Anytime someone asks where I'm from I usually say Chicago, because no one knows where little Pekin, Illinois actually is. Pekin is located in Tazewell County right by the Illinois River. There isn't much to do in this small town so we make the most out of what we have!
Any current or former student of Pekin Community High School can relate to these 10 things about Pekin, Illinois.
1. The long walk from "A" building to "G" building.
How did the school think we could walk across one side of the school to the completely opposite side? If you were either in the basement of A or the back of G the struggle of getting to your next class was real. Six minutes was not enough time to make it through over 2,000 students in the hall.
2. Having to park in "Putt-Putt" parking lot when you were late to school.
I never had to experience the pain of having to park here. I knew that the arena lot filled up fast and that's why I would get to school early. Around the time sophomores would get their license is when the arena and sometimes Putt-Putt would fill up at 7:30 a.m. and class is at 8.
3. The Fire Pit Nation on Friday night games.
No one in the Mid-Illini Conference could beat the Fire Pit Nation student section. Every Friday night, depending on who Pekin was playing, the student section would dress up. This included red out, blackout, whiteout, beach wear, "hip-hop" and many others.
4. Double D's was the best place to get ice cream.
5. World Greatest Sundial
Who wouldn't want to live in the city with the World's Greatest Sundial? Honestly, nobody from Pekin knows why or how we got this. The plus to having this is that we can brag that we have the world's greatest something.
6.The Dragon Hill
This long walk from the parking lot to the top of the hill felt like forever. During the winter, you could witness many people falling since the entire hill was covered with ice. It was funny to watch, unless that person ended up being you...
7. Watching the Holiday Tournament in the Hawkins and Custer-Stoudt Gym.
Every year, Pekin Community High School hosts the annual Pekin Insurance Holiday Tournament for the past 51 years. The tournament lasts three days long and has 16 teams from around Illinois compete. It was a fun time watching Pekin and other teams play for the championship. Tons of people from out of town come for the special event towards the end of December.
8. Marigold Festival
This big event is hosted around the Pekin Park the weekend after Labor Day. At the festival includes art in the park, carnival rides,Medallion Hunt, Miss Marigold Pageant, Parade and so much more! They have the best lemonade shake ups and food vendors.
9. Scott Altman School
Scott Altman is a Pekin native who was an United States Navy Captain, engineer, test pilot and former NASA astronaut! Pekin honored Scott by renaming the elementary school once known as Sunset Hills Primary school to his name. Just last year, the school had raised for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital located in Illinois.
10. Mineral Springs Park
The lagoon is most famous for it's pedal boat rides. Located next to the lagoon is the pavilion and park. The pavilion is used for graduation parties, family reunions, birthdays and many more things.
I am glad I had the chance to grow up in the city of Pekin, Illinois. There is so much opportunity for anyone to start a new life or family here. I have spent the last 12 years of my life living here and wouldn't change it at all!
