Boats & Glows

The second annual Boats & Glows event is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, bringing a nighttime glow-party format to the water at Paradice Beach in East Peoria, Illinois.

The event is planned for 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at Paradice Beach, located near 1000 Bass Pro Drive along the East Peoria riverfront. Organizers are billing the night as an on-water glow party built around boats, music, dancing and a large black-light display over the water.

According to the event listing, Boats & Glows will feature 10,000 watts of black lights, creating a glow-party atmosphere for boaters gathering at Paradice Beach after dark. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own boat or ride with friends, with the event structured as a boat-in gathering rather than a shoreline party.

The event is limited to adults 18 and older. Organizers are also asking attendees to bring their own drinks responsibly and to avoid glass bottles on the water. The listed rules emphasize a drama-free atmosphere, with attendees asked to respect the event, the music and other boaters around them.

A key rule for the event is that access is by boat only. Organizers state that there is no shoreline access and warn that the land behind Bass Pro Shops is private property. Anyone entering from shore could be considered trespassing and may risk citation or arrest.

For Peoria-area boaters, Boats & Glows adds a different kind of late-summer river event to the calendar. Instead of a poker run or daytime raft-up, the focus is on a nighttime scene: anchored boats, music, black lights and a glow-party setting on the water.

Boaters planning to attend should confirm final event details before heading out, arrive by boat, avoid glass, and be prepared for a nighttime gathering where lighting, visibility and safe operation will matter as much as the party itself.