The Village of Peoria Heights will play its part in the America250 celebration with a full day of events on Saturday, Aug. 22 at Tower Park. Mark your calendars now.
The inaugural Great Heights Jamboree will feature recognition of America’s military members, live music, tasty food and drink including what promises to be a very entertaining hot dog eating contest, and no end of children’s activities.
The festivities begin at noon with opening remarks from Peoria Heights Mayor Matt Wigginton, followed by a military recognition ceremony, an Honor Guard presentation and the Armed Forces Hymn. Another military tribute will cap the evening at 8:45 p.m.
The music kicks off at 1 p.m. with Americana and traditional tunes from the Central Illinois Banjo Club, including a special performance by Larry and Shirley Hackman with a patriotic dance to banjo music. The New Cats Bluegrass Trio takes the stage at 2:15 p.m. It will pick back up at 5 p.m. with Brainchild, an assembly of Heights musicians playing rock, blues and funk. Roy Ponce will perform the Star-Spangled Banner. At 7 p.m., The Damned Torpedoes will fill the Heights night with the Tom Petty Experience. Finally, the Kris Lager Band will be in from Omaha, Nebraska with its take on pop and R&B music at 9 p.m. Dancers are most welcome.
One big highlight of the day will be Frank’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, with local restaurateurs Frank and Noah Abdnour overseeing this gastronomical wonder. It starts at 4:45 p.m.
Local taste buds will be satisfied and then some with multiple food vendors and a beer tent on site. Richwoods Township will be providing free popcorn and all kinds of patriotic giveaways.
Abraham Lincoln impersonator Rick Otey will be emancipated for the day and roaming the grounds.
You won’t be able to get the kids back home without a fight, as there will be multiple activities for them throughout the day including a bounce house, balloon artist, face painting, free Tower rides and more. Free carriage rides by Ted Tarvin also are on the agenda. Family-friendly is always the name of the game in Peoria Heights.
The event is made possible by the Village of Peoria Heights, other partners and sponsors, and a small army of volunteers. All in all, it promises to be an unforgettable moment, befitting the nation’s 250th birthday.
“We really do invite people from throughout central Illinois to come celebrate the nation’s founding with us,” said Wigginton. “There is no more uplifting and inspiring origins story in the world, and no human experiment in self-governance quite like it. And Peoria Heights, in its own unique way, is a small but integral part of that American story. We hope to do it justice with our party. I think the Founders would be both amused and proud that we’re still able to gather and have fun in their names, 250 years later.”