(Photo By Flickr User terren in Virginia)

The first Pekin Marigold Festival was held in 1973, and now, young and old look forward to this yearly, after Labor Day weekend event.

The 2016 Pekin Marigold Festival will be held at Mineral Springs Park in Pekin, IL starting on Thursday, September 8th and ending on Sunday, September 11th.

This year’s festival theme: “Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pies, and Marigolds.”

This year’s festival will feature Lee Smith, who played for 18 years in Major League Baseball for eight teams, the Miss Marigold Pageant, live entertainment, a sand volleyball tournament, the Marigold 5k Run/Walk, a carnival, a parade, kids activities, food, plus much more!

For complete details and schedule on the festival, visit www.pekinchamber.com/MarigoldFestival.html or give them a call at 309-346-2106.