The Marion Popcorn Festival is held every year in downtown Marion, Ohio, USA. The festival was established in 1981 and is held annually during the first weekend after Labor Day in September. Festival organizers schedule nationally known acts like Ernest Borgnine, Gloria Estefan, REO Speedwagon, Styx, Lorrie Morgan, The Neville Brothers, and Huey Lewis and the News to perform at the festival. It is said to be the biggest popcorn festival in the world, attracting crowds of over 250,000.[1]
Several hundred thousand people come annually for food, rides, activities and fun for the whole family. Events include the Popcorn 100 bike tour, Popcorn 5000 (5 km run), Fine Arts, Craft Sales, Kiddie Korner, 50+ Softball Tournament, among others. A girls pageant is held to commemorate the festival with the winner crowned "Miss Teeny Pop". The festival also has a scholarship pageant that is affiliated with the Miss America organization.
Rides are located within the Festival area, and a parade kicks off the event Thursday at 6:00 p.m. For 2005, approximately 300 units are scheduled to participate.
Several beer gardens, featuring food and entertainment, are conveniently located adjacent to the midway.
In 2004, the Travel Channel came to the festival and recorded parts of the festival as part of Taste of America with Mark DeCarlo. [2]