Marion Popcorn Festival

the largest popcorn festival in the world

First Weekend after Labor Day

September 8, 9, 10, 2022

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You are here: Home / About the Marion Popcorn Festival

About the Marion Popcorn Festival

The Marion Popcorn Festival is one of Ohio’s premier festival events, named one of the Top 100 Events in North America by the American Bus Association.

Located in downtown Marion, Ohio, it is the largest popcorn festival in the world annually attracting crowds in excess of 250,000.

For safety and liability reasons,  pets are not permitted on the festival grounds.

Marion Popcorn Festival Dates, Times, Location

The Marion Popcorn Festival is held each year the weekend following Labor Day. The festival is open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 11:00am to midnight.

The festival takes place in the heart of downtown Marion. Click here to find maps of the festival grounds and directions on getting here.

Marion Popcorn Festival History

The First Marion Popcorn Festival was held in September of 1981. The Popcorn Festival was the idea of a number of local business men that worked with local city officials to organize the festival. It was the intent of the organizers to create a 3-day festival that would promote Marion and offer free, nationally-known headline entertainment.  Popcorn was picked because Marion County in Ohio is one of the top growers of popcorn in the United States and Wyandot, Inc. is one of the largest exporters of popcorn in the World.

You can find a history of the main stage entertainment by clicking here.

Marion Popcorn Festival Leadership

The Marion Popcorn Festival is an all volunteer organization led by a Board of Directors.

2019 – 2020 Festival Officials
President – Dean Castanien
1st Vice President – Darl Snyder
2nd Vice President – Daniel Bradshaw
Secretary – Tammy Kelly
Treasurer – Sue Griffiths
Ex-Officio – Robert Baer

There is also a 21-member board of trustees.

2019 Term
Paul Beickelman
Daniel Bradshaw
Mike Hoffman
Tammy Kelly
Robb Koons
Christine Hinton
Marble Miller
2020 Term
Robert Baer
Linda Candel
Dean Castanien
Tom Danner
Marge Ferriman
Scott Shawver
Darl Snyder
2021 Term
Steve Badertscher
Phil Biederman
Dawn Brown
Sue Griffiths
Vince Reed
Connie Rotte
Shelley Rush

The permanent Advisory Board is comprised of:

Kathy Brinkman
Norma Castanien
Rex Coldwell
Marge Ferriman

Phyllis Hendrix
Pat Logan
Muggs McGinnis
Devin Needles

Mike Nicolosi
Karen Schafer
Darl Snyder
Thomas White

In memory: Al Brinkman, Pat Regules and Mary Dutton

Marion Popcorn Festival Sponsors

City of MarionOhioHealth MarionDelmar DistributingAqua OhioSilverLine WindowsCentral Ohio Honda DealersLogan TireWyandot Snacksbluefusion entertainmentPOET BiorefiningStandard Property ManagementSims BrothersReal Estate ShowcaseUnited Church HomesMarion Area Convention & Visitors BureauLobo Awards & GraphixFahey BankThe Union Bank CompanyCummins Facility ServicesAll About StoragePeacock WaterPillar Credit UnionStorad LabelWyandot Popcorn MuseumPremier BankUnion Home MortgageWilson BohannaniHeart MediaNeighborhood Image

Click here to view all of our financial supporters and learn more about being a sponsor!

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