PEORIA, Illinois, November 14, 2026 — Country music star Jon Pardi walked onto the stage at the Peoria Civic Center on Friday night, November 13, not to perform but to tell hundreds of waiting fans that his concert had been canceled as police responded to a reported bomb threat that triggered evacuations across parts of Peoria and East Peoria.
The singer was preparing for a 7 p.m. CST performance on his Gamblin’ Man Tour, with Alexandra Kay and Sadie Bass scheduled as supporting acts, when an emergency involving the BioUrja Renewables industrial facility forced a sudden change of plans.
“The show is not gonna happen tonight,” Pardi told the audience, according to footage shared on TikTok. He thanked concertgoers for coming and explained that everyone needed to leave the building.
“This is not what I wanna do, but I want y’all safe,” he said, before urging fans to go home safely. The announcement drew audible reactions from the crowd, which had gathered expecting a night of country music.
Outside the venue, police were investigating a reported bomb threat at BioUrja Renewables, formerly the ADM plant, at 1 Edmund Street near the Illinois River. Authorities instructed people living or working within a one-mile radius of the facility to evacuate immediately while emergency personnel searched the premises.
The evacuation extended into neighboring East Peoria, with officers closing streets and directing traffic away from the affected area. Illinois State Police also closed several Interstate 74 ramps leading into Peoria while assisting local authorities.
In a statement, the Peoria Police Department said the evacuation was ordered as a precaution while investigators examined the reported threat. Officers were searching the facility and asking residents and businesses to cooperate with emergency personnel.
East Peoria Mayor John Kahl described the situation as a credible threat and said city officials were treating it seriously. Peoria Mayor Rita Ali also urged everyone inside the designated evacuation area to leave.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said he had directed Illinois State Police to coordinate with local authorities and urged people to follow instructions from law enforcement.
The disruption spread beyond the Civic Center. The Peoria Chiefs canceled the opening night of their Holiday Lights at the Ballpark event at Dozer Park, announcing that Friday’s tickets would be valid for another date.
Caterpillar instructed employees not to report for their Friday night third shift because of the emergency. OSF HealthCare St. Francis Medical Center said it was taking precautions to protect patients, visitors and staff while remaining in contact with authorities.
Emergency shelters were designated at Manual Academy in Peoria and EastSide Centre in East Peoria for residents displaced by the evacuation.
Following the concert cancellation, Pardi addressed fans again on Instagram, expressing disappointment that he could not perform and explaining that the decision had been made at the direction of the chief of police.
“Peoria, we’re disappointed that we won’t get to spend tonight with you, but the safety of our fans, our team and the community is always the priority,” he wrote.
The Peoria Civic Center described the performance as postponed and said ticket holders would receive further information through email and its social media accounts. Pardi separately advised fans that refunds would be issued through their original point of purchase.
No replacement date was announced in the venue’s initial statement.
The canceled appearance came near the end of Pardi’s 2026 Gamblin’ Man Tour, which was scheduled to conclude Saturday, November 14, at Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence, Missouri.
The incident also comes during a busy period for major live music announcements, with festival organizers preparing for next year’s concert season. Swikblog recently reported on the Coachella 2027 lineup featuring Dua Lipa, SZA, Tame Impala and Madonna.
The investigation into the reported Peoria threat continued through the initial overnight updates. Authorities had not established in the official statements reviewed whether an explosive device had been recovered.
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