Marion's Annual Popcorn Festival is one of the largest three-day festivals in Ohio. It attracts a half million people each September to the city's Town Center. A three-hour parade with more than 250 floats and bands kicks off the festival's activities. Other attractions include arts, crafts, food, and entertainment by such nationally recognized stars as the Pointer Sisters, Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine, REO Speedwagon, Smokey Robinson, and Michael McDonald.

Rides, games, concessions and displays line the downtown city streets. FOR MORE than a quarter-century, the sounds and pageantry of the U.S. Open Junior Drum and Bugle Corps competition has been a popular Marion drawing card. Corps from throughout the United States and Canada come to compete vying for cash prizes and an all-important national championship trophy.

Experience the thrill and excitement of thundering championship quarter mile drag racing at Marion County International Raceway. Featured annual events include the 7-Up Pro Am Nationals and the Sunoco IHRA World Bracket Finals.

These two facilities comprise many thousands of acres of wetlands and prairie areas. Bird watchers use both areas to locate sometimes rare birds and prairie owls.

Migrations of water fowl and birds take place yearly. Hunting and fishing are also among the major interests of those visiting here. The Killdeer Wildlife Area is on the northwestern edge of Marion County and west of Harpster.

The Big Island Wildlife Area is west of Marion five miles. The northern border runs off of State Route 95. A large ponded area is just west of Elgin High School on the LaRue Green Camp Road.

The Harding Presidential Memorial was dedicated in 1931 by President Herbert Hoover. The memorial is the tomb for the remains of President and Mrs. Warren G. Harding. Built of Georgian marble, the Harding Memorial was partially funded by the school children of the United States. Providing a small amount of shade at various times of the year is a lone Japanese maple tree which was planted near the tombs. Viewing of the Memorial is from dawn to dusk throughout the year.

Just before the marriage of Florence Kling and Warren G. Harding, the couple had this beautiful home erected in the year of 1891. The Hardings occupied this house up until the time they left for Washington and the inaugural of Warren G. Harding as the 29th President of the United States. The home has had one major architectural change since it was built. Since the original porch floor could not withstand the pressure of thousands of guests, Warren copied a porch design from down the street with a mosaic floor. Never again would the famous front porch collapse under the weight of visitors. Al Jolson appeared on the porch alongside Mr. Harding to sing campaign songs for the thousands gathered on the lawn.

Inside the home is President Harding's White House china along with the original furnishings of the home. Behind the home is the original press corps building used during the Presidential campaign. This structure contains Harding memorabilia.

By 1900, the interurban fever had struck the people of Ohio. Capitalists in all the larger cities were building electric railways just about everywhere. Marion at one time could boast of having one of the finest interurban passenger systems operating. Several cars a day would leave this interurban station downtown and make runs to Prospect, Richwood, Delaware and Columbus.

Today, the railway cars are all gone, however this unique piece of Marion's history, has been restored and is the current site of the The Grand Central Grill. This theme restaurant is known locally as 'Where to go whe you're hungry for fun' and features Freight House Dining. It has a banquet room that seats up to 250 people and welcomes individuals or groups. Open seven days a week, drop in for a visit at 320 West Center Street, downtown. For more information call 614-387-8124.

In 1896 the Merchant family of Marion erected what they thought would be a beautiful and fitting grave monument for their plot in the Marion Cemetery. Within two years after its erection, someone noticed that the 5200 pound polished granite ball atop the Merchant pedestal had begun to rotate. The only unpolished spot on the ball was now visible indicating the ball was on the move.

The Merchant family being concerned about this, brought the erection crew back to the site to re-set the ball. It was not long before the ball again began its now continuous movement.

There have been many speculations, but there is no scientific explanation for this to happen. In 1929 it was featured in 'Ripley's Believe It or Not' famous newspaper cartoons and the monument soon gained international recognition. Come take a look and perhaps you will discover the solution to 'Marion's Unsolved Mystery'.

Church Built in 1868 by German imigrants, this newly restored log building served as the church where in the olden days folks walked through the woods, rode horse back or in wagons to hear a circuit riding preacher at the German Reformed Meetings.

It is completely furnished with the old pews and an altar along with a display case for souvenirs. Rental is available for meetings, weddings, or other special occassions by donations.

Feel free to walk the grounds outside, look in the windows, or call (614-528-2245) for an appointment to tour inside. The structure is located at 4234 Green Camp Essex Road (St. Rt. 739) West of Green Camp.