Pekin Marigold Festival

Adult Division: Ryan Schmidt (80 mph) 14 and Up: Logan Grubb (71 mph) 12 and Up: Mason Bennett (62 mph) 10 and Up: Joe Swanson (59 mph) 8 and Up: Matthew Juergens (47 mph) 6 and Up: Konnor Cupelen (29 mph) Congratulations!!!

Congratulations to the winners and all the participants of the Chalk Art Contest Sponsored by NRG Energy - Powerton Generating Station:  Melissa Sciortino (Junior Best in Theme), Heather Stone (Junior Best in Show), Emily Lowman (Adult Best in Theme), Katelyn Price (Adult Best in Show), and Kagan Masters (Grand Prize Winner).  You can see pictures from all the entries at:   http://picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber

Congratulations to the winners:  Muse Salon (Herget Bank Traveling Trophy), Liberty Village (Herget Bank Parade Sponsor Award), Pack 87 (Chamber President's Choice), Gro Up Gardening (Grand Marshal's Choice), Honor Our Veterans (Festival Chairman's Choice), and New Fellowship (Miss Marigold's Choice).  You can see some additional random pictures from the parade set-up at:   http://picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber

On Friday night, the Marigold Festival Committee held a special dinner with our festival celebrity guest, Mountain Man (Tim Guraedy) to raise money for the St. Jude runs. Everyone had a great time and a chance to meet Mountain Man. Miss Marigold, Abbey Carroll, spoke about St. Jude and all the good work they accomplish for children.  You can see more pictures from this event at:   http://picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber

Due to the predicted thunderstorms tonight, Pekin Main Street has postponed Friday Night Family Fest.  It will be held next Friday, September 12th - same time and place. The ICPR Family Practice Carnival will be open tonight at 5:00pm and stay open as long as the weather allows.

Bring your lawnchairs and family and friends down to Sabella Street Station on  Saturday, September 6th at 5pm , to enjoy the Concert in the Street. Michael Layne will open the concert followed with music by Audience of One, Acts, Liberty Baptist Choir, Cole Hollow. Fusion will be open and presenting Bobby Jo Barnes with Be the Light Open Mic, 'Moving Mountains' Concert, The Truth, Endless Compromise.

Just  a reminder that Art In The Park shuts down at 6pm on Saturday, but the festivities do NOT!!!! NikBeats will be playing from 7pm - 8:30 pm at the Ameren Festival Showcase Stage.

Below is the line-up for the 2014 Pekin Marigold Festival Parade sponsored by Herget Bank.  The parade is Saturday, September 6th.  Line-up for the parade begins at 9am, on Broadway, between 14th and Parkway.  (Enter from Parkway, as most traffice will be heading towards downtown.)  The parade begins at 10:00am and will start on Broadway at 14th Street, continue down Broadway (the road will be open) turning right onto Court Street, then down past the Courthouse, and turning left onto Capitol Street where the parade will begin to break up. You can download a copy of the parade line-up here:   http://www.pekinchamber.com/2014/Marigold%20Festival/2014ParadeLineUp.pdf Line up # Title 1 Pekin Police Dept. 2 Tazewell County Sheriff's Office 3 Pekin Firefighter's Color Guard 4 Tazewell County Ceremonial Team 5 Honor Our Veterans 6 Herget Bank NA 7 Pekin Community High School Band 8 Pekin High School Cheerleaders 9 Marigold Festival Grand Marshal 10 Miss Marigo

Can't wait to see The Subway Miss Marigold Pageant winner Abby Carroll riding in the Marigold Festival Parade Sponsored by Herget Bank !

Looking forward to all the great food coming up NEXT weekend at the Marigold Festival! Check out all the great food vendors at Pekin Insurance Festive Food Court  and don't forget to pick up your commemerative mug at the CEFCU Soda Stations !

So excited for the many great shows we have lined up at the Ameren Festival Showcase Stage !

Below are the results from the August 23rd Marigold Women's Golf Outing.  Unfortunately, the storms put a damper on the event held at Parkview Golf Course.  But we still have winners! Twenty-four teams finished their round and were flighted based on their scores.  The remaining 11 temas were randomly drawn to complete the final two flights. The Hole Contests Winners…                 Hole 3 – Longest Putt – Linda Abts  (golf for 4 @ Sunset Hills Golf Club)                 Hole 8 – Closest to the Pin – Sharon Rose (golf for 4 @ Sunset Hills Golf Club)                 Hole 12 – Long Drive – Angie Flannigan (golf for 4 @ Parkview Golf Course)                 Hole 17 – Closes to the Pin – Lucy Elliott (dozen golf balls donated by Pekin Insurance) We are still looking for the winners of two more prizes...Hole #5 for Longest Putt and Hole 10 for Closest to the Pin. You can also see pictures from this event at:  http://picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber  

Excalibur Seasonings East Court Village CenturyLink Illinois American Water KMI Liberty Village of Pekin Pekin Community Bank Preston Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory Homefield Energy Pekin Hospital First Aid Tent Golf Cart Sponsors UnityPoint Health Along with our many other great sponsors!

We have over 200 vendors lined up and ready to display their Arts and Crafts at the Southside Bank Art in the Park in just 16 days!!!!

With the announcement of the disclaimer, you know the Pepsi Marigold Medallion Hunt is close at hand.  The first clue will be released at noon on Monday, August 25th.   You can read the disclaimer and find the clues (starting at noon on Monday, August 25th) at:  http://medallionhunt.blogspot.com .

It is almost time to start releasing hints for the Pepsi Marigold Medallion Hunt keep checking the blogsite for new hints starting Monday, August 25th! Don't forget to take the kids to all the fun and exciting events happening at the iTV-3 Kids' Experience area!

If you’re planning to visit an outdoor summer festival, Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck offers the following five health tips. “We want people to enjoy their visit to the state fair, as well as other outdoor events. These tips will help everyone avoid some of the more common hazards associated with the summer season,” Dr. Hasbrouck said. #1 - Wear sunscreen: Applying sunscreen is a quick and easy thing to do, and all skin types need protection from the sun. For the most effective protection, be sure to apply your sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside and then reapply every two hours. Unprotected skin can be damaged by the sun’s harmful rays in as little as 15 minutes, yet it can take up to 12 hours for skin to show the full effects of sun exposure. Wear a sunscreen with at least a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher, and one that has both UVA and UVB protection. #2 - Stay Cool: Sunburn and heat exhaustion are the most common he

Again this year we have a limited number of discounted tickets for wristband night for the ICPR Family Practice Carnival. Wristband night is Thursday, September 4th from 5:30 to 9:30pm. The cost is $20, but we have 100 available for just $15. They will go on sale on Monday morning (August 18th) at 8:30am at the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce, 402 Court Street. No phone calls...in person sales only, while the supply lasts.

We are excited to see all the amazing talent displayed during the Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest sponsored by NRG Powerton Generating Station! Be sure to join us for this event on Sunday, September 8th!!! 

Applications are now available for the Pekin Marigold Festival Run with the Saints 5K Run/Walk. It will be held on Saturday, September 6th, at 6 a.m. - 9 a.m. in Coal Miner's Park. Applications are available here .

Congratulations to Abbey Carroll who was crowned Miss Marigold at the 2014 Subway Miss Marigold Pageant.  Abbey also won the community service award.  First runner up was Anna Dunn.  Second runner-up was Kylee Alexander.  Alyssa Fabry won the congeniality award, voted on by the pageant contestants.  The rest of the pageant court includes Leah Huss, Marissa Oesch, Rachel Thorne, Cassidy Savage, Charlee Caudill, and Lexi Sapp.  You can see pictures from this event at:   http://picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber

Pictures from the Friday night rehearsal for the Subway Miss Marigold Pageant can be found at:   http://picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber 

The Little Mr. & Miss Marigold Pageant is no longer accepting applications. We wish the best to all contestants!

Applications and rules for the 2014 Marigold Festival Parade Sponsored by Herget Bank are now available.  You can pick one up at the chamber office (402 Court Street) or download it here: http://www.pekinchamber.com/2014/ParadeApplication14.pdf

Space for South Side Bank Art in the Park is very limited. If you already have an application you will want to submit that immediately. Spaces will be distributed on a first come first serve basis. No more applications will be mailed.

The Little Mr. & Miss Marigold Pageant will be held on Sunday, August 3rd, 2014. Registration forms are now available by  download here , or at the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce's office at 402 Court St. Deadline for registration is July 26th.

Contestant Applications are now available for Subway's Miss Marigold Pageant 2014!!!!! Pick up yours at the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce (402 Court St) or in the principal's office at PCHS! Completed applications must be returned to the Chamber by Tuesday, May 27th at 4:30 PM. Click here to get a copy of the application. 

Spring has FINALLY sprung! It’s time to get our flowers in the ground and help bring color into our community! The Chamber would like to help you do that by offering FREE  Jedi Orange Marigold Seeds  on a first come first serve basis.  There are 500 packets available and you can pick them up at the Pekin Chamber office at 402 Court St., or at the Pekin Daily Times 306 Court St. A special thanks to  AMERISEED  for the generous donation of seeds.

The Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for Grand Marshal of the 2014 Pekin Marigold Festival. This annual honor is presented by the Marigold Festival Committee to recognize a local resident (or couple) who has given freely to the betterment of our community. For more information  click here .

            You can expect to see plenty of camouflage at the 2014 Pekin Marigold Festival. Drawing upon one of cable TV’s most popular shows, and Pekin’s unique history of river sports, the Marigold Festival committee announced the theme of the 2014 festival will be “Marigold Dynasty.”             The festival committee also announced the festival’s celebrity guest will be Tim Guraedy, better known as Mountain Man on A & E’s Duck Dynasty.             “Our committee is very excited about the possibilities of this year’s theme,” said Greg Ranney, chairman of the Marigold Festival Committee.              “With our rich river history, the P.S. Olt duck calls, local decoy carvers, Pekin Reels, and a tie to television’s hottest show, we think our festival will be very popular,” Ranney said.             Duck Dynasty star Tim Guraedy is best known to the show’s millions of hard-core fans as Mountain Man, the slow-talking air conditioning repairman/radio host who is a neighbor to the