Blue Ridge Community Farm 2026 Hillside Finale 🌱✨ Front Street Collective, Brainchild & Ava Easter
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FREE TO ATTEND 🌱✨
FAMILY-FRIENDLY 🌱✨
SENSORY-SENSITIVE 🌱✨
SUGGESTED SUPPLIES FOR CONCERT-GOERS:
beverages and snacks of choice
chairs and blankets for hillside seating
sunscreen, bug spray, hand sanitizer
shoes that make sense for a farm
umbrellas, hats, sunglasses (no tents, please!)
fidget toys and other comfort items
SERVICE ANIMALS ONLY
cash for ability makers and vendors
cash for concert merch and farm donations
Vendors include Blue Ridge Community Farm, Picket Fence Foundation, Picket Fence Foundation Weavers, Two Sisters & A Scrunchie, Jackie Yo Yo's Candles and Pretendly!🌱✨
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FRONT STREET COLLECTIVE // Front Street Collective is a TEN-MEMBER hip-hop and rock fusion band based in Bloomington, Illinois, known for high-energy performances and participation in local music festivals. For fans and new listeners, attending a live Front Street Collective performance offers an upbeat fusion of hip-hop and rock music, vibrant stage energy, and engagement in community-centered events. You may recognize FSC as Central Illinois festival staples regularly featured at such events as Make Music Normal and Friday Night Live Champaign. Catch them this year for the first time on the Blue Ridge Community Farm natural hillside amphitheater!
"Front Street Collective is an eclectic crew of talented musicians who can really rock the house. Lots of danceable covers and outstanding originals. They are one of our top favorite local bands." - The Rusty Pickups
FOLLOW: https://www.facebook.com/people/Front-Street-Collective/61555302507644/
EXPLORE: https://www.frontstreetcollective.com/
BRAINCHILD // Brainchild is a Peoria-based band that combines the sensation & emotions of jazz & soul with the intensity of shredding guitar solos. Their long list of original songs combined with a diverse selection of covers are the perfect blend of many styles of music. The best way to describe the sound is... "Brainchild." They are a long-established act that continues to maintain their initial directive: to melt your face. Brainchild has shared the stage with such acts as Sublime, Marshall Tucker Band, Oteil and the Peacemakers, Family Groove Co. and Groovatron, playing regularly in Iowa, Illinois and Indiana.
FOLLOW: https://www.facebook.com/brainchildjam/
EXPLORE: https://www.youtube.com/@brainchildjam/videos
AVA EASTER // Ava Easter is a 27-year-old singer-songwriter from Metamora, Illinois, whose music blends folk and indie influences with a raw edge and honest emotion. With heartfelt honesty and creative grit, Ava turns their experiences of loss and renewal into folk-infused songs that linger long after they’re heard. Ava draws strength from the community around them, blending reflection and resilience into music that carries both ache and light. Since 2015, Ava shared their mix of original work and reimagined favorites across the Peoria music scene, and since early 2024, have found a creative home within the Listening Room Mobile Open Mic community.
FOLLOW: https://www.facebook.com/AvaEaster/
EXPLORE: https://www.avaeaster-singer-songwriterfromtheheart.com/
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OUR MISSION // Blue Ridge Community Farm is a 245 acre working farm for adults and children with special needs located approximately 4 miles northwest of Chillicothe, Illinois. Currently, we offer educational field trips for special education and life skills classes. There is no charge for a school to come and visit the farm. Our field trips typically include interacting with our farm animals, music, crafts, hay rack rides (dependent upon the size of the group) and learning opportunities revolving around crops grown on the farm, animal care and general farm knowledge. We are home to ten alpacas, four donkeys, chickens, a horse and two golden retrievers. We also offer social events for adults with special needs all at no charge to those that attend. Some of our events include an annual square dance, cookouts and campfire sing-a-longs.
We do not take any government funding and intend to always be a completely self sustaining working farm. Our future programs and current events rely on private donations and fundraising efforts. Blue Ridge Community Farm is a registered 501 (c)(3) non profit organization and donations are tax deductible as allowed by law. We also always need and welcome volunteers and very much appreciate the support of our community! 🌱✨
FOLLOW: https://www.facebook.com/blueridgecommunityfarm
EXPLORE: https://www.blueridgecommunityfarm.org
21529 N Blue Ridge Rd
Chillicothe, IL 61523
Office: 309-249-2499
Email: [email protected]
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RAIN LOCATION // Welcome to Westminster Community Center where our mission is to serve our community with open mind, hands and heart. From the First Friday Art Crawl to Graceland senior programming, to The Listening Room Mobile Open Mic Community and seasonal cabaret experiences, we invite you to build community with us on Peoria's historic Moss Avenue.
Blue Ridge Community Farm is proud to partner with Westminster Community Center for the first time as our official rain/snow location for 2026! We are so grateful to the team at Westminster for this meaningful, in-kind donation.
1504 W. Moss Avenue
Peoria, IL 61606
FOLLOW & EXPLORE: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61585992842863#
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MEET YOUR HOST // Sarah Marie Dillard is a singer/songwriter, educator and entrepreneur rooted in the Greater Peoria Area music industry. Once dubbed “The Songbird of Central Illinois,” Sarah enjoys working as band leader for her SoulFolk trio Sarah & The Underground and as a private music educator for her teaching collective The Underground School of Sound. Sarah is the founder of the Peoria Music Community Womens Cooperative, the Peoria Music Community Pickin’ Circle and “The Listening Room,” Peoria’s first and only mobile open mic community. You can catch Sarah in the corner of a crowded dive, on stage in a theater of thousands, at home on your television screen or favorite radio station, or on any music or podcast streaming platform. Sarah has been featured alongside such talents as Beth Nielsen Chapman, Kim Richey, Linda Taylor (“Whose Line Is It Anyway?”), Maia Sharp, David Hoffman (Ray Charles Orchestra), The Accidentals, 2021 American Idol contestant Althea Grace, WWE on-screen personality Josiah Williams, two-time American flat-picking champion Andy Hatfield, Madisen Ward & The Mama Bear, Good Morning Bedlam, Lissie, Chicago Farmer, The Way Down Wanderers, Brainchild, Steady Flow, Still Shine and Judy Page as well as international streaming sensation Paul Adams.
FOLLOW & EXPLORE: https://linktr.ee/sarahandtheunderground
FAMILY-FRIENDLY 🌱✨
SENSORY-SENSITIVE 🌱✨
SUGGESTED SUPPLIES FOR CONCERT-GOERS:
beverages and snacks of choice
chairs and blankets for hillside seating
sunscreen, bug spray, hand sanitizer
shoes that make sense for a farm
umbrellas, hats, sunglasses (no tents, please!)
fidget toys and other comfort items
SERVICE ANIMALS ONLY
cash for ability makers and vendors
cash for concert merch and farm donations
Vendors include Blue Ridge Community Farm, Picket Fence Foundation, Picket Fence Foundation Weavers, Two Sisters & A Scrunchie, Jackie Yo Yo's Candles and Pretendly!🌱✨
.
.
.
.
.
FRONT STREET COLLECTIVE // Front Street Collective is a TEN-MEMBER hip-hop and rock fusion band based in Bloomington, Illinois, known for high-energy performances and participation in local music festivals. For fans and new listeners, attending a live Front Street Collective performance offers an upbeat fusion of hip-hop and rock music, vibrant stage energy, and engagement in community-centered events. You may recognize FSC as Central Illinois festival staples regularly featured at such events as Make Music Normal and Friday Night Live Champaign. Catch them this year for the first time on the Blue Ridge Community Farm natural hillside amphitheater!
"Front Street Collective is an eclectic crew of talented musicians who can really rock the house. Lots of danceable covers and outstanding originals. They are one of our top favorite local bands." - The Rusty Pickups
FOLLOW: https://www.facebook.com/people/Front-Street-Collective/61555302507644/
EXPLORE: https://www.frontstreetcollective.com/
BRAINCHILD // Brainchild is a Peoria-based band that combines the sensation & emotions of jazz & soul with the intensity of shredding guitar solos. Their long list of original songs combined with a diverse selection of covers are the perfect blend of many styles of music. The best way to describe the sound is... "Brainchild." They are a long-established act that continues to maintain their initial directive: to melt your face. Brainchild has shared the stage with such acts as Sublime, Marshall Tucker Band, Oteil and the Peacemakers, Family Groove Co. and Groovatron, playing regularly in Iowa, Illinois and Indiana.
FOLLOW: https://www.facebook.com/brainchildjam/
EXPLORE: https://www.youtube.com/@brainchildjam/videos
AVA EASTER // Ava Easter is a 27-year-old singer-songwriter from Metamora, Illinois, whose music blends folk and indie influences with a raw edge and honest emotion. With heartfelt honesty and creative grit, Ava turns their experiences of loss and renewal into folk-infused songs that linger long after they’re heard. Ava draws strength from the community around them, blending reflection and resilience into music that carries both ache and light. Since 2015, Ava shared their mix of original work and reimagined favorites across the Peoria music scene, and since early 2024, have found a creative home within the Listening Room Mobile Open Mic community.
FOLLOW: https://www.facebook.com/AvaEaster/
EXPLORE: https://www.avaeaster-singer-songwriterfromtheheart.com/
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.
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.
.
OUR MISSION // Blue Ridge Community Farm is a 245 acre working farm for adults and children with special needs located approximately 4 miles northwest of Chillicothe, Illinois. Currently, we offer educational field trips for special education and life skills classes. There is no charge for a school to come and visit the farm. Our field trips typically include interacting with our farm animals, music, crafts, hay rack rides (dependent upon the size of the group) and learning opportunities revolving around crops grown on the farm, animal care and general farm knowledge. We are home to ten alpacas, four donkeys, chickens, a horse and two golden retrievers. We also offer social events for adults with special needs all at no charge to those that attend. Some of our events include an annual square dance, cookouts and campfire sing-a-longs.
We do not take any government funding and intend to always be a completely self sustaining working farm. Our future programs and current events rely on private donations and fundraising efforts. Blue Ridge Community Farm is a registered 501 (c)(3) non profit organization and donations are tax deductible as allowed by law. We also always need and welcome volunteers and very much appreciate the support of our community! 🌱✨
FOLLOW: https://www.facebook.com/blueridgecommunityfarm
EXPLORE: https://www.blueridgecommunityfarm.org
21529 N Blue Ridge Rd
Chillicothe, IL 61523
Office: 309-249-2499
Email: [email protected]
.
.
.
.
.
RAIN LOCATION // Welcome to Westminster Community Center where our mission is to serve our community with open mind, hands and heart. From the First Friday Art Crawl to Graceland senior programming, to The Listening Room Mobile Open Mic Community and seasonal cabaret experiences, we invite you to build community with us on Peoria's historic Moss Avenue.
Blue Ridge Community Farm is proud to partner with Westminster Community Center for the first time as our official rain/snow location for 2026! We are so grateful to the team at Westminster for this meaningful, in-kind donation.
1504 W. Moss Avenue
Peoria, IL 61606
FOLLOW & EXPLORE: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61585992842863#
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.
.
.
.
MEET YOUR HOST // Sarah Marie Dillard is a singer/songwriter, educator and entrepreneur rooted in the Greater Peoria Area music industry. Once dubbed “The Songbird of Central Illinois,” Sarah enjoys working as band leader for her SoulFolk trio Sarah & The Underground and as a private music educator for her teaching collective The Underground School of Sound. Sarah is the founder of the Peoria Music Community Womens Cooperative, the Peoria Music Community Pickin’ Circle and “The Listening Room,” Peoria’s first and only mobile open mic community. You can catch Sarah in the corner of a crowded dive, on stage in a theater of thousands, at home on your television screen or favorite radio station, or on any music or podcast streaming platform. Sarah has been featured alongside such talents as Beth Nielsen Chapman, Kim Richey, Linda Taylor (“Whose Line Is It Anyway?”), Maia Sharp, David Hoffman (Ray Charles Orchestra), The Accidentals, 2021 American Idol contestant Althea Grace, WWE on-screen personality Josiah Williams, two-time American flat-picking champion Andy Hatfield, Madisen Ward & The Mama Bear, Good Morning Bedlam, Lissie, Chicago Farmer, The Way Down Wanderers, Brainchild, Steady Flow, Still Shine and Judy Page as well as international streaming sensation Paul Adams.
FOLLOW & EXPLORE: https://linktr.ee/sarahandtheunderground
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Where is it happening?
21529 N Blue Ridge Rd, Chillicothe, IL, United States
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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Host or PublisherBlue Ridge Community Farm
