Pekin Marigold Festival

The Marigold Festival Committee is already gearing up for the 2011 Marigold Festival!  Here is a schedule of meeting dates and times for the upcoming year.   You will also find a list of 2011 Chairs and Co-Chairs of the Committee Assignments.  Thank you in advance for all of the hard work and dedication you put towards making The Marigold Festival a huge success for our community. All meetings will be held at the Holiday Inn Express unless otherwise noted. December, 2010 ~ No meeting January 19, 2011 ~ 5:30 pm (working meeting) February 16, 2011 ~ 6:30 pm March 16, 2011 ~ 6:30 pm April 20, 2011 ~ 6:30 pm May 18, 2011 ~ 6:30 pm June 15, 2011 ~ 6:30 pm July 13, 2011 ~ 6:30 pm August 3, 2011 ~ 6:30 pm August 24, 2011 ~ 6:30 pm September 7, 2011 ~ 6:30 pm September 9, 10, 11, 2011 ~ FESTIVAL WEEKEND September 21, 2011 ~ 6:30 pm October 19, 2011 ~ 6:30 pm November 5, 2011 ~ Wrap up party at Pekin Insurance Lodge November 16, 2011 ~ 6:30 pm (2012 Committee) Committee   

A "tail waggin" good time was had by all at the Pekin's Next Top Dog Pageant.  Finals were held near the dog park of Mineral Springs Park on Sunday September 12th.  While many competed, a n English Bulldog named Diesel was named the 2010 "Top Dog".   Congratulations Diesel and owner, Mike. Runner-up - Sasha, German Shepherd Preliminaries were held Tuesday, August 3rd.  There were several categories for these pooches to compete in.  The winners of each contest were chosen by audience applause. Biggest Dog ~ Most Beautiful ~ Tiniest Dog ~ Curliest Dog ~ Best Stupid Pet Trick ~ Best Costume ~ Most Unusual ~ Best Dancer ~ Longest Ears ~ Owner / Dog look alike ~ Best Vocals ~ Waggiest Tail View the Top Dog Page for more information.

Looking for pictures from the NTS Marigold Festival Parade?  Check out the pictures taken be Pekin resident, Ed Emmons, at:  http://picasaweb.google.com/edemmons1/NTSMARIGOLDPARADE?feat=directlink

NTS Parade Sponsor's Choice Award Central Illinois Tumbling & Trampoline Grand Marshall Award Advocates For Access Chamber President's Choice Award Holiday Inn Express & Suites Marigold Festival Chairperson's Choice Award Carpenter's Local #183 Miss Marigold Queen's Choice Award Marquette Heights Men's Club NTS Traveling Trophy Community of Christ-Jesus Then & Now   http://www.pekin.net/MarigoldFestivalParade2010.htm

It's going to be a beautiful day...come out and enjoy the Pekin Marigold Festival!

You can see pictures of people enjoying Pekin Main Street's Friday Night Family Fest at http://picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber .  The event kicks-off the Marigold Festival weekend.

Join us downtown for the always popular Friday Night Family Fest! 

Tonight, September 9th from 5:30 - 9:30pm. The always popular, Carnival Bracelet Night gets things going! Bring the whole family to the 4-H Shelter area for rides, games and fun! Just $15 for a bracelet.   

You can download a .pdf version of the line-up at:  http://www.pekin.net/2010ParadeLineup.pdf 2010 NTS Marigold Festival Parade Unit # Entry 1        Pekin Police 2        Tazewell County Sheriff 3        Pekin Firefighter Color Guard 4        NTS President & CEO Dan Johnson 5        PCHS March Dragons 6        Pekin Community HS Cheerleaders 7        Grand Marshal - Ken White 8        Festival Queen 9        Queen's Court 10      Queen's Court 11      Queen's Court 12      Queen's Court 13      Queen's Court 14      Miss Illinois - Whitney Thorpe Klinsky 15      Past Miss Marigold's 16      Marigold Festival Chairman - Val Springborn 17      Chamber President - Althea Geiser 18      Marigold Medallion Winner's Daughter Bailey Tindall 19      City of Pekin Officials 20      NTS Sponsors Float 21      Pekin Hospital 22      Pekin Junior High Band 23      Broadmoor Jr. & Edison Jr. High Schools Sprit squads 24      Faith Bapti

Kick off the Marigold Festival weekend with the Friday Night Family Fest sponsored by Pekin Main Street. There will be lots of food, lots of fun and one of Pekin's favorite Marigold events - the Lip Sync Contest. Bring your lawn chairs and your appetite and be ready for a great night of family fun! Friday Night Family Fest is held on Friday, September 10th from 5:00pm to 10:00pm around the courthouse square in historic downtown Pekin. Lip Sync applications are still available for some divisions.  You can download a registration form here.  For more information please call Pekin Main Street at 353-3100.

The Marigold Festival has always served as a community gathering point, a reunion, where we run into friends and acquaintences that we often only see during that special weekend. It is a great source of nostalgia. It is a wealth of memories and a recall of time well spent. Each of us has our own Marigold Memory or Marigold Moment that is special to us. In an attempt to recapture some of those moments, the Marigold Festival has established the Marigold Festival Museum sponsored by Methodist Medical Center. You will find it in the Mineral Springs Park Pavilion during Festival Weekend. There are displays and memorabilia as well as a festival timeline that should help bring your own special memories to mind. Please take a moment to visit and reconnect with a past full of friends, family and memories.

This Thursday, enjoy the always popular, Carnival Bracelet Night! Bring the whole family to the 4-H Shelter area for rides, games and fun! Just $15 for a bracelet Thursday, September 9th from 5:30 - 9:30pm.

Congratulations to avid hunter Carrie Westerfield who found the Pepsi Marigold Medallion after deciphering information in the first two clues. It was found just before 7:00pm on Tuesday at Dirksen Park. More information about Carrie and her hunt will be coming soon.

The first clue was realeased today at noon!  Be sure to check our Pepsi Marigold Medallion Hunt Blog for the latest clues.  Happy Hunting! 

There are still openings, especially in the junior, pre-teen, and intermediate divisions for the... Friday Night Family Fest Lip Sync Contest, A Pekin Main Street Event Friday, September 10th, 2010 7:00 pm - Downtown Pekin (Intersection of Capitol & Elizabeth) The application is available on the Pekin Area Chamber Website.  For more information, call 353-3100

Civic Collage offers a collection of informational and fundraising booths. Civic Collage is located between the popcorn stand and Art in the Park, on the east side of Pavilion Road. The vendors will be open on Saturday, September 11th from 9:00am to 6:00pm and on Sunday, September 12th from 9:00am to 5:00pm.  Stop by to visit this years Civic Collage vendors: ~ American Association of University Women, Pekin Area Branch ~ Grace Baptist Church ~ PCHS Swim & Dive Booster Club ~ Pekin Cheerleading Booster Club ~ Pekin Hospital League ~ Pekin Lil Lettes ~ Second Reform Church ~ Tazewell Animal Protective Society (TAPS) ~ Tazewell County Democrats ~ Tazewell County Republican Party ~ Tomorrow's Hope Christian Academy ~ WBNH Radio

Congratulations to our 2010 Grow For The Gold Winners! Thank you to all that participated and/or nominated local flower beds. Residential~ 1st Place, $100 - Harriett Arlington, 1408 Lincoln 2nd Place, $50 - Ruth McIntosh, 413 Country Club 3rd Place, $25 - Josh King, 914 Chestnut Business~ 1st Place, $75 - Kiwanis

Congratulations to Jordan Davis, who was named Miss Marigold 2010 at the August 14th pageant. Haley Lower was first runner-up, and Karson Orrick was named second runner-up. Congratulations and thanks to the sponsors, committee, and volunteers for a great show. And congratulations to the Queen's Court: Megan Bernier, Laura Williams, Marjorie Miller, Linsy Morgan, Rose Wurster, Brittney Heath, Kylie Nadeau, and Leah Anderson.  See over 100 photos from the pageant at:  http://picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber/MissMarigoldQueenPageant

Check out the photos from the rehearsal for the 2010 Miss Marigold Queen Pageant.  The 35th Queen will be crowned tonight, August 14th at Pekin Community High School's F.M. Peterson Theater.  Doors open at 6:30pm and the show begins at 7:00pm.  Tickets are $5 at the door.  Rehearsal pictures can be found at:    http://picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber/MissMarigoldQueenPageantRehearsal

5:30 - 9:30 pm    4-H Shelter Area

2010 Little Miss & Mr  Marigold Pageant was held Sunday, August 1st, at the Avanti’s Dome in Pekin. The contestants were to walk onto the stage, smile and wave to the judges and the audience. Contestants were judged on facial beauty, smile, and overall appearance. The Little Miss contestants were divided into seven age groups: Baby Miss, 0-18 months; Tiny Miss, 19-35 months; Petite Miss, 3 years; Petite Miss, 4 years; Little Miss, 5-6; Junior Miss, 7-9; and Pre-Teen, 10 and up. The Little Mr contestants age groups included: Baby Mr., 0-2 years; Tiny Mr., 3-5 years; Little Mr., 6-7 and up. Other contests included 10th Anniversary Queen and the Ultimate Queen. The winners will represent Pekin during the Pekin Marigold Festival in September. Read more of the article published by Pekin Daily Times at the following link: Littlest beauties crowned at pageant - Pekin, IL - Pekin Daily Times

Pekin's Next Top Dog, Preliminaries were held Tuesday August 3rd, at the Pekin Park Arena. The winners of each contest, chosen by audience applause will proceed as contestants to become Pekin's Next Top Dog. The finals will be held Sunday, September 12th, 3:00pm (A Marigold Festival Event), near the Dog Park in Mineral Springs Park. Congratulations to the following - Pekin’s Next Top Dog preliminary winners • Biggest Dog — Lambeau, Great Dane (Gary France) • Most Beautiful — Memphis, Australian shepherd (Tricia Swonger) and Ruby, pug (Haven Wehmeier) • Tiniest — BooBoo, Dachshund (Chad and Lisa Holland) • Curliest Tail — Little Bit, misc breed, (Ronny Slonter) • Best Stupid Pet Trick — Yoder, Yorkie (P.C. Allen) • Best Costume — Ozzie, border collie (Marni Steckmann) • Most Unusual — Bree, Afghan hound, (Abi Dagit) • Best Dancer — Taco, Chihuahua (John Martin) • Dog/Owner look-a-like — Diesel, English bull dog (Michael Cook) • Best Vocals — Sasha, German shepherd

Val Springborn has always lived in Pekin and has great memories of the Marigold Festival. Every year, her parents brought her to the festival, where they spent most of the weekend enjoying all of the family oriented events. She now brings her husband, Greg, and daughter, Norah, to take pleasure in the same festival she is so fond of. Read more of the article published by Pekin Daily Times at the following link: Love of the Marigold Festival spurs woman to volunteer - Pekin, IL - Pekin Daily Times

Please join us Saturday August 14th at the F.M. Peterson Theater, Pekin Community High School 7:00 pm. Tickets will be $5 and are available in advance at the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce or at the door on the night of the pageant.

Last year's inaugural tournament was a real success and the Boys and Girls Club of Pekin Wiffle Ball Classic is back! This year's tourney will again guarantee $500 to the first place team with additional payouts to the top teams. The tourney will be held on Sunday, September 12th at Mineral Springs Park, Diamond #1. The first round begins at 9:00am so arrive early. Team applications are available now. Download your copy today from the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce website or pick one up at the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce office, the Boys and Girls Club or the Pekin Park District.  Sign up now because the field is limited to the first 16 teams. Entry Deadline is September 3, 2010 Wiffle Ball Homerun Derby will be held as well. This is open to the public as well as the tournament players. For $2.00 you get 10 outs. Try as many times as you want and compete for cash and a trophy. For additional information call the Boys & Girls Club 309-346-5437 or the Pekin A

Save the Date!

The 2010 Marigold Festival Books are available.  We also have maps available for the festival, parade and art in the park.  To view the maps please visit the Marigold Festival page of our website at http://www.pekin.net/ .

Contestants vie for Miss Marigold crown - Pekin, IL - Pekin Daily Times

Sand Volleyball Tournament ~ Come join in the fun and participate in the Pekin Marigold Festival Sand Volleyball Tournament presented by Parkside Athletics on Saturday, September 11th from 9:00 am to Dusk (Finish). Rain date, Sunday, September 12th. Divisions are Competitive Volleyball on sand volleyball courts and Recreational Volleyball on Dragonland Water Park sand volleyball courts~~both playing at the same time. Entry forms are available online , at the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce and at Parkside Athletics.

Back again this year is the Grow for the Gold Garden Contest . Help make Pekin the Marigold Capital of the World with your Marigold gardens. All entries must have a Pekin address and flowers must be visible from the street. The marigolds can be by themselves or in combination with other flowers. You may enter your own flowers or your neighbor's garden. Entry deadline is August 5th, 2010. Judging begins the week of the 8th. Nomination forms are available online to fax/e-mail or you can call the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce at  346-2106.  e-mail: Chamber@Pekin.net or fax: 346-2104

Applications for the NTS Marigold Festival Parade are available.  You can download your parade application here or get more festival details by visiting the Pekin Area Chamber Of Commerce website.  The entry deadline is August 27, 2010.  Parade rules and regulations will be included with the application. 

The Pekin Marigold Festival Committee is happy to announce Ken White as the 2010 Marigold Festival Grand Marshall. He has been a resident of the Pekin community for nearly 40 years. Ken was introduced to the Pekin community when he began his career at Pekin Insurance Company. In 2009, Ken retired from Pekin Insurance after spending 38 years with the company. Ken has been involved with numerous civic organizations. Ken served the United Way of Pekin as a board member, campaign chair and president. To this date, he continues to serve as a division chair during the campaign for funds. Ken has also served on the Board of Directors for the Center for Prevention of Abuse and the Girls Scouts of America Kickapoo Council. He has also been a long time blood/platelet donor to the American Red Cross. Ken is a past president of the Pekin Noteables Parents Group and also serves on the Board of the Pekin Civic Chorus recently completing his 7th show, in which he is a performer and helps with stag

This year the Marigold Festival Committee is proud to crown our 35th Miss Marigold Queen. Beginning in 1973, the Miss Marigold Pageant as become a long-standing tradition of recognizing talented and bright young women with a chance to represent our community during the Marigold Festival weekend and throughout the year. We are especially proud of the pageant's focus on scholarship and in an effort to further recognize that commitment, this year's Queen scholarship will be $2,000 in an effort to better keep pace with the ever-increasing cost of higher education. Entry forms were due June 11th, 2010. We have ELEVEN amazing and fabulous young women vying to be Miss Marigold 2010! This years Miss Marigold Pageant will be held, Saturday, August 14th, at the PCHS F.M. Peterson Theatre.  To view the 2010 Contestants click here: Miss Marigold 2010

Is your pooch the next Top Dog? This is sure to be a Guaranteed Dog-gone good time for furry and not-so-furry friends. Free to enter, Fun to Watch! So pick up Pooch and bring him out Tuesday August 3, 2010 to the Arena, located behind the football stadium in Mineral Springs Park for a tail-waggin great time! No pre-registration necessary. Your doggie may enter as many contests as they choose on Tuesday, August 3rd. Categories Include: Biggest Dog ~ Most Beautiful ~ Tiniest Dog ~ Curliest Dog ~ Best Stupid Pet Trick ~ Best Costume ~ Most Unusual ~ Best Dancer ~ Longest Ears ~ Owner / Dog look alike ~ Best Vocals ~ Waggiest Tail Preliminaries: Tuesday, August 3rd, 7:00pm, Veteran's Memorial Arena (a 4H Fair Event) Finals: The winners of each contest, chosen by audience applause (hint... be sure to bring your friends!) will proceed as contestants to become Pekin's Top Dog. The finals will be held Sunday, September 12th, 3:00pm. For more information, call 347-PARK

The Marigold Festival has always served as a community gathering point, a reunion, where we run into friends and acquaintences that we often only see during that special weekend. It is a great source of nostalgia. It is a wealth of memories and a recall of time well spent. Each of us has our own Marigold Memory or Marigold Moment that is special to us. In an attempt to recapture some of those moments, the Marigold Festival has established the Marigold Festival Museum sponsored by Methodist Medical Center. You will find it in the Mineral Springs Park Pavilion during Festival Weekend. There are displays and memorablia as well as a festival time-line that should help bring your own special memories to mind. Please take a moment to visit and reconnect with a past full of friends, family and memories.

The Jimmy John's Marigold Festival Bag's Tournament is back for the 3rd year. This year's tourney will again guarantee $1000 to the first place team with payouts for the top 6 teams. The tourney will be held on Saturday, September 11th at Mineral Springs Park, Diamond #1. The first round begins at 12:00pm. The game is played similar to horseshoes , but played with corn filled bags which are tossed onto game boards. Again the committee would like to thank Steve Godke for his graphic arts designs, Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes, L.L.C. for printing the posters and entry forms, Able Vault & Monument for the use of their tent and Jimmy Johns for their continued sponsorship and support. Enter early for a discount and come out to the park to enjoy one of the most competitive and lucrative bags tourneys in the Midwest! Entry forms will be available soon!  They will be available to downloaded at http://www.pekin.net/ , or you can go to the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce or

This year the Marigold Festival Committee is proud to crown our 35th Miss Marigold Queen. Beginning in 1973, the Miss Marigold Pageant has become a long-standing tradition of recognizing talented and bright young women with a chance to represent our community during the Marigold Festival weekend and throughout the year. We are especially proud of the pageant's focus on scholarship and in an effort to further recognize that commitment, this year's Queen scholarship will be $2,000 in an effort to better keep pace with the ever-increasing cost of higher education. Entry forms are available at the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce and are due June 11th, 2010.

This year the Little Miss & Mr Marigold Pageant will be help at Pekin's Dome on Sunday, August 1st. The doors will open at noon and the pageant begins at 1pm. There will be a break at 3pm with a cake reception. Unique twist will be there making balloons for the kids. Contestants 0-3 compete from 1-3pm and after the break, contestants 4 and up will compete. All proceeds from the 2010 pageant will benefit Pekin Area Easter Seals. The registration fee is $50 to enter and the door badges are $5 each. Winners from the pageant will appear on the 2011 Easter Seals Telethon with a check presentation. Applications for the Litte Miss and Mr. Marigold Pageant are now available. You can get one at the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce, 402 Court Street or you can download one by going to http://www.pekin.net/MarigoldFestival.htm and scrolling down to the pageant information.

Back again this year is the Grow for the Gold Garden Contest. Help make Pekin the Marigold Capital of the World with your Marigold gardens. All entries must have a Pekin address and flowers must be visible from the street. The marigolds can be by themselves or in combination with other flowers. You may enter your own flowers or your neighbor's garden. Please submit your entries to the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce by calling 346-2106 or send an e-mail to Chamber@Pekin.net

The 2010 Marigold Festival logo was recently unveiled by the Marigold Festival Committee. It was designed by the Pekin Daily Times and will be used for promotions of this year's festival.

Emily Lowman, a PCHS art student designed this year's medallion. The PCHS art department held a contest for the medallion design and the Marigold Festival Committee picked Emily's design over two other finalist.  Congratulations, Emily!

At their May 19th meeting, the Marigold Festival Committee approved contracts for the following: Festive Food Vendors Boy Scout Troop 62 Christian Civic Outreach Job's Daughters Bethel #55 PCHS JROTC United Way of Pekin Events Easter Seals Little Miss/Mr. Marigold Pageant Parkside Athletics Sand Volleyball Tournament Civic Collage Grace Baptist Church Pekin Hospital League

It's a monumental year for Pekin's Miss Marigold Pageant as we prepare to crown our 35th Miss Marigold Queen.  Nominations and applications are now available for this year's pageant.  The pageant will be held Saturday, August 14 in the F.M. Peterson Theater at Pekin Community High School.  Contestants must be between the ages of 17-22 and live, work or go to school in Pekin.  There is no fee to enter the pageant and all contestants are guaranteed scholarship money.  Miss Marigold 2010 will win a $2,000 scholarship. For more information, please pick up a nomination form or application packet at either the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce or the Pekin Community High School Principal's office, or download the forms listed below.  Applications should be turned in to the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce, 402 Court Street.  The deadline for applications is Friday, June 11, 2010. Nomination Form:  http://www.pekin.net/Photos/MarigoldPix/PageantNom10.pdf Application Packet: 

At their April meeting, the Marigold Festival Committee approved the following vendors and events for the 2010 festival: Civic Collage Peoria Area Troop Support Tazewell County Democrats Tomorrow's Hope Events American Legion Baseball - Marigold 5K Road Race Boys & Girls Club of Pekin - Wiffle Ball Tournament Pekin Flames Booster Club - Package drop off & delivery Pekin Hospital - First Aid Tent Upper Limits - Portable Climbing Wall Festive Food Ambassadors for Christ American Cancer Society Pekin Emblem Club #424 Pekin Kiwanis Club Pekin Lions Club The Salvation Army

The Pekin Marigold Festival Committee is pleased to announce the official 2010 Marigold Festival Program Book will be produced by the Pekin Daily Times. The committee has started working on the editorial content and pictures, and the Pekin Daily Times sales staff will soon be selling advertising to support the booklet and the festival.

Every year The Pekin Marigold committee recognizes a local resident (or couple) who has given freely to the betterment of their community. The chosen nominee(s) will be asked to serve as the 2010 Grand Marshal. The Marigold Festival Committee is seeking nominees who have demonstrated their passion and dedication by giving generously of their time and talent to a variety of charitable and community organizations and activities. The nomination deadline is May 3, 2010. Nomination forms are available at the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce, 402 Court Street or you can e downloaded the form here: http://www.pekin.net/Photos/MarigoldPix/2010MarshalForm.pdf