinner Theatre: Peter Vermeil
2019 4th of July Backyard BBQ at the RIverfront Museum: Raymond Dixon
2019 Olde English Faire: George Ioerger, Cathy Konrad, Kathryn Flanigan & Whitney Nelson
2019 Father’s Day Gift Package Contest: Michelle Logan
2019 Get Ready for Summer Contest: Michelle Logan
Win Tickets Before You Can Buy Them: 2019 Carden Circus: Destiny Benedict
2019 International Music, Wine & Craft Beer Festival: Jackie Walker
2019 Mother’s Day Prize Package: Amy Utech & Leslie Schellenberg
2019 Cirque du Soleil Crystal: Angela Lamprecht & Kevin Graf
2019 Spring Concert for Peoria Area Civic Chorale: Nichole Zeller
2019 Easter Brunch at Barrack’s Cater Inn: Sarah Whitley & Kathleen Dudley
2019 Pekin Kids Fest: Lacey Rewerts & Patty Flint
Alice in Wonderland & Paquita by the Peoria Ballet: Lorrann Huddleston
Lunch with Black Panther at the 2019 Central Illinois Auto Show: Michelle Havens
Cherish the Ladies (HFO) & Kelleher’s Gift Card: Amber Morgan
Twisted Irish Knot Murder Mystery Dinner: Amanda Harley & Jan Emprey
Frolic with the Fairies: Angela Zumbek
2019 Valentine’s Day Date Package Contest: Ebony Pickett & Stephen Waremburg
Death by Golf at Barn III: Connie Davis
2019 Rivermen: Leslie Smith, Amber Wilson, Kelly Goodman & Sherry Rich
Vacation Contest: Amy Wand, Keayja Williams, Kristin Sherwood, Susan Calvillo, Courtney York, Taylor Hasty, Katylen Calloster, Andrea Dutton, Tanya Herberger, Kim Miller, Terra Boyer, Amanda Richardson, Krista Naab, Erin Whitley, Crystal Scribner, David Tankersley, Brittany Clasen, Betsy Koch, Kelsey Vititowsmith & Samantha Hill
Disney on Ice: Frozen: Alicia Calvillo, Kelsey Vititowsmith, Amy Sumner, Kaytlen Callister, Jade Higdon & Lauren Hussemann