Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce

Pekin Marigold Festival
The 2012 Marigold Festival will be September 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th. It's always the weekend after Labor Day.

The Marigold Festival was first held in 1973, in part, to honor the memory of one of Pekin's native sons, Senator Everett McKinley Dirksen. Senator Dirksen left a lasting mark on the history of our country. But perhaps he is most fondly remembered in Pekin for proposed legislation that he never succeeded in getting passed. His passion was his love of the Marigold and his ambition was to see it made The National Floral Emblem. While that never happened, he would have taken great pride in seeing the Pekin Marigold Festival become such a revered part of his hometown. For his love of that flower and the inspiration he provided, we are all forever in his debt. While Dirksen was unsuccessful in his efforts to make the marigold the national flower, his hometown of Pekin soon became known as the Marigold Capital of the World.

Over the years the Marigold Festival has grown from a small event around the courthouse in downtown Pekin to a community-wide festival that attracts tens of thousands of people over a number of days and locations. The first festival included an art fair and boxing matches! Past festivals have also included such unique events as cow pie bingo and a Cardboard Boat Regatta.

The current festival lineup includes the NTS Marigold Festival Parade, the Friday Night Family Fest, the Pepsi Marigold Medallion Hunt, the Ameren Marigold Festival Showcase, iTV-3 Kids Experience, Pekin Insurance Festive Food Court, Jimmy Johns Marigold Bags Tournament, CEFCU Soda Stations, the Subway Miss Marigold Pageant, and Art in the Park. Methodist Medical Center is also a major festival sponsor.

The only food available at the first festival was an ice cream social. Today there is still ice cream, AND just about every other kind of food imaginable, from dippin' dots to funnel cakes to pork chop sandwiches. And all of the food vendors are nonprofit organizations, raising money for their programs.

The Marigold Festival involves the entire community and is organized by the Marigold Festival Committee. This group of volunteers meets year round to plan the fun and excitement. The Marigold Festival is held on the first weekend after Labor Day.

Once again it is time for the Pekin Marigold Festival. We are excited about this year's Festival and hope you will enjoy what we have to offer. As this year's chairman, I am lucky to have the entire Festival committee returning. This has made my part of the job very easy as everyone knows what to expect and handles their responsibilities. I would also like to offer special thanks to Bob Blackwell and the Pekin Park District whose facilities and work throughout the year provide our Festival with its fantastic setting. The Marigold Festival has always been something my family looks forward to and enjoys. I personally took part in big wheel races as a kid, am a past winner of the Pekin Main Street Lip Sync Contest and my father was also the Grand Marshall of the 2010 Festival. My hope is that we can continue to make the Marigold Festival something that shows what Pekin has to offer and provides something for all ages.

2012 Marigold Festival Sponsors
Thank You for your support!

2012 Marigold Festival ~
Events, Activities, and Attractions
September 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th

For more information on all of the events, continue reading below.
You can also see the latest news on the Marigold Festival blog at
http://marigoldfestival.blogspot.com

Check regularly for the 2012 festival's latest updates...

The 2012 Subway Miss Marigold Pageant will be held on Saturday, August 11th at F.M. Peterson Theater. The pageant is open to the first twelve applicants meeting the criteria. The Marigold Festival Committee is seeking contestants for the pageant. The application packet contains thecriteria, rules, and application form can be downloaded at: http://www.pekinchamber.com/Marigold2012/PageantApp2012.pdf

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 8th from 8:00 am to Dusk (Finish). Rain date, Sunday, September 9th. Divisions are Competitive Volleyball on sand volleyball courts and Recreational Volleyball on Dragonland Water Park sand volleyball courts~~both playing at the same time.

Nursing Mothers/Changing Station Tent ~ The Pekin Hospital is sponsoring a nursing mothers/changing station tent on September 8 & 9. The tent will afford privacy to nurse or to change our littlest festival attendees. The tent will be located by the iTV-3 Kids’ Experience.

Friday Night Family Fest ~ Kick off the Marigold Festival weekend with the Friday Night Family Fest sponsored by Pekin Main Street. There will be lots of food, and lots of fun. Come and enjoy "Pekin's Got Talent". 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 7th from 5:00pm to 10:30pm around the courthouse square in historic downtown Pekin. For more information please call Pekin Main Street at 353-3100.

Marigold "Top Dog" Pageant ~ Sponsored by the Pekin Park District.
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 September 6, 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 Vocals
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.

First Aid Station ~ The Pekin Hospital is sponsoring a first aid station on September 8 & 9 from 10am to 4pm each day.

Climbing Wall ~ The climbing wall is returning to the Marigold Festival again this year. This 23 foot wall resembles a real rock and is an extension of the Upper Limits Climbing Gym, the tallest climbing facility in the world, located in Bloomington, Illinois. This portable climbing wall allows people to enjoy the excitement of rock climbing without having to travel out of Illinois. Five staff members from Upper Limits will assist you as you climb up this 23 foot wall. Even if you are not in the greatest physical condition and have no prior experience in rock climbing, you can still enjoy the climbing wall. With several different routes of varying difficulty, men and women of all ages can enjoy this great event. The climbing wall will be open on Saturday, September 8th from 9:00am to 6:00pm and Sunday, September 9th from 9:00am to 5:00pm.

iTV-3 Kids Experience ~ The iTV-3 Kids Experience is getting wild this year! Wildlife Prairie State Park will join us each day from Noon to 4pm. Get up close with their amazing animals and see special presentation at 1pm and 3pm each day! The Pekin Police K-9 Unit will also get in on the fun with 2 police dog demonstrations.

New this year, kids can join Miss Marigold and her court in a Royal Parade! Kids can dress in their favorite royal attire (prince, princess, king, queen, knight or even a court jester) and parade down Pavilion Drive.

The Pekin Public Library will kick us off and close us down with story time, crafts and much more! Be sure to bring the kids and stop by for some fun!

Saturday, September 8, 2012

11:00 am to Noon Story time and crafts with the Pekin Public Library
11am to 4pm Children's Discovery Museum
Noon to 2pm Unique Twist Balloon Artist
3pm to 4pm Watermelon Eating Contest

All day activities (Saturday and Sunday)

Fun on the Run Inflatable Twister Game, YWCA Make & Take Crafts, Tie Dye T-Shirts, Make Lava Lamps, 70's Photo Op, Tug-O-War, 3 Legged Races, Pinata's, Face Painting

Sunday, September 9, 2012

11am to 4pm Children's Discovery Museum
Noon to 2pm Unique Twist Balloon Artist
3pm to 4pm Watermelon Eating Contest
4pm to 5pm Library Closes Us Down With a Story and Craft

Civic Collage ~ 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. Civic Collage is open on Saturday, September 8th from 9:00am to 6:00pm and on Sunday, September 9th from 9:00am to 5:00pm.

Stop by to visit this years vendors:

~ American Association of University Women, Pekin Area Branch
~ TAPS
~ Tazewell County Republican Party
~ Tomorrow's Hope Christian Academy
~ WBNH Radio

Pekin Insurance Festive Food Court ~ 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. The Festive Foods is open Saturday, September 8th from 9:00am to 6:00pm and Sunday, September 9th from 9:00am to 5:00pm.

Ambassadors for Christ ~ Bacon Cheeseburgers
American Cancer Society/ Sno Shack~ Corn Dogs, Lemon Shakeups
Christian Civic Outreach ~ Iced Tea, Lemonade & Bottled Water
Faith Baptists Christian School ~ Funnel Cakes
First Christian Church ~ Homemade Warm Apple Dumpling
Pekin Emblem Club #424 ~ Godfather's Pizza
PCHS/AJROTC Boosters ~ Lemon Shakeups
Pekin Job's Daughters Bethel 55 ~ Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Pekin Kiwanis ~ Dippin' Dots, Kettle Korn
Pekin Lions Club ~ Donuts
Rotary Club of Pekin ~ Pork Chop Fry, Brats, Rib-eye
Senior World ~ Shaved Ice & Frosted Nuts
The Salvation Army ~ Walking Tacos
United Way of Pekin ~ Johnsonville Brats