Marion County is inviting residents and visitors to this weekend’s annual community festival that will celebrate the county’s 179-year history.
On Saturday, March 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Marion County Day will take place at the McPherson Governmental Campus located at 601 SE 25th Avenue in Ocala. During the festival, attendees will take a trip down memory lane as local organizations participate in telling Marion County’s story in a fun, informative, and interactive way.
The event will also feature games, live entertainment, local vendors, a kids’ zone featuring bounce houses, and many food trucks including Curbside Cuisine, The Krafty Kettle, The Smoked Biscuit Company, McFarland Food Truck, Kona Ice, Silver Springs Lions Club, Kettle Corn King, Big Lee’s Serious about BBQ, and Pepere’ Joe’s Chowder Wagon.
The community festival is free to attend and open to the public.
The first Government Day was hosted by Marion County commissioners in 2018 and included various services as well as activities. During the inaugural event, over 1,000 people were in attendance.
In 2019, the event was changed to celebrate the 175th Anniversary of the founding of Marion County. On November 19, 2019, the commissioners approved the renaming of the event to Marion County Day.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 and 2021 Marion County Day festivals were both cancelled. On March 26, 2022, the event returned to Ocala to celebrate everything that makes Marion County unique.
Preparations are underway for this Saturday’s celebration and vendor spaces are still available. In order to reserve a booth, a vendor participation form must be submitted by no later than Wednesday, March 22.
For more information, visit the 2023 Marion County Day webpage.