Following is the schedule of events for the 194th Annual Pekin 4th Of July Festival:

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3

7:00 a.m. til 10:00 a.m. ............. Breakfast at the Pekin Park Shelter House by Main Street Meats
8:00 a.m - 10:00 am.............. Registration for 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament at the Basketball Court
10:00 a.m................................... 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament Starts (until the last game finishes)
at the Basketball Court
8:00 a.m. til 12:00 p.m. ............. Set up for Craft Vendors/Flea Market, Food Vendors, and Rides
Homeland Security and Health Department Inspections
5:00 p.m. til Fireworks .............. Food Court Open
5:00 p.m. til Fireworks .............. Craft Vendors/Flea Market Open
5:00 p.m. til Fireworks .............. Bluegrass Rides Open , DJ Eric by the Stage
5:00 p.m. til 8:00 p.m. ............... Sign-ups for the Watermelon and Corn on the Cob Eating Contest at the Pekin Community Betterment Organization Booth
5:30 p.m. ..................................... Dessert Auction Begins
Immediately after the Dessert Auction Recognition of the reigning Firecracker and Dynamite Winners
7:00 p.m. til 10:00 p.m. ............. Juice Box Heroes perform on the Pekin Park Stage
8:30 p.m. til 9:00 p.m. ............... Intermission for the Juice Box Heroes and Dessert Auction with Sam Hurst
10:00 p.m. ................................... Fireworks by Straight Shooters

THURSDAY, JULY 4

7:00 a.m. til 10:00 a.m. ..................... Breakfast at the Pekin Park Shelter House by Main Street Meats

8:00 a.m. ............................................ Parade line-up at Eastern High School

10:00 a.m. .......................................... Parade-Tisha Coles, Coordinator with Family and Friends

Theme- 2024 - "Celebrate Days Gone By"

Grand Marshals - Steve Burnett and Gary Nale

12:30 pm. ........................................... Invocation by Dr. Jeremy Goen-Pekin Church of Christ Minister

Presentation of “Colors” and Pledge of Allegiance led by Dr. Jeremy Goen

Star Spangled Banner- Allison Hein

Reading of the Preamble of the Declaration of Independence - 2024 Eastern High School  Valedictorian- Glenn Gosnell

Back Home Again in Indiana - Allison Hein

Welcome Patrons - Taylor Humphrey-Arnold, Pekin Community Betterment Organization President

Grand Marshals Induction

11:00 a.m. til 5:30 p.m. ..................... Food Court Open

11:00 a.m. til 5:30 p.m. ..................... Craft Vendors/Flea Market Open

11:00 a.m. til 5:30 p.m. ..................... Bluegrass Rides Open, DJ Eric by the Stage

1:30 p.m. ............................................ Dollars for Scholars of Eastern High School on the Pekin Park Stage

2:30 p.m. ............................................ Prince and Princess Contest on the Pekin Park Stage

- Darlene Hall, Coordinator

Immediately following the Prince and Princess Contest- 2nd Annual Watermelon Eating Contest and

2nd Annual Corn on the Cob Eating Contest

4:00 p.m. ............................................ Queen Contest on the Pekin Park Stage  -Darlene Hall, Coordinator

5:00 p.m. ............................................ 2024 Queen Crowning Announcement

Immediately following - Gun Raffle drawing

Immediately following - Special Thanks and Closing by Taylor Humphrey-Arnold, President PCBO 2024