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Content Creator Bowl · Postponed

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Peoria Fashion Week Academy

PEORIA FASHION WEEK

PFW 2026 — Thank You Peoria

Fashion Week is a wrap — now the real work begins. Train. Create. Get discovered.

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Community Showcase · Saturday, July 18

Pride Fest Fashion Show

Peoria Riverfront · River City Pride

Bold. Inclusive. Fashion-Forward.

Celebrating community and identity on the runway.

Peoria Fashion Week Academy will be showcasing at the River City Pride Fest fashion show on the Peoria Riverfront — an inclusive, bold, fashion-forward celebration of community and identity. Join us to see the runway come to life.

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Saturday, July 18 · 2:00–3:00 PM

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Peoria Riverfront · River City Pride Festival

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Peoria Fashion Week Academy Showcase

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Free & Open to the Public

LGBTQIA+

Runway Showcase

Community

All Ages

Ticketed Event · Saturday, July 25

Summer Runway Mixer

Haus of Runway · Peoria Fashion Week

Fashion, Music & Horsepower

A summer runway mixer under the lights at Ford of Peoria.

Peoria Fashion Week's Haus of Runway takes over Ford of Peoria for an evening of fashion, music, and networking. Grab your tickets and mix with the designers, models, and creatives shaping the next chapter of Peoria style.

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Saturday, July 25 · 7:00–10:00 PM

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Ford of Peoria · 2211 W Pioneer Pkwy, Peoria, IL 61615

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Tickets on sale now

Buy Tickets

Runway

Live Music

Networking

Summer

2026 Season Recap

Thank You, Peoria

Peoria Fashion Week 2026 — one for the books.

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Honored Guest Host

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J. Alexander Martin

Co-Founder of FUBU

A huge thank-you to J. Alexander Martin for coming out as our guest celebrity host. Having a founding voice of FUBU on the Peoria runway was a defining moment for our community — thank you for the time, the wisdom, and the love.

And a heartfelt thank-you to our Sponsors, Designers, Vendors, Patrons, and Models for making this year one for the books. Your craft, generosity, and energy are what built Peoria Fashion Week 2026 — and what carries us into everything next.

Video by SOLO VISION

Programming Update

Content Creator Bowl

Postponed — Relaunching August 2026

The Content Creator Bowl has been postponed. Signup is closed for now and will reopen when the competition relaunches in August 2026. Follow @contentcreatorbowl for the relaunch date.

Support the Academy · Grant Match Campaign

Give $3. Build the Academy.

Help us raise $400,000 to unlock grant funding for creative education, workforce development, and entrepreneurship.

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$3 / month pledge

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Pledge · Tag 3 · Share

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$400,000 grant match goal

Teach the art · Build the skill · Open the door.

Pledge $3 / Month

Sponsor the Campaign

Now Enrolling

Academy Classes

Hands-on training in sewing, modeling, photography, and production — taught by industry professionals.

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Model Code

Adults · Mondays · Starts May 18

Tue & Thu · Starts May 12

For Creatives

Join the PFWA Talent Marketplace

Models, photographers, designers, DJs, stylists, and production teams — build your profile, get discovered, and get booked.

Models

Photographers

Designers

MUA & Hair

DJs

Videographers

Production

Create Free Profile

Browse Talent

What's Next

New Initiatives

Building the future of Midwest fashion — one program at a time.

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Scholarship Fund

Financial assistance so every aspiring creative can access professional training regardless of background.

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Mentorship Program

One-on-one guidance from industry professionals — models, designers, photographers, and producers.

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Community Workshops

Free pop-up workshops throughout the year covering sewing, styling, branding, and portfolio building.

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Youth Development

Introducing young creatives ages 13–18 to fashion careers through hands-on academy programs.

"Where Midwest Meets High Fashion"

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Community & Career Tools

Mentorship, scholarships, opportunities & resources

About PFWA

A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit

Peoria Fashion Week Academy is dedicated to fashion education, mentorship, and creative expression in the Midwest. Every class, every event, every program fuels the next generation of creative talent.

Learn More

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Free · Pro · Elite

Join the PFWA Talent Marketplace

Build your profile. Get booked. Grow your career. Starting free — upgrade to Pro for $9.99/mo.

Membership funds scholarships so more talent can train and access opportunities.

View Membership Plans

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PEORIA Fashion Week

April 2-4, 2026 Four Points by Sheraton 501(c)(3) Nonprofit

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Explore

Academy

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Community

Organization

Our Mission

Programs

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Partner With Us

Financials

Contact

(309) 214-4661 thepeoriafashionweek@gmail.com

501(c)(3) Nonprofit

Peoria Fashion Week

The Landing Page

Community events, press coverage, and everything happening around Peoria Fashion Week

Free Community Board

Community Calendar

Local businesses and organizations can showcase their events here for free. Submit your event with a flyer and link to reach the entire PFW community.

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Submit Your Event

Peoria Fashion Week

Peoria Park District

Discover Peoria

Community

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July 2026

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Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Events on July 7, 2026

Tap any highlighted date to see what's happening that day.

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Art

Illinois Shakespeare Festival 2026

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June 25 – August 2, 2026

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Music

Levitt AMP Springfield Music Series

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May 28 – July 30, 2026

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Food & Drink

East Peoria Farmers' Market

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June 5 – August 28, 2026

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Community

Downtown Bloomington Farmers' Market

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May 16 – October 31, 2026

The Full Calendar

All Upcoming Events

Every event on the calendar — tap any tile for full details, tickets, and registration.

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Community

Downtown Bloomington Farmers' Market

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May 16 – October 31, 2026

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Music

Levitt AMP Springfield Music Series

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May 28 – July 30, 2026

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Food & Drink

East Peoria Farmers' Market

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June 5 – August 28, 2026

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Art

Illinois Shakespeare Festival 2026

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June 25 – August 2, 2026

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Education

Planet Passport at Peoria Riverfront Museum

Dexter O'Neal & the Funkyard with Erech Bruce

Heart of Illinois Fair

Maddox Batson in Concert

Pride Fest Fashion Show

River City Pride Festival

WGLO Welcomes Terry Luttrell's REO Classics Band

R&B Night: Jon B, Jacquees & Intro

Decade of Decadence — 80s Hair Night with Neon Nova

"Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street. Fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening."

— Coco Chanel

As Seen In

Press & Media Coverage

Peoria Fashion Week has been featured across NPR, local TV stations, national syndication, magazines, and more.

NPR / WCBU

25 News

CIProud

Yahoo News

Peoria Magazine

ArtsPartners

U of I Extension

City of Peoria

All

Radio

Podcasts

Articles

Magazine

Grants

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Radio / NPR

April 7, 2023

The first-ever Peoria Fashion Week stokes a growing passion for fashion

WCBU 89.9 FM (NPR)

In-depth feature on the inaugural Peoria Fashion Week — a three-day event at Exposition Gardens. Profiles founder Ezra Murry.

Chanel Hargrave-Murray talks about the upcoming Peoria Fashion Week

WCBU — Out and About Podcast

Interview with co-founder and Executive Director Chanel Hargrave-Murray on the inspiration behind the event and its growth.

From high fashion to street fashion, Peoria Fashion Week is back

WCBU — Out and About Podcast

Discussion of Peoria Fashion Week's evolution from high fashion to street fashion themes.

Talk of the Town: Peoria Fashion Week Model Casting

25 News Now (WEEK-TV)

"Talk of the Town" segment covering model casting calls for Peoria Fashion Week.

Peoria Fashion Week: Casting Call

25 News Now (WEEK-TV)

Coverage of the casting call for aspiring models ahead of 2024 Peoria Fashion Week.

2024 Peoria Fashion Week — Glitz and Glam Emporium

25 News Now (WEEK-TV)

Feature on Glitz and Glam Emporium boutique in connection with Peoria Fashion Week 2024.

2024 Peoria Fashion Week — Carmelita Jackson

25 News Now (WEEK-TV)

Profile of designer Carmelita Jackson and her participation in Peoria Fashion Week 2024.

Filipino-American Designer wins PFW Designer of the Year

25 News Now (WEEK-TV)

Feature celebrating a Filipino-American designer who won PFW "Designer of the Year" during AANHPI Month.

Peoria's Fashion Week audition models unleash their inner fashionista

25 News Now (WEEK-TV)

Coverage of auditions where approximately 200 models (youth through adults) tried out for the upcoming spring event.

What's Happening: Peoria Fashion Week and More

25 News Now (WEEK-TV)

"What's Happening" community events segment featuring Peoria Fashion Week 2025.

Peoria Fashion Week — Good Day Central Illinois

CIProud / WMBD-TV

Live morning show appearance on "Good Day Central Illinois" promoting Peoria Fashion Week.

Peoria Fashion Week 2024 — Good Day Central Illinois

CIProud / WMBD-TV

Good Day Central Illinois feature on Peoria Fashion Week 2024.

Designers vie for title in Peoria Fashion Week's Fashion Face Off

CIProud / WMBD-TV

Coverage of the Fashion Face-Off designer competition at Four Points by Sheraton during PFW 2025.

Casting call for aspiring models in Central Illinois

Yahoo News

Coverage of Peoria Fashion Week casting calls. Profiles CEO Ezra Murry and HAUS of Runway.

Designers vie for title in Peoria Fashion Week's Fashion Face Off

Yahoo News

Fashion Face-Off story syndicated nationally via Yahoo News.

4-H Stitch and Style Academy threads a new path

University of Illinois Extension

Feature on the Stitch and Style Academy — a partnership between Peoria County 4-H and PFWA.

Feature on Peoria's fashion scene including boutique owners discussing trends and the growing fashion ecosystem.

2025 Arts Dollars Grant — HAUS of Runway

ArtsPartners of Central Illinois

PFWA Academy's HAUS of Runway program awarded $3,500 for fashion and performance workshops.

Tourism Reserve Fund — $7,500 Approved

City of Peoria

City of Peoria Tourism Reserve Fund approved $7,500 in tourism funding for Peoria Fashion Week.

CityLink Employee Takes New York Fashion Week

CityLink / Greater Peoria Mass Transit

Profile of Carmen, a CityLink employee and designer connected to the Peoria Fashion Week community who showcased at NYFW.

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Follow Peoria Fashion Week

Have an event to share?

The community calendar is free for all local businesses and organizations in the Peoria area. Submit your event and reach thousands of fashion and culture enthusiasts.

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Submit Your Event

PEORIA Fashion Week

April 2-4, 2026 Four Points by Sheraton 501(c)(3) Nonprofit

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



Explore

Academy

Marketplace

Tickets

Community

Organization

Our Mission

Programs

Leadership

Partner With Us

Financials

Contact

(309) 214-4661 thepeoriafashionweek@gmail.com

501(c)(3) Nonprofit