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.

2017 – 2018 Festival Officials
President – Robert Baer
1st Vice President – Linda Candel
2nd Vice President – Mike Huffman
Secretary – Tammy Kelly
Treasurer – Tom White
Ex-Officio – Sue Griffiths

Director- Robb Koons
Assistant Director- Cyndie Jackson

There is also a 21-member board of trustees.

The permanent Advisory Board is comprised of:

In memory: Al Brinkman, Pat Regules and Mary Dutton