Two hundred years do not pass quietly, and Pekin has chosen to mark its bicentennial with a full calendar of gatherings that stretch across the year — from a springtime address by the mayor to a summer fireworks tradition nearly eight decades old. Rather than a single ceremony, the celebration is built as a rolling series of events, each one drawing out a different thread of the city's history and community life. Together they form a kind of civic mosaic, inviting residents to participate in whatever way suits them, whether that means solving historical puzzles, singing along at a concert, or simply standing along Court Street to watch a parade.
The Kickoff: State of the City Address and Lunch with Mayor Burress
The bicentennial calendar formally opens with the State of the City Address and Lunch with Mayor Burress, an event designed to set the tone for everything that follows. Beyond the customary review of municipal priorities, this gathering doubles as the launch point for the 2024 City of Pekin Bicentennial Celebrations, giving residents an early look at what the year has in store.
Civic addresses like this one serve a dual purpose: they inform, but they also gather people together in a shared moment of anticipation. For a milestone as significant as two hundred years, that shared moment matters as much as any single fact delivered from the podium.
Looking Back Through Film and History
History is not only told through speeches — it can also be watched. The Pekin Public Library's Historic Film Series brings together local footage tied to Pekin's past, screened monthly as part of the bicentennial programming. These reels offer residents a rare chance to see their community as it once looked, a visual counterpart to the stories passed down through families and local records.
Complementing the film series is the Historic Adventure Quest, a self-guided puzzle that sends participants to twenty historic locations around Pekin. Piecing together clues at each stop turns a simple walk or drive through town into an active engagement with local heritage — a scavenger hunt with two centuries of context behind it.
Together, these two offerings appeal to different instincts: one invites quiet reflection through archival images, the other rewards curiosity and exploration. Both point participants toward the same conclusion — that Pekin's history is embedded in its streets, buildings, and everyday landmarks.
Music, Trivia, and Community Fundraising
Not every bicentennial event is solemn or reflective; plenty are simply fun. The Swiss-German Springfest, hosted at the Avanti's Event Center and Harmonie, brings a festive European flavor to the celebration with performer Eddie Korosa, Jr., traditional alphorns, and a spread of German food and beer. It's a nod to the cultural heritage that shaped much of the region's early settlement patterns.
For those who prefer games to guest lists, the Pekin Bicentennial Trivia Night offers an evening of friendly competition. Starting at 6 p.m., attendees can expect trivia rounds, door prizes such as park facility passes and gift cards, and snacks provided at no extra cost. Tickets are ten dollars per person, and — notably — all proceeds are directed toward the Pekin Park Performing Arts Amphitheater fund, turning an evening of fun into a direct investment in future community infrastructure.
All funds raised will go to the Pekin Park Performing Arts Amphitheater fund — a night of trivia and games that leaves something lasting behind.
Meanwhile, the Pekin Civic