Pekin Marigold Festival

The weather cooperated with the Marigold Festival theme of "Pickin' the Perfect Weekend" and large crowds were out to watch nearly 130 entries in the Marigold Festival Parade sponsored by Busey Bank.  You can see pictures of some of the entries at:  http://picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber

You can check out some pictures from the Pekin Marigold festival at:  http://picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber

Congratulations to everyone who participated. The numbers indicate which sidewalk "square" they were working on. Grand Prize: Katelyn Pruitt (9) Best in Show: Sara Poynter (5) Best in Theme: Gabrielle Gonzales (6) ... Best Use of Color: Jessica Anderson (16) Best Use of 3D: Kagan Masters (22) Best Reproduction of a Masters Work: Stacy Zimmerman (2) 4-6th Grade 1st Place: Anna Soupos (7) 7-8th Grade 1st Place: Haley Yates (15) High School 1st Place: Rebekah Broeker (13) Adult 1st Place: Heather Stone (20) Miss Marigold Choice: Terin Berry (30) Grand Marshal Choice: Sara Poynter (5) Festival Chairman Choice: Kagan Masters (22) Honorable Mention: Jared Clemons (1) Honorable Mention: Carlie (3) Honorable Mention: Izabella Lane (17) Honorable Mention: Brooklyn Bishop (23) Honorable Mention: Malina Rose Overholt (28) You can see pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber

SEPTEMBER 12, 2015 PEKIN MARIGOLD FESTIVAL 5K RUN/WALK RUNNING WITH THE SAINTS   MALE   OVERALL ANDY BLOOM 16:34 UNDER 14 JESSE GOLDEN 18:17 BLAKE BRIGGS 21:30 ALEX ROCKHOLD 23:29 DAWSON VEST 23:42 JACKSON CUSTER 24:39 CARSON GETZ 24:59 GABE FAIRCHILD 25:26 SKYLAR SPECK 25:32 GALEN KESSLER 29:30 BROGAN ROSENBOHM 33:10 BRIGGS ASHTON 60:00 15-19 20-29 BRAD REACH 16:44 BRADLEY LAFARY 20:14 JACOB CARLSON 27:11 COLE STONER 27:37 30-39 BRANDON BURLING 23:10 DANIEL CUSTER 24:27 GREG BALAGNA 49:33 40-49 SCOTT SOKOLOWSKI 24:48 ROB DAVIS 26:13 TRACY JONES 28:15 STEVE LAATSCH 31:00 THAD COOK 37:28 JONATHAN GETZ 42:18 50-59 JEFF REBHOLZ 18:55 ROB CAIRNCROSS 21:40 MIKE HARBACK 37:58 60+ LARRY BALAGNA 33:33 DAN CAMPBELL 54:43   FEMALE RESULTS OVERALL KATIE KESSLER 22:17 0-14 SAMI CURTIS 22:33 KYLEE JOHNSON 23:46 ANNA WOLTER 26:46 EMMA SMITH 31:34 H

The Marigold Festival Parade sponsored by Busey Bank, was held on Saturday, September 12th.  Congratulations to the following winners: Parade Sponsor's Choice - New Beginnings Fellowship Church Marigold Queen's Choice - John M. Evans Supportive Living Community Chamber President's Choice - Girl Scout Troop 4677 Festival Committee Chairman's Choice - First Baptist Church of Pekin Grand Marshals' Award - Good Shepherd Lutheran School Busey Bank Traveling Trophy - Liberty Village of Pekin

The good news is...Art in the Park vendors and Civic Collage vendors will be allowed to drive to their booths in the next few minutes.  That area of the park is drying out quickly. Unfortunately, the Festive Food vendors can not yet drive into their area.  It is still extremely wet.  Keep you fingers crossed and hopefully we'll get you in early this afternoon. Thank you for you patience.

The Marigold Festival weekend kicked off with a Business After Hours at the Pekin Country Club. Wine tasting and delicious food were on the menu. Everyone had a great evening, including the Marigold Festival Grand Marshals, Dean and Linda Cooper, and the Marigold Festival Committee Chair, Mike Vonderheide.  You can see more pictures from this and other chamber events at http://picasaweb.google.com

Art in the Park and Festive Food vendors should be aware that Mineral Springs Park is very wet this morning with lots of standing water.  We will not allow vehicles to drive into the grass until the park dries out.  Art in the Park and Civic Collage registration will still be open from 9am to 5pm today, and you will be able to walk in your supplies, equipment and inventory.  Assuming we don't get anymore significant rain, we anticipate letting vehicles drive up to their booths after lunch.  Thanks for your patience!

Top Dog has been postponed because of the rain. Please check back here for more information regarding a later date.

Calling all kids!!! Come join us in our usual AMT Kids Experience area near the playground! There will be fun and games, arts and crafts, celebrity book readers, and special guests!

Below is the line-up for the 2015 Pekin Marigold Festival Parade sponsored by Busey Bank.  The parade is Saturday, September 12th.  Line-up for the parade begins at 9:00 am on Broadway, between 14th and Parkway.  (Enter from Parkway, as both sides of the street between Parkway & 14th will be  heading towards downtown).  The parade begins at 10:00 am and will start on Broadway at 14th Street, continue down Broadway 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 lineup at:   http://www.pekinchamber.com/2015/2015Marigold/ParadeLineUp.pdf ### Entry 1 Pekin Police Department 2 Tazewell County Sheriffs Office 3 Pekin Firefighter's Color Guard 4 Tazewell County Ceremonial Team 5 Busey Bank 6 Marigold Festival Grand Marshal 7 Pekin Community High School Marching Band 8 Pekin Community High School Cheerleaders 9 Miss Marigold, Courtney Psina

Art in the Park, sponsored by South Side Bank, is open on Saturday from 9am to 6pm and on Sunday from 9am to 5pm. Art in the Park is NOT open on Thursday or Friday.

Join us on Saturday, September 12th for the Marigold Festival Parade. The parade kicks off at 10:00am and the line-up begins on Broadway (between 14th and Parkway). 

First Aid Station The Pekin Hospital is sponsoring a first aid station on September 12th & 13th from 10am to 4pm each day.  Nursing Mothers/Changing Station Tent The Pekin Hospital is sponsoring a nursing mothers/changing station tent on September 12th & 13th. The tent will afford privacy to nurse or to change our littlest festival attendees. 

Congratulations to Carrie & Jason Helmig who found the Pepsi Marigold Medallion at about 10:50am on Labor Day after reading Clue #7.  It was found at the Dirksen Park RC Flying Field.  More details and the clue explanations will be posted later this week.

The Rusty Gold Antique Corner will be held in the Royal Ave. Shelter. In honor of our theme and special celebrity guest, this event is devoted exclusively to the finest in antiques and collectibles. Rusty Gold Antique Corner will be open Saturday, September 12th, 9 am - 6 pm and Sunday, September 13th, 9 am - 5 pm. This is a 2015 Exclusive Event!! Come check it out!!!

For a donation, they hold your packages while you continue to shop. Great for those large items or when your hands get full! Look for Hold n' Load in the Handicap Parking Lot (see festival map). This will take place Saturday & Sunday during Art in the Park.

Check out this fun attraction for the kids!!! The Upper Limits Rock Climbing Wall will be located by the Kids' Experience sponsored by Advanced Medical Transport.

There will be three conveniently located CEFCU Soda Carts. You can pick up  your commemorative CEFCU Marigold Mugs at these carts, or you can  pick them up now in the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce,   or at a CEFCU soda station at the festival . 

Due to a change in his production and travel schedule, our celebrity guest, Frank Fritz, will make the following appearances on Sunday: SUNDAY 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM - Q & A Session with Frank Fritz - Pavillion 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM - Autograph Signing Session with Frank Fritz - Celebrity Tent on Pavilion Drive His Saturday schedule is still as originally posted: SATURDAY 10:00 AM - Frank Fritz will ride in the Marigold Festival Parade sponsored by Busey Bank 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM - Autograph Signing Session with Frank Fritz - Celebrity Tent on Pavilion Drive

The Marigold Festival takes great pride in offering the food concessions to nonprofit organizations. For many of these groups, this is their biggest fund raising event of the year. Most of the Festive Food booths are located in Mineral Springs Park, across Pavilion Road between the pavilion and ball diamond #1. Ambassadors for Christ Bacon Cheeseburgers   American Cancer Society / Sno Shack Corn Dogs, Lemon Shake Ups Amvets Post 235 Fish & Chips & Chicken Strips BSA Troop 62 Italian Beef Sandwiches BSA Troop 65 Curly Fries BSA Troop 145 LaGondola Torpedo's Bethel #55 Job's Daughters of Pekin Pulled Pork Boys and Girls Club of Pekin Boneless Chicken Wings with Dipping Sauce Christian Civic Outreach Iced Tea, Lemonade Faith Baptist Christian School  Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches First Christian Church  Homemade Warm Apple Dumplings With Caramel Sauce Kiwanis Club Of Pekin Kettle Korn Grace United Methodist Church Family Focus Baked Potato Bar Pek

Come shop over 200 vendors at this years SouthSide Bank Art In The Park. There is a wide variety of handmade goods for you to shop. Please remember this included in the Pet Free Zone.

Lagoon Golf will be held Saturday, September 12th from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM and Sunday, September 13th from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Step up to the tee and attempt to hit a plastic golf ball in the center of floating rings in the lagoon to win a prize.

The Sand Volleyball Tournament will take place, Saturday, September 12 at 8:00 a.m. (Sunday, September 13 rain date only). It will be held at the Pekin Park District Sand Volleyball Courts. This event is open to anyone over 18 years old.  Click here to see more details and get an application.

Ritcharts Petting Zoo is returning to the Pekin Marigold Festival this year! They will be located by the Kids' Experience. Stop by and visit all the great animals they bring to the festival each year. They will be open Saturday, September 12th,  9:00 AM - 6:00 PM and Sunday, September 13th 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

Be sure to stop and visit the organizations in our Civic Collage area! 

Kick off the Marigold Festival weekend at the Pekin Country Club's Marigold Wine & Beer Tasting 

Running with the Saints applications  are now available here as well as on the Pekin Marigold Festival Facebook page!

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

Friday Night Family Fest will be held on Friday, September 11th, 2015 from 5pm - 10pm. The festivities will be held downtown around the Courthouse. There will be several unique food and snack vendors, youth activities, PLUS live entertainment by The Brazillionaires. The annual community talent show will also be taking place this evening! For more information please call Pekin Main Street at 353-3100 or visit www.pekinmainstreet.com .

Prairie Star Fiddlers, Saturday, September 12th, 1:15PM - 2:00PM  The Prairie Star Fiddlers are a select group of the Suzuki String program from Pekin School District #108. The group is comprised of violinists, violists, a bass, and a banjo. Students range in age from 8 years old through high school. Prairie Star Fiddlers play throughout the year for retirement centers, nursing homes, church groups, and other community events. Their repertoire includes American fiddle tunes, Irish tunes, bluegrass, gypsy fiddling, waltzes, polkas, gigs, and reels. We are proud to showcase some of Pekin's talented young people and you won't want to miss this fun performance!

Julie K - Saturday, September 12th, 11:30 AM - 12:45 PM  Encouraging familes to laugh and sing together has been a mission for Julie K! Her inspiration to creat age appropriate children's music that families could enjoy together was the birth of her son and a bucket list message at her church. Julie K's original albums include, "A Sunny Day" (2009) "Animal Party" (2010) "Family Love" (2012) "Happy Day"(2014) and "Julie K Christmas" (2014). Her first four albums have received national acclaim, including Creative Child Album of the Year, Dove Approved, Parents Choice and Dr. Toy Awards. In 2013 Julie K was recognized with the Forty Leaders Under 40 and the 25 Women in Leadership Awards. Music has played a significant role in Julie K's life since the age of five when she spent her time arranging backyard performances for the neighborhood. She continued singing her way through high school and college and received a Bachelor o

Pekin Hospital will have a First Aid Station open and available both Saturday and Sunday for those accidents that may happen.

The Pekin Marigold Festival Carnival will be open on Thursday, September 10th, 5:30pm to 9:30pm (wristband night) Friday, September 11th, 5:00pm to 11:00pm Saturday, September 12th, 11:00am to 11:00pm Sunday, September 13th, 11:00am to 5:00pm Wristband night is Thursday (unlimited rides from 5:30pm to 9:30pm) and the cost is $20 per person. Regular tickets prices are a $1.25 each or a family pack of 20 tickets for $20.  All rides take at least two tickets. Thanks to C.D.A.C., Inc. we have a limited number of wristband vouchers for sale for $15.  These are available at the chamber office until 4pm on Wednesday, September 9th or until they are gone (whichever comes first).  The Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce is located at 402 Court Street and is open from 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday (closed on Labor Day).

Congratulations to the winnners of the 2015 Marigold Garden Contest!! Adult Category   First Place  - Kevin, Amy & Courtney Psinas Second Place - Mr. & Mrs. Jim Gilmore Youth Category First Place - Ginsey Campbell Second Place - Aliyah King Business Category  First Place - First Baptist Church of Pekin Second Place - Hoe & Hope Garden Club 

Is your pooch the next Top Dog? This is sure to be a Guaranteed Doggone good time for furry and not-so-furry friends. Free to enter, Fun to Watch! So pick up the Pooch and bring him out Thursday, to the area just west of Dragonland for a tail-waggin great time! No pre-registration necessary. Your doggie may enter as many contests as they choose. Categories Include: Largest Dog Cutest Smallest Dog Trick Best Costume Longest Ears Best Vocal 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. (A Marigold Festival Event) For more information, call 347-PARK.

Thursday, September 10th, 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM, there will be a Marigold Festival Wine & Beer Tasting at Pekin Country Club. There will be a charge for this event.

The Marigold Festival Committee has instituted a “pet free zone”. This includes all areas from Court Street north of Royal Avenue and from Coal Car Drive west to 14th Street. It also includes the carnival area. Thank you for your cooperation.

Monday, August 31st the first Pepsi Marigold Medallion Hunt clue will be released. Check out our blog for daily clue releases or on the Pekin Marigold Festival Facebook page!! Happy Hunting!!!

The 8th Annual Marigold Festival Women's Golf Outing will be held on Saturday, August 22nd, 2015 at Parkview Golf Course! Good luck to all of our lady golfers!!!

Stop by the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce today and pick up your 2015 CEFCU Marigold Mug for just $3. We are located at 402 Court St., Pekin  

The applications for the NRG Powerton Generating Station 2015 Chalk Art Contest are now available!!!

The Pekin Marigold Festival Carnival will be open on: Thursday, September 10th, 5:30pm to 9:30pm (Wristband Night) Friday, September 11th, 5:00pm to 11:00pm Saturday, September 12th, 11:00am to 11:00pm Sunday, September 13th, 11:00am to 5:00pm Regular ticket prices for the entire festival are $1.25 per ticket or a family pack of 20 tickets for $20.  All rides take at least two tickets. Wristband's for Thursday (unlimited rides between 5:30pm and 9:30pm) are $20 per person. Thanks to C.D.A.C., Inc. we have a limited number of wristband vouchers for sale for $15.   These are available at the chamber office until 4pm on Wednesday, September 9th or until they are gone (whichever comes first).  The Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce is located at 402 Court Street and is open from 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday (closed on Labor Day).

Stop by the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce office at 402 Court St., to pick up your tickets for the 2015 Subway Miss Marigold Pageant. Tickets are $10 each and are available at the Chamber office, the contestants or you can purchase them the August 8th at the door.

Applications for the annual Running with the Saints are now available here !! Complete your application and get it returned asap to be a part of this great run!

Applications for the 2015 Pekin Marigold Festival Parade sponsored by Busey Bank are now available.  You can pick them up in the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce office at 402 Court Street, or download it here .

The Pekin Marigold Festival planning is well underway, keeping many people busy!! Here are some pictures of some of those hard workers! Thanks for all you do to help make this festival a success each year.  

The South Side Bank Art in the Park is now full and we are no longer accepting applications for vendors.  However, if you'd like to be on the mailing list for the 2016 festival, please call the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce at 346-2106.

“Congratulations to Dean and Linda Cooper on being named the 2015 Pekin Marigold Festival Grand Marshal” Congratulations to Dean & Linda Cooper who were named the Grand Marshals of the 2015 Pekin Marigold Festival.  The surprise announcement was made by Marigold Festival Chairman Mike Vonderheide at the Pekin Rotary Club meeting today, where Dean is a member.  More pictures from this event can be seen at http://picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber 

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,