Crescent City, IL — A weekend of parades, concerts, local food and small-town tradition awaits visitors as the 2025 Crescent City Fireball Festival kicks off Thursday.
According to the Crescent City Historical Society, the Fireball Festival runs June 12–15, honoring the town’s history with a commemorative event that began after a fiery 1970 train derailment. The celebration is now in its 55th year, featuring a schedule packed with local favorites like the fish fry, beer tents, and a grand parade themed “All Aboard for Fireball — 55 Years of Golden Memories.”
The festival begins Thursday evening with a 5K race at Heritage Park. Friday includes a fish fry at 4 p.m., followed by the Fireball Idol singing finals and a DJ set into the night. A lighted golf cart parade will cap off Friday’s festivities.
Saturday marks the festival’s busiest day. Events begin at 7 a.m. with a BBQ Smoke-Off and continue through 9 p.m. with fireworks. Highlights include a parade at 11 a.m., a car show, a kid’s zone, school reunions, pork chop dinners, and the comedic Commodes Races. Live music returns Saturday night with a performance by “High Anxiety.”
Sunday’s closing events include a 10:15 a.m. all-faith church service and a tree dedication in memory of Dennis Boyer.
The Crescent City Historical Society will also offer a self-guided house walk all weekend. Food trucks, merchandise vendors, and souvenir stands will be stationed in Heritage Park.
The festival’s long-standing tradition and family-centered programming continue to draw visitors from across east-central Illinois each summer, with Heritage Park serving as the festival’s focal point.
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