Marion Community Foundation

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America 250

Marion Celebrates America 250

Marion America 250 is a collaborative effort co-led by the Marion Community Foundation and the Marion Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, dedicated to planning and promoting a year-long commemoration of the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026.

America will turn 250 years old in 2026, and a nationwide effort is underway to celebrate this milestone. The America 250 Ohio Commission is planning statewide events to highlight the impact Ohio has had on the nation’s past, present, and future.
Each month will focus on a unique topic that reflects Ohio’s influence on the nation — from innovation and industry to culture, leadership, and community spirit. Details about statewide celebrations can be found at: www.america250-ohio.org.

The Marion America 250 Steering Committee, co-led by the Marion Community Foundation and the Marion Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, announces $50,000 in grant awards. This funding, provided through a special, one-time America 250 Grant Program established by Marion Community Foundation, officially kicks off Marion County’s preparations for the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration in 2026.

This collaborative, year-long endeavor will distribute funds to empower a diverse group of local organizations to share Marion County’s unique American story.

Red, White & You Weekend

Serving as the centerpiece of the 2026 calendar is The Red, White & You Weekend, a spectacular four-day capstone event running July 16-19, 2026. All community members and visitors are welcome to join this series of patriotic events:

  • Thursday Evening, July 16: Downtown Marion’s Third Thursday goes Red, White & Blue.
  • Friday Evening, July 17: The featured Homecoming Picnic at the Harding Presidential Library and Museum.
  • Saturday Morning, July 18:  Warren G. Harding Presidential Wreath-laying Ceremony
  • Saturday Day, July 18: The Explore-it-Torium will host the family-friendly O-H-I-Oh What a Celebration Birthday Party.
  • Sunday Afternoon, July 19: An old-fashioned Ice Cream Social at the Women’s Club Home, serving as the cherry on top of the weekend’s celebrations.

Community-wide Grant Funding

“The partnership between the Marion Community Foundation and the Visitors Bureau gives this celebration the deep roots it needs within the community, alongside the reach it needs to attract visitors,” said Kate McCleese, Program Manager at Marion Community Foundation and co-chair of the local America 250 steering committee. “Through this dedicated, one-time America 250 fund, we are ensuring that history comes alive in every corner of the county next year.

The grants were specifically provided to support programs focused on local heritage, civic education, arts, and community engagement throughout 2026.

Grant Recipients

The grants were provided to support programs focused on local heritage, civic education, arts and community engagement throughout 2026.

“The partnership between the Marion Community Foundation and the Visitors Bureau gives this celebration the deep roots it needs within the community, alongside the reach it needs to attract visitors,” Kate McCleese, program manager at Marion Community Foundation and co-chair of the local America 250 steering committee, said in the announcement. “Through this dedicated, one-time America 250 fund, we are ensuring that history comes alive in every corner of the county next year.”

The following organizations received grant funding to launch their specialized 2026 programs:

  • Downtown Marion, Inc.: Taste of Time Festival
  • Harding Presidential Sites: Marion’s Homecoming Picnic 
  • LaRue Village Council: LaRue Village 250th Year Celebration
  • MARCA Industries: O-H-I-Oh What a Celebration at the Explore-it-Torium
  • Marion County Historical Society: Celebrating America 250 – Moments & Memories of Marion County History
  • Marion Matters, Inc.: Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Future – Marion’s West Side Welcomes America 250
  • Marion Noon Kiwanis: Capture the Moment
  • Marion Public Library: Making History Come Alive at Marion Public Library
  • Marion Women’s Club & Home: Ice Cream Social – 130 Years of Nourishing Our Community
  • Mid-Ohio Fine Arts Society: We Are Marion Created
  • Palace Cultural Arts Association: Happy Birthday America Youth Summer Theatre Camp
  • River Valley Local Schools: RV Celebrates America
  • The Ohio State University at Marion: Echoes of Marion: A Living History Project

Thematic trails experience

The Steering Committee is also preparing to announce its innovative plan for a series of 12 self-guided “America 250 Thematic Trails Experience,” which will use digital technology to connect residents and visitors to sites related to monthly themes like “Marion Outdoors” and “Industrial History.” Details on the full calendar of events will be released in the coming weeks.

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About Marion America 250

Marion America 250 is a collaborative effort co-led by the Marion Community Foundation and the Marion Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, dedicated to planning and promoting a year-long commemoration of the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026. The mission is to celebrate the area’s history, honor the contributions of all residents, and inspire local civic pride for the next 250 years. For more information, please visit https://www.visitmarionohio.com/news/america-250. 

If you would like to support America 250 events in Marion, click & donate below:

Click Here to Donate to the America 250 Fund

Learn more about our other grants programs:

TEACH Grants Program
Racial Equity & Justice Grants Program
Field of Interest Grants