Plans are complete fror the 182nd Annual Pekin Fourth of July Festival.
The Pekin Community Betterment Organization finalized the schedule and released it early this week.
The following is a list of events planned, beginning Friday, June 29 through Wednesday, July 4.
Entry forms as well as the 15 young ladies competing for the title of Pekin Fourth of July Queen can be found on the inside section of this paper.
There is also other news regarding the Fourth throughout this paper.
Friday, June 29
4:00 p.m. til 9:00 p.m. - Food Available
4:00 p.m. Flea Market & Artisian Market
Inflatable Bouncers, Bungi Jump, and Games
Saturday, June 30
11:00 a.m. til 10:00 p.m. - Food Available
7-8:00 a.m. Registration – 8:00a.m. Start 5K Run/Walk Event at Pekin Park
9:00 a.m. 3 on 3 Hoopfest! Pekin Park basketball court
9:00 a.m. Artisian Market & Flea Market Open all Day
11:00 a.m. til Dark – Inflatable Bouncers, Bungi Jump, Dunk Tank, and much more at the Park.
11:00 a.m. til 1:00 p.m. Registration for Independence
Motorcycle Ride
at Pekin Town Hall at 75 S. Mill Street, Pekin, In 47165
Ride begins at 1:00 p.m. & returns to Kentuckiana Trading in Borden, IN
12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Pet Costume/Parade Registration at Pekin Park Stage Area
1:00 p.m. Pet Parade and Contest around the Park
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Bubble Truck at the Pekin Park
5:30 p.m. Registration - Pekin IDOL Contest - 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 1st
12:00 p.m. til 5:00 p.m.- Food Available
12:00 p.m. til 5:00 p.m. Flea Market & Artisian Market
1:00 p.m. til 5:00 p.m. Inflatable Bouncers, Bungi Jump, Dunk Tank and much more at the Park.
1:00 p.m. til 5:00 p.m. Praise Day with Bands at the Park Stage
Come & Enjoy Local Praise Bands
3:00 p.m. Message by John Denny
3:40 til 5:00 p.m. Praise Bands continue at the Park Stage
Monday, July 2nd
4:00 p.m. til 9:00 p.m. - Food Available
4:00 p.m. til 8:00p.m. Flea Market & Artisian Market, Inflatable Bouncers, Bungi Jump, and Games
6:00 p.m. til 8:00 p.m. Karaoke Competition on the Park Stage – WSLM Sponsored Event. $5.00 entry Fee. Cash Prizes. Come sing your heart out on stage. Come enjoy the evening.
Tuesday, July 3rd
4:00 p.m. til 10:00 p.m. or later – Food Available
4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Borden Lion Club Fish Fry
4:00 p.m. til 9:00 p.m. Flea Market/ Artisian Market
4:00 p.m. til Fireworks at 10:00 p.m. Inflatable Bouncers, Bungi Jump, Dunk Tank and
much more at the park.
6:30 p.m. til 10:00 p.m. Music by ‘Straight Jacket’ - Coordinator – Chet Bentley
Special quest – Gary Kapfhammer from Louisville
10:30 p.m. Fireworks by Melrose Pyrotechnic at the Park
Wednesday, July 4th
10:00 a.m. til 5:00 p.m. Food available
10:00 a.m. Parade thru town and Park – Sandi Ison & Family Coordinator
Honorary Grand Marshal – Governor Mitch Daniels
Grand Marshal - Buster Crockett
10:00 a.m. til 5:00 p.m. Artisian Market & Flea Market
11:00 a.m. til 5:00 p.m.Inflatable Bouncers, Bungi Jump and Games
11:00 a.m. til 3:00 p.m. - Borden Lions Club Fish Fry
12:30 p.m. Presentation of “Colors” – Pekin American Legion Post 203
Innvocation by Stephen Fisher, First Christian Church of Salem
Star Spangled Banner by Chelsey Brewer
Pledge of Allegiance by Justin Bell Reading of the Declaration of Independence by Logan Gore, Eastern High School Valedictorian
Back Home Again in Indiana by Chelsey Brewer
Welcome by Anita Temple, Pekin Community Betterment Committee
1:00 p.m. Antique Cars at the Park
1:00 p.m. Antique Tractors at the Park
1:00 p.m. Kids & Adults Pedal Tractor Pull at the Park – by Tri-County Tractor Association
1:00 p.m. Horseshoe Pitching Contest at the Park
1:00 p.m. Queen Contest – Pekin 4th of July Queen - Darlene Hall – Coordinator
1:45 p.m. 2012 – Pekin Idol
2:00 p.m. Announcement of 2012 Pekin 4th of July Queen
2:30 p.m. New- Buster’s Barber Shop – Featuring Buster Crockett, Steve Tankersley, Junior Sullivan - Alan Bishop - Coordinator
3:00 p.m. World Record – Spoon Man & Family with the Grease Gravy
4:00 p.m. Prince/Princess Contest - Shari Dalton – Coordinator
5:00 p.m. Dollars for Scholars of Eastern High School, Ray Ramsey & Joy Gore
5:30 p.m. Special Awards, Special Thanks & Closing

There is no doubt that today’s teenagers face more challenges than probably any generation before them. 
They are influenced by the internet, television, the media, their peers, so many sources of negativity. So then how do parents best combat these negative influences?  Where can they go for good direction and guidance?  Who will come alongside them and encourage them to rise above, to stand out, to be more than the low standard the world convinces them is acceptable?