Pekin Marigold Festival

Congratulations to the award winners in the 2016 Pekin Marigold Festival Parade Sponsored by Busey Bank: Fist Baptist Church - Busey Bank Traveling Trophy New Beginnings Fellowship in Christ - Busey Bank Parade Sponsor Award Pekin Hospital - Chamber President's Award First Pekin Savings Bank - Grand Marshal's Award Pekin Insurance - Festival Chairman's Award Artistic Community Theater - 2016 Miss Marigold Queen's Award

As of 3pm today, Art in the Park and Civic Collage vendors will not be able to drive vehicles off of paved surfaces and up to their booths for loading and set-up on Friday.  It is also extremely doubtful vendors will be able to drive to their booths on Saturday morning, especially if we receive the rain that is in the forecast for Friday. If we don't get the forecasted rain, there is a chance vendors will be able drive to their booth for load out on Sunday night. We recognize that this will be a challenge for some of our vendors, and we appreciate your patience and understanding as we deal with Mother Nature. Please be sure to check-in before setting up your booth.

As of 3:00pm today, the weather is not expected to impact tonight's events.  The Commerce Bank Carnival is scheduled to be open for bracelet night as scheduled...5:30 to 9:30pm. Also, the Dogs on a Catwalk begins at 6pm (registration starts at 5:30pm) near Dog Park in Mineral Springs Park. And the Marigold Wine Tasting runs from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at Pekin Country Club.  Tickets are $10.

Parking can sometimes be a challenge during the Marigold Festival.  The year parking will be even more of a challenge.  With all of the heavy rain, many of the fields that were used for parking will not be available - they are soggy with a lot of standing water.  Paved parking is available in the Arena parking lot and the lot immediately east of the Park Admin building.  The large parking lot between Coal Car Drive and Pavilion Road is for handicap parking only.  Only vehicles with official handicap placards will be allowed to park in this lot. There will be parking for vendor trailers in the field off Stadium Drive near Parkway Drive.  And, Pekin Insurance has made their parking lot on the corner of Parkway and Broadway available to public parking on Saturday and Sunday. Shuttle buses provided by Peoria Limousine will make continues stops at all of these parking lots from 8am to 6pm on Saturday and 8am to 5pm on Sunday.

Due to the heavy rain this morning, and the anticipated additional rain, the Pekin Insurance Festive Food Court will be moved east, down Royal Avenue near the Royal Avenue picnic shelter.  All of the food vendors (except the popcorn stand) will be moved to this new area.  The load-in will actually be much easier for our food vendors.  All food vendors need to meet with Josh at the Royal Avenue picnic shelter (before setting up) for their assigned space. Again, we appreciate everyone's patience and understanding as we deal with Mother Nature.   

Mineral Springs Park received nearly 2-inches of rain overnight, leaving several areas of the park with deep standing water.  Additional rain, sometimes heavy, is expected through Friday night.  As of right now NO VEHICLES WILL BE ALLOWED OFF OF THE PAVED SURFACES IN MINERAL SPRINGS PARK.  This includes Art in the Park, Kids Experience, Civic Collage, Festive Foods and all grass parking areas.  The Marigold Festival Committee will meet this afternoon to discuss options for events that will be affected by the heavy rain.  We know many vendors and the public have questions.  We will post more information here as it becomes available. We appreciate everyone's patience and understanding.  Despite Mother Nature's best efforts we will stay focused on our goal - to host a safe and fun Pekin Marigold Festival.

Here is the line up for the 2016 Pekin Marigold Festival Parade, sponsored by Busey Bank. 1 Pekin Police Department 2 Tazewell County Sheriff's Office 3 Pekin Firefighter's Color Guard 4 Tazewell County Ceremonial Team 5 Busey Bank - Parade Sponsor 6 Marigold Festival Grand Marshal Judith Streid 7 Pekin Community High School Marching Dragons 8 PCHS Cheerleaders 9 Miss Marigold - Jordan Finneran 10 Miss Marigold 1st & 2nd runner up 10 Miss Marigold Court 10 Miss Marigold Court  10 Miss Marigold Court 10 Miss Marigold Court 11 Marigold Festival Chairmen - Jeff Lange 12 Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce President - John Franks 13 Pepsi Marigold Medallion Hunt Winner - Christie Gray 14 Pekin Mayor John McCabe 15 Pekin Fire Department & Pekin City Councilmen 16 Marigold Festival Celebrity Guest

Thank you to Ray Dennison Chevrolet for sponsoring the 2016 Marigold Festival Q & A Session with Lee Smith. Mr. Smith will be answering questions on Saturday, September 10th from 1:00pm - 1:30pm at the Pavilion.

Thank you to Midas Auto Service Experts for sponsoring the 2016 Marigold Festival Cruise In!!

Thank you to Peoria Limousine for sponsoring the 2016 Marigold Festival Shuttle Bus!

Special thanks to UnityPoint Health for being our 2016 Marigold Festival Golf Cart Sponsor.

Due to the soggy conditions in Mineral Springs Park, and the concern about potentially more rain before the festival, the Commerce Bank Carnival will be moved this year to the paved parking lot behind the Pekin Park District Administration Building.  Many people still refer to this as the old pool lot.  This will also require closing parts of Coal Car Drive and Recreation Drive north of the Administration Building. Vehicles that used to park in the old pool lot can now park in the grass of ball diamonds 4 & 5 where the carnival would have been located.  At this point that area can handle vehicle parking but would not be able to support the weight of the carnival vehicles. Two shuttle busses sponsored by Peoria Limousine Company and Pekin/Peoria Yellow Checker Cab will run continuously from 8:00am to 6:00pm, Saturday and Sunday stopping at posted locations.

Visit Plastic Addicts Event Page to register for the 2016 Jimmy Johns Family  Disc Golf Tournament. 

5K Race/Walk                                                       Saturday, September 10, 2016 - 7:30 am And Kids (10 and under)1/4 Fun Run     Course: Paved Bike Trail at Pekin’s Coal Miners Park ALL PROCEEDS WILL GO TO THE ST. JOSEPH SCHOOL EXTRA-CURRICULAR FUND REGISTRATION: Make checks payable to: St. Joseph School.  Mail or drop off to St. Joseph School, 600 South 6th Street, Pekin, IL 61554                                            $20.00 for race entries postmarked before September 3rd    $25.00 after September 3rd and race day registration at Coal Miners Park from 6:30 - 7:15 am (T-Shirt not guaranteed) $10.00 for Youth 16 & Under; No charge for Kids Fun Run (Not T-shirts for Kids Fun Run) Ribbons will be awarded to all Fun Runners Questions: zmyers@stjosephschoolpekin.com or (309) 347-71 Please no animals during the race. Packet pick-ups will be available on race day Get more info and download the regi

The 2016 Marigold Festival South Side Bank Art in the Park will be held Saturday, September 10th & Sunday, September 11th. We are no longer accepting applications for the 2016 festival, but to be put on a list for next years application packet, email info@pekinchamber.com or call 309-346-2106.