PEKIN, Ill. — The Marigold Festival is always held the weekend after Labor Day, in the Marigold Capital of the World…Pekin, Illinois.
Amy McCoy, with the Pekin Chamber of Commerce, says this is a milestone year, as the Marigold Festival turns 50.
This year’s theme “Back in Time”, will reflect on how the Pekin Marigold Festival has become a cherished tradition in the Central Illinois region.
Beloved by his hometown, Pekin hosted its first Marigold Festival in 1973 as a celebration of late Senator Everett Dirksen’s legislative legacy.
One of the highlights each year is the carnival, which comes to town on Thursday.
“We have a Crosstown Classic, the two junior high baseball teams play each other on the high school field. We have a wine and spirits tasting at the Country Club, and then Friday, we start setting up the park and the vendors come in,” McCoy says.
McCoy tells WMBD’s “The Greg and Dan Show”, “Art in the Park” takes place Saturday and Sunday at Mineral Springs Park, and the Marigold Festival Parade steps off at 10 a.m. Saturday on Broadway and Court Streets.
Another festival draw is always the food, including pork chops or a hot bag of donuts.
“We have 20 plus vendors, all non-profit organizations, raising money for their organizations and bringing that money back to the community…that’s just one of the cool things,” McCoy says.
A link to the Pekin Marigold Festival site is HERE.
