Your 2025 Guide to Looking Sharp at Glad Fest Momence (aka the Gladiolus Fest)

1 | Why the Momence Gladiolus Festival Is a Big Deal

Every first full week of August since 1938, downtown Momence, Illinois, transforms into five days of parades, carnival lights, and Midwest charm known locally as Glad Fest Momence. A dedicated volunteer association formed in 1939 keeps the tradition alive, making the event one of the longest‑running floral festivals in the Great Lakes region. Gladfest

2 | 2025 at a Glance—Theme, Dates & Must‑See Events

• Dates: Wednesday, August 6 – Sunday, August 10, 2025 (87th annual) music festival.

• Official Theme: “Gladiolus Game Night.” Expect Monopoly‑style floats, giant dice décor, and plenty of family‑friendly competitions. Gladfest

• Signature Events:

  • Princess & Queen Coronation – Wednesday, River Street Stage, 7 PM. Gladfest

  • Kid’s Parade – Thursday, 6:30 PM, Washington Street for the music festival.

  • Lighted Grand Parade – Saturday after dusk; lawn chairs line up by 5 PM. Visit Kankakee County for a selection of local crafts and vendor displays.

  • Flea Market & Craft Fair – Friday‑Sunday on Washington Street.

  • Carnival Midway (Swyear Amusements) – Open nightly with $30 unlimited‑ride wristbands. Gladfest

  • Car Show & 5K “Run for the Bulbs” – Saturday morning, downtown riverfront.

  • Fireworks Finale – Sunday at dusk over the Kankakee River. Visit Kankakee County

Whether you call it the Gladiolus Fest, Glad Fest, or even the occasionally Googled “Gladious Fest,” the long weekend draws thousands of visitors who all need comfortable, on‑brand gear to survive August humidity and endless photo ops.

3 | The High‑Impact Value of Custom Festival Apparel in Momence

Searches for custom festival apparel Momence Spikes every July as local businesses, marching units, and reunion crews scramble to find matching tees and hats before the registration cut-offs for their customer orders. Coordinated gear:

• Builds Identity – Grand‑parade judges notice uniformed entries.

• Boosts Visibility – Sponsor logos ride along parade routes and vendor rows.

• Creates Souvenirs – A well‑designed tee outlasts every funnel cake—and keeps your brand top‑of‑mind long after the Ferris wheel packs up.

Add the festival’s 2025 “Game Night” theme, and you’ve got creative runway for dice-pipped sleeve prints, Scrabble-tile nameplates, or neon Pac-Man color palettes on mesh trucker caps for the craft and vendor show.

4 | Meet Glowmark Designs—Kankakee County’s Festival Merch Specialists

Based just 20 minutes south in Ashkum, IL, Glowmark Designs is a veteran‑owned, family‑run shop that cranks out:

• Screen‑printed festival tees make great handmade gifts. (soft‑feel water‑based or bold plastisol).

• Leather patch hats (Richardson, Legacy, Yupoong).

• DTF transfers & can‑coolers for quick‑turn vendor giveaways.

• Personalized tote bags perfect for flea‑market hauls.

Early‑Bird Perk: Order any Glad Fest‑themed merch before July 20 and score 10% off your entire invoice—no coupon code necessary. Quotes turn in 24 hours, mock‑ups in 48. Delivery options include free local pickup or tracked shipping anywhere in Kankakee County for your handmade items.

(Note: We won’t have a booth at the festival itself, so be sure to place orders in advance.)

5 | Design Ideas That Nail the 2025 “Game Night” Theme

Every piece can be mix‑and‑match with your parade entry colors or corporate palette—just ask our graphic team to tweak Pantones.

6 | The Glowmark Design‑to‑Delivery Process

1. Reach Out: DM us on Facebook @GlowmarkDesigns or email sales@glowmarkdesigns.com with your idea, quantity, and due date.

2. Digital Mock‑Up: We send a hi‑res proof—usually within 48 hours—showing placement, colors, and final cost with the 10% Glad Fest discount applied.

3. Approval & Production: Once you e‑sign, we laser, print, or stitch. Typical runs under 25 units ship in 7–10 business days.

4. Quality Check: Every hat is heat‑set to 320 °F and every tee goes through our dryer for optimal cure—your prints won’t crack during Saturday’s car‑show sun.

5. Pickup or Ship: options will be available at the craft and vendor show. Choose Ashkum pickup (Mon‑Fri, 9 AM–6 PM) or UPS Ground to Momence, Bradley, or beyond for your festival gifts.

7 | Ranking Factors and Existing Top Content

When you Google Glad Fest Momence or Gladiolus Festival, the first page is dominated by:

1. Gladfest.com – the official festival website with date & theme updates. Gladfest

2. VisitKankakeeCounty.com – visitor bureau event pages. Visit Kankakee County

3. FestivalNet.com listings. FestivalNet

4. Yelp reviews and local news recaps. Yelp

8 | FAQs – Everything You Wanted to Know About Glad Fest Apparel

Q1. When exactly is Glad Fest Momence 2025 for the wine and music festival?
August 6–10, 2025, downtown Momence, Illinois. The Wednesday night coronation kicks things off, and Sunday’s fireworks close it down. GladfestGladfest

Q2. What’s the difference between the Gladiolus Festival, Glad Fest, and “Gladious Fest”?
All three names refer to the same event. “Gladiolus Festival” is the formal title, “Glad Fest” is the local shorthand, and “Gladious Fest” is simply a common miss‑spelling that folks still type into Google.

Q3. Do I need special permits to sell or distribute shirts at the festival?
Yes. Vendors must apply through the Momence Gladiolus Festival Association. Glowmark Designs handles printing but does not provide on‑site permits—contact the association directly via gladfest.com. Gladfest

Q4. How early should I order custom festival apparel for my parade group?
We recommend locking designs by July 10 to take advantage of Glowmark’s 10% discount and ensure production time. Rush fees apply after July 20.

Q5. Can Glowmark ship directly to my Momence hotel or Airbnb?
Absolutely. UPS Ground reaches Momence in 1–2 days from our Ashkum shop. Provide your lodging address at checkout.

Q6. What are your Materials?What garment styles hold up best in August humidity?
Lightweight ringspun cotton or 50/50 poly blends breathe well. For hats, mesh‑back truckers with moisture‑wicking sweatbands are festival favorites.

Q7. Do you only print tees and hats?
No! We also laser‑engrave can‑coolers, hydro‑flask style tumblers, and even cornhole boards—anything to make your vendor booth or parade float pop.

9 | Ready to Roll?

The clock is ticking toward the first Wednesday of August and those “Gladiolus Game Night” banners. Whether you’re marching, vending, or just repping your hometown pride, consider personalising your items for a more unique touch. custom festival apparel Momence residents actually want to wear starts with a quick message to Glowmark.

➜ Get 10% off when you approve your quote before July 10, 2025—because nothing rolls the dice on brand exposure like showing up in style.

Email sales@glowmarkdesigns.com or message @GlowmarkDesigns on Facebook today, and let’s make your Glad Fest (or Gladious Fest, if you prefer) look legendary.