07/17/2026
Marion is celebrating America's 250th anniversary with a historic, 4-day weekend for the whole family!
🧺 The Highlight: Have you ever had a picnic dinner on a U.S. President's front lawn? Cross it off your bucket list on Friday, July 17th!
Enjoy live music, kids' activities, and free tours of the Harding Home & Museum—then cross Mount Vernon Avenue to step inside the historic Etowah Mansion for a rare living history walkthrough.
🙌 Best of all, almost the entire weekend is completely FREE to the public:
~ Thursday, July 16 (4:30 PM): Kickoff with Downtown's Third Thursday goes Red, White & Blue.
~ Friday, July 17 (3:00 PM - 8:00 PM): Etowah Mansion Tours (3 PM) & Harding Homecoming Picnic Celebration (4 PM).
~ Saturday, July 18 (10:30 AM): Formal Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Harding Memorial.
~ Saturday, July 18 (12:00 PM): Birthday Block Party at the Explore-it-Torium Children's Museum.
~ Saturday, July 18 (7:30 PM): Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives live at the Marion Palace Theatre!
~ Sunday, July 19 (2:00 PM - 4:00 PM): Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Social at the Women's Club Home.
~ Sunday, July 19 (7:00 PM): Concert in the Park with United in Harmony at McKinley Park!
🍔 Want to eat on the lawn Friday night? The only part of the weekend requiring a paid ticket is the picnic meal spread! Grab your meal tickets for just $5 (and kids 12 & under eat completely FREE)!
🎟️ Meal tickets are limited! Lock in your family picnic plans today at: https://events.leapevents.com/event/america-250-community-picnic