Marion Festival moving to the Park

The Marion Heritage Day Festival Committee has decided that the Festival will be held in the Town Park this year rather than in the downtown area. There are many reasons for this decision:

1. Parking has become an important issue; it has been more difficult to accommodate the vendors and the attendees, especially on Sunday when the church parking lots are not available.

2. The vendors who set up in front of the school were not satisfied because they felt they were at a disadvantage by being set so far apart from the entertainment. They expressed the feeling that they were isolated, which is what happened when we used Firemen's Park for the crafters.

3. The food vendors would like to be together in the same area, which presents a problem for those who need electricity for their set-up. The Park can provide ample electrical services.

4. There were some issues with the homeowners on North Main Street; there were several who did not wish to have vendors setting up in front of their homes, especially overnight.

5. It had become increasingly difficult to bring the bleachers and grandstand into the four-corners area; they also had to be removed at night and replaced in the morning.

6. There was no shelter for festival-goers in case of inclement weather. At the Park, we have a pavilion and an indoor area. We have ample bathroom facilities as well, and can save money by not having to rent the portable toilets for 2 days; we also experienced some vandalism to those units. The Park provides an area that can be better protected by overnight security people.

The Festival Committee is comprised of a small group of dedicated workers doing their best to continue this event. It is difficult to keep going when there are no new people offering to help with the plans. If you are critical of the decisions, perhaps you could consider joining the committee and being part of the solution.

We want to assure you that this year's Festival will provide lots of entertainment for the whole family. In addition to the arts and crafts and food concessions, we have scheduled bands, dancers, the ping-pong ball drop, the Boomerang Club, the outdoor dance with a D.J. in the evening, the horse-drawn wagon ride, clowns, the Marion Mile, the Main Street Parade (including the popular Kiddie Parade), and more. This will all take place on August 28 and 29. We hope you join us for all of the events, and bring your family and friends.

See you at the Park!

The Marion Heritage Festival Committee

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