Frank Fritz To Appear At 2015 Marigold Festival

Frank Fritz, star of the HISTORY Channel hit show American Pickers, will be the celebrity guest at the 2015 Pekin Marigold Festival. The theme for this year’s festival is Pickin’ the Perfect Weekend.  

Fritz will ride in the Marigold Festival Parade sponsored by Busey Bank on Saturday, September 12th. He will also be available for pictures and autographs at the Enviro-Safe Refrigerants Celebrity Tent on Saturday and Sunday.   

Fritz started picking early; collecting rocks and beer cans as a kid. As his collection of “staples” grew, so did his knowledge of antiques.

For many years, he worked as a fire and safety inspector, leaving his passion for antiques, junk and anything with an engine as a hobby. Soon enough, he discovered that his keen eye and attention to detail led to finding more than just junk – he was finding treasure amongst trash – a revelation that allowed him to turn a hobby into a career.

He now spends most of his time on the road with his partner Mike Wolfe, digging for treasure in barns, garages and junkyards across America on the HISTORY Channel’s hit show, American Pickers.

Even-tempered and affable, he has a way with potential sellers and a knack for putting out fires: Wolfe calls him the bearded charmer.

With their complementary personalities and shared love of picking, Frank and Mike make the perfect team.

The Pekin Marigold Festival was first held in 1973 as an event to honor Pekin native and U.S. Senator Everett Dirksen and his love of the marigold. It has grown into a community celebration spanning several days and locations. 

The festival is planned and coordinated by a Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce committee of 18 volunteers. The dates of the 2015 Marigold Festival are September 10-13. It is held annually the weekend after Labor Day.

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