This year, the Pekin Marigold Festival promises to “Rock the Bicentennial,” commemorating the City’s 200 year anniversary with rock and roll flair. Marigold Festival weekend will take place September 4th-8th, and will feature the familiar events festival-goers know and love, and the return of some classic family-friendly activities. 

This is a big year for the City of Pekin. 2024 marks the 200th anniversary of the town’s founding. All year long, the City has made efforts to celebrate its rich history, to reflect on the past, and look forward to the future. The Pekin Marigold Festival, Pekin’s most celebrated tradition, is “the perfect way to celebrate the Bicentennial,” said one Pekin native. “It’s a way to come together and have a good time, year after year.”

Attendees can expect the return of the Festival’s usual marquee events. Art in the Park will deliver a market-like shopping experience, featuring over 200 vendors selling homemade crafts and art. Festive Foods will fill the park with the aroma of classic fair foods and sweet treats, all provided by local non-profit organizations. The Kids Experience features balloon animals, bounce-houses, crafts, face-painting, a scavenger hunt, and more—for free. And of course, the Carnival promises a good time filled with rides and games, and the Entertainment Stage will bring something to the stage for everyone, all weekend long. Get your Marigold Festival Event Guide to find specific times and dates. “These events are the staples of the Marigold Festival. While each year we aim to do something different, these events have become tradition,” said Amy McCoy, Executive Director of the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce. 

In the name of historical celebration, the Festival will also bring back events of festivals past, like the Cardboard Boat Race. The race will make a return on Saturday, September 7 at 3pm. Contestants will engineer their own cardboard boats and embark on a journey across the Mineral Springs Park Lagoon. Rules and registration are available at pekinmarigoldfestival.com

Consistent with the theme, this year’s Festival will also feature a rock concert. The Bicentennial Dragon Jam will take place on Friday, September 6th, with music from Matt Miller Band, Revel in Red, JammSammich, and Backstreet Band. “This concert is more than just music; it’s a celebration of the musical roots of our community,” said 2024 Pekin Marigold Festival Chairperson Baylee Gambetti.

While Marigold weekend is the main attraction, the community will be electric with excitement in the weeks leading up to the event. Adjacent activities, like the Miss Marigold Pageant, the Marigold Medallion Hunt, and the Marigold Golf Outing are planned for August, building anticipation for the fun to come. 

This year’s Grand Marshal is long time Pekin resident and committed community member Gary Gillis. You might recognize Gillis if you’ve participated in the Marigold Medallion Hunt in the past three decades. This year marks Gillis’ 37th year as Marigold Medallion “Cluemeister,” crafting and leaving clues for keen hunters each year until the medallion is found. Gillis is an active member of several community organizations and is the host of the podcast “What’s the Story, Pekin?”

This year marks 52 years of the Pekin Marigold Festival. Pekin’s beloved tradition began in 1973 as a tribute to Pekin native and US Senator Everett McKinley Dirksen. An integral part of Pekin history, Dirksen most notably played a role in the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Marigold Festival takes its name and emblem from Dirksen’s favorite flower, the marigold. The Festival continues to honor Dirksen’s legacy in addition to showcasing local businesses, community organizations, and nonprofits. The Dirksen Center Pop-Up Museum will feature artifacts from Dirksen’s upbringing in Pekin and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 inside the Pavilion during Festival weekend. 

Prepare for a historic Marigold Festival weekend filled with fun for the whole family, September 4th-8th, 2024. “The Marigold Festival Committee has worked hard this year to come up with some truly incredible events for all of Pekin to enjoy,” said McCoy. “We can’t wait for you to celebrate our favorite weekend of the year.” For more information about the Pekin Marigold Festival, or to download your official 2024 Marigold Festival event guide, please visit pekinmarigoldfestival.com.