You can hardly drive through Pekin and not see one of our infrastructure projects going on. With school letting out for the summer, there will be more (and younger) drivers on the road, so I and the entire City ask that everyone please be especially careful during the heaviest part of our construction season.

We understand the inconvenience the construction projects cause, but keep in mind that it’s all a great sign of the City moving forward. We are investing in the community—putting tax dollars to work for the direct benefit of the public. When the current phase of Derby Street finishes early this fall along with Court Street a few months later, two of our major thoroughfares that see the highest traffic will be much improved for our residents and business customers, not to mention much more attractive for business investment. Infrastructure costs have increased, and that is the case with almost everything nowadays. Vehicles cost more, materials cost more, labor costs more, and on and on, but the important thing is that the City Council and staff are working diligently to be more efficient in our operations and to plan our spending better so that your dollars get the best value services the City can provide.

Despite the hassle of road work, Pekin has maybe the best ever lineup of community events planned for the rest of 2024, and it started with the Twisted Catfishing tournament on May 25th that brought hundreds of people to the Pekin riverfront to view and utilize our beautiful Illinois River. Later this month will be our downtown party on June 15 with the veterans parade and the Pekin Main Street Bicentennial Street Faire earlier in the day and then kick off our concert series in the evening. See more events and things to do at DiscoverPekin.com, and have a great summer!

June 15 Downtown Concert Series – 2nd Chance 

July 4 Honor America Celebration & Opening of Pekin Time Capsule

July 6 Bicentennial Bash – Mineral Springs Park

July 27 Downtown SuperCruise

August 24 Downtown Concert Series – Revel in Red

September 4 Taste of Pekin

September 5–8 Pekin Marigold Festival

September 28 Downtown Concert Series – Stone Cold Cowboys & Mixtape Mayhem

December 6 Christmas on Court