Gay Guide to Peoria
Peoria, a river city in central Illinois, has a small gay scene with a couple of reliable venues. Club Diesel is gay-owned and downtown Peoria's longest-running nightclub, the main spot to dance, with an outdoor patio bar, while Sparky's Ringside Bar & Grille on the west side covers a more laid-back pub crowd. The community group Peoria Proud runs the River City Pride Festival at Riverfront Park, a day-long, family-friendly event with drag shows and dozens of vendors. The scene is modest but welcoming, serving the greater Peoria area along the Illinois River.