Want to take part in the 2023 Marion Popcorn Parade? It steps off at 6:00pm on Thursday, September 7, 2023. But to take part, you must submit an application before the deadlines.

Those wanting to enter a float in the parade must apply no later than August 5, 2023. All applicants will be notified of their status no later than August 12, 2023.

The deadline for non-float entries will be August 25, 2023. In order to have the lineup completed and your position in the parade mailed in time, entries will not be accepted after the August 25th deadline.

Additional rules and information, including the application form, can be found by clicking here!

The Main Stage of the 42nd Annual Marion Popcorn will again feature three nights of free live entertainment, including a high-energy Thursday Popcorn Block Party, a Country artist with 16 #1 hits on Friday, and closes out on Saturday with some Hard Southern Rockers from Kentucky visiting before their September LP release and European Tour, on September 7-8-9 in downtown Marion, Ohio.

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MOFAS 2022 POPFEST ART SHOW is a juried fine art competition held at the Brickyard, 135 South Main Street in Marion, on September 8th, 9th & 10th, 2022.

The entry fee is $10/piece for members of MOFAS and $20/piece for non-members with a limit of four pieces per artist.

Original work in all media is acceptable. All work will be judged by a panel of experts. Entry categories are:

Painting–Works created with fluid media in oils, acrylics, watercolor, etc.;
Drawing–Works created using dry media including chalk, charcoal, pastels, pencil, crayon, or, ink mediums, markers or washes applied by pen or brush;
Photography— Photographic prints; Sculpture–Three dimensional in any medium;
Mixed Media–Pieces that incorporate more than one type of physical material/medium to produce, including fiber art.

The Main Stage of the 41st Annual Marion Popcorn will feature three nights of free live entertainment, including a group with the currently #1 ranked Country Airplay single, a female rock pioneer/guitar icon, and a tribute to one of Detroit’s most beloved performers on September 8-10, 2022 in downtown Marion, Ohio.

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Information and applications for the Miss, Ms., and Miss Teen Marion Popcorn Pageants are now available. Click here for details and to download an application. Note: all applications must be in before July 10, 2022.

These pageants will be held at River Valley High School Auditorium on August 6, 2022 starting at 7:00pm.

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Get your Space gear ready for the Marion Popcorn Festival in 2022.

We are excited for this year’s theme and can’t wait to see all the creative floats, pageant wear and ideas you all come up with!

RUMOURS, NORTHEAST OHIO’S PREMIER FLEETWOOD MAC TRIBUTE BAND, will kick off this year’s main stage entertainment Thursday, September 9.  

This year marks Rumours’ 24rd year together since they began in 1997. Come out and and join them as they rock Marion with many of your favorite Fleetwood Mac hits, as well as solo hits, from Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie.  The lineup includes: Lance Horwedel as Lindsey Buckingham (lead vocals and guitar); Claudia Doman as Christine McVie (lead vocals, keyboards and guitar); Shannon Martin-Paul as Stevie Nicks (lead vocals); Dave McNary as John McVie (bass); Brian Runkle as Mic Fleetwood (drums) and Matt Corkins (keyboards).

The bands’ interests are deeply rooted in the history of Fleetwood Mac’s song archive. You can tell by their set list dating back into the Peter Green Era. They also delve into Stevie, Lindsey and Christine’s solo careers which span over 50 years.  Come take a walk down memory lane with Rumours as they recreate the sights and sounds of these amazing singers, songwriters and musicians everyone loves.

EDDIE MONTGOMERY OF MONTGOMERY GENTRY, will be taking the mainstage Friday, September 10.  

Eddie Montgomery recently released “Outskirts,” a seven-song EP. With 20 plus charted singles, the Kentucky native has earned CMA, ACM, and GRAMMY awards and nominations with undeniable blue collar anthems like “Hell Yeah,” “My Town,” and “Hillbilly Shoes.” They’ve notched five No. 1 singles, “If You Ever Stop Loving Me,” “Something To Be Proud Of,” “Lucky Man,” “Back When I Knew It All” and “Roll With Me.” They were inducted as Grand Ole Opry members in 2009 and were inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame in 2015.  Montgomery continues to record music and entertain audiences after Montgomery Gentry member and co-founder, Troy Gentry, died in a helicopter crash in September 2017.

GREAT WHITE, will wrap-up the mainstage entertainment on Saturday, September 11.  

Since 1982, the Great White sound has captivated audiences worldwide with crushing blues-based guitar riffs and swagger that invokes an emotional high for anyone that listens. The band’s core writing team of Michael Lardie and Mark Kendall forged numerous hits over the years and when Audie Desbrow joined in 1985, the grooves hooked an amazing stride.

Their arsenal of songs include the Grammy nominated Best Hard Rock Performance hit, “Once Bitten, Twice Shy.” Great White has sold over 10 million albums worldwide, has six Top 100 billboard hits, nine Top 200 billboard albums, two platinum albums and clocked the top of MTV four times. To experience their hits live in concert – ‘Rock Me’, ‘Mista Bone’, ‘Save Your Love’, ‘House of Broken Love’ and ‘Lady Red Light’ – is to ride an emotional wave of sultry connections, arousing lyrics and an all-out marathon of hard-hitting orchestrations.

California-based Great White continues to tour worldwide; the band members are Kendall (guitar), Lardie (guitar, keyboards), Desbrow (drums), Scott Snyder (bass) and Mitch Malloy (vocals), who joined the band in July 2018. 

The 2021 dates of the Marion Popcorn Festival are September 9, 10 and 11.  All performances on the Festival’s main stage begin at 8:30 p.m. and are free of charge.  A limited number of Kernel sponsorship seats are available for any of the Main Stage performances by calling 740-387-FEST.  Other events include the Popcorn Parade with over 300 units, a popcorn cooking contest, fine arts show, crafts, corn hole, Community Showcase Stage, Poppin’ Party stage and much more.  
For more information, visit our web site at www.popcornfestival.com or call 740-387-FEST.   The Marion Popcorn Festival is sponsored in part by the City of Marion.