MAHOMET — Greater than 100 completely different sodas from throughout the US can be obtainable at Saturday’s Mahomet Soda Pageant.
The day-long occasion (10 am to 7 pm) on the middle may even function a pair of Combating Illini athletes, music and video games for youngsters.
The Mahomet Chamber of Commerce sponsors the pageant, and chamber director Walter Pierce mentioned a big crowd is anticipated.
Final 12 months, the occasion was held in September, when issues have been beginning to reopen after pandemic restrictions have been relaxed.
“We’re very happy” with the turnout, Pierce mentioned.
“We have been anticipating between 2,000 and four,000 individuals, and unofficially put our head depend at three,000 based mostly on purchases and crowds,” he added. “We count on extra this 12 months as an increasing number of restrictions are lifted.”
Final 12 months’s turnout would in all probability have been larger have been it not for the sweltering warmth. The thermometer reached 97 levels, a great temperature to chill down with a soda, however not rather more.
The soda pageant, began in 2012, was initially held in Homer however needed to be moved. Mahomet officers had hoped to carry it in 2020, however have been unable to resulting from COVID-19.
There can be three tasting choices obtainable: a tasting card that permits 9 tastings for $5; a limiteless wristband for $25; or a household pack for 2 limitless tastings and two of the $9 playing cards for $50. Each the limitless and the household pack include a memento glass of soda with the pageant emblem and the title of the sponsor.
Two tents can be arrange the place tickets may be bought.
There may even be refreshments on the market to take residence.
Illini quarterback Artwork Sitkowski and males’s basketball participant Dain Dainja can be readily available to signal autographs. Sitkowski will signal from midday to 2 pm, and Dainja will signal from 2 to four pm Autographs are free and there’s a restrict of 1 per particular person. Photographs can be obtainable upon request at no cost.
The Hobnob String Band and the Bashful Youngens will present music.
The Hobnob String Band is an acoustic musical group that performs tunes starting from previous days to bluegrass and blues. The Bashful Youngens, based mostly in Champaign, current a musical model that ranges from fashionable people to different nation.
The children’ space will function a wide range of bouncy homes, impediment programs and free video games all through the day. A trackless prepare will take passengers by way of the middle of Mahomet.
T-shirts can be obtainable to buy the day of the occasion.
