Old and new events combine for Marion Old Fashioned Days

Cadillac News File Photo People line up for a hot dog roast during the Marion Old Fashioned Days in this file photo. New to the event this year is the Salt City Dixieland Jazz Band, the Enduro Dirt Bike Races, a sock hop and a stop by a passenger train from Chicago.

MARION — When was the last time you were at a sock hop or participated in a greased pig catching contest?

Have you ever participated in a banana split eating contest or had a pig roast?

People can step back in time to get the feeling of what it was like in Marion decades ago during the annual Old Fashioned Days Aug. 2 through 4.

“This is the 49th year. It is a family-oriented event and is great for Marion,” said George Johnson who is a coordinator for the event. “In the past we have lost a little energy, but we have a lot of new events this year that we are real excited about.”

The big event, according to Johnson, will happen during the parade Saturday. A group will attempt to set a world record for the largest number of tractors in a parade.

“I don’t know how this will wash out, but we are going to have a blast,” he said. “We have people from all over who are going to be here. We don’t really have a goal set because we don’t want to set it too high or too low.”

Another addition to the festival, that Johnson hopes will be an annual event, is a visit from about 150 passengers on the Northern Arrow passenger train from Chicago.

“This is real exciting too. We haven’t had a train stop in Marion in about 50 years — usually we see them fly by, but this time it’ll actually stop,” Johnson said.

The executive passenger cars are top-of-the-line, according to Johnson, with many having glass bubble ceilings and view decks.

The passengers, on their way to Petoskey, will have about 30 minutes to walk around the festival while maintenance is being done to the train.

“This will bring more people to the event, and also gives people here a chance to see a train up close,” he said. “We plan to give them information about Marion and hope they come back.”

To go along with the theme “Dancing through the Years,” Dancing and music will be a large part of the event. Also new this year is a dancing contest at the elementary school and a Sock Hop at the Marion Eagles, both on Friday evening. For the younger crowd, there will be bands and dancing at River Rock 07 Saturday night at Veterans Park.

“(River Rock) is a new class project for the high school senior class of 2008,” Johnson said. “It is a fun place for the teens. At the same time a country/bluegrass band will be playing at a different location for adults.”

Although there are quite a few new events, many of the classic events will be back including children’s games, climbing wall, car show, horseshoe and softball tournaments, tractor pull, street vendors, bingo and more.

“It is a big event for Marion and most events are free,” Johnson said. “We think we should have a good turnout.”

Your Local Connection

Marion Old Fashioned Days 2007 Schedule

Thursday, Aug. 2