PEKIN – According to the Pekin Community Betterment Organization, the 191st Pekin Fourth of July Parade will be held on Monday, July 5th. Some on social media have questioned that, but the celebration is steeped in tradition, as well as its scheduling.
PCBO President Taylor Humphrey said if the 4th falls on a Sunday, it has always traditionally been held on Monday due to Sunday being reserved for worship.
The first Pekin Fourth of July celebration took place in 1830. Back then it was just a few firecrackers and a gunshot in the air. The town has only 1,500 people but it grows tenfold during the celebration, with as many as 15,000 people attending.
In early years, when many people came in by train, a group would meet the train and the parade would start there. Now the parade is the main event of the day, with novelty cars and trucks, floats of every kind, bikes and horseback riders.
The deadline to enter the parade is Monday, June 21.
Fireworks are scheduled for Saturday, July 3 at dusk.
The Queen, Prince and Princess Contest entry deadline is May 29th. The contests will be held on Sunday, July 4th.
For more information visit the Oldest Consecutive 4th of July Celebration in the Nation – Pekin, Indiana Facebook page.
