Wee and Little Pop Contest Starts Early Saturday

The Wee Pop and Little Wee Pop pageants are set to be held on Saturday, August 4, at 9:30 a.m. at Grant Middle School.

The Wee Pop event is for boys and girls aged 2 through 5; and the Little Wee Pop is for children 0 to 23 months.  Wee Pop compete in formalwear, costume with a popcorn or western theme, and swimwear with a popcorn or western theme.  Little Wee Pops compete in formalwear and photogenic.  Contestants must live in Marion, Crawford, Delaware, Harding, Morrow, Union, or Wyandot county.

The 2012 Wee Pops and Little Wee Pop will receive prizes, be highlighted on the Festival’s main stage, take part in the Orville Redenbacher Parade, and represent the Marion Popcorn Festival at local and statewide events throughout the coming year.

Other Marion Popcorn Festival Pageants include:

• Miss Marion Popcorn Festival is for contestants 17 – 23 who have graduated high school.  The 2012 date is 7:00 Saturday evening, August 4, at Grant Middle School.
• Ms. Marion Popcorn Festival, for contestants 24 and older, will be held in conjunction with the Miss Marion Popcorn Festival on Saturday, August 4, at Grant Middle School.
• Miss Teen Popcorn, for contestants aged 13 – senior in high school, will take place in the River Valley High school auditorium on Saturday, August 11, at 7:00 p.m.

2012Miss Teeny Pop will be chosen Saturday, August 11, at River Valley High School.  Competition begins at 9:30 a.m.  Participants must be aged 6 – 12 and live or go to school in Marion, Crawford, Delaware, Harding, Morrow, Union, or Wyandot county.

Currently celebrating its 32nd year, the Marion Popcorn Festival is the largest popcorn festival in the world with an annual attendance estimated in excess of 250,000 over the three-day festival.  Other events include a popcorn cooking contest, a fine art show, crafts, Popcorn 5000 5K run, Popcorn 100 bike tour, a community showcase stage, and more.

Main stage entertainment for 2012 includes The Ultimate Journey Xperience, a Journey tribute band on Thursday, September 6; country sensation Josh Thompson on Friday, September 7; and Boyz II Men on Saturday, September 8.  For more information on the full slate of activities, or if you are interested in obtaining Kernel Seats for the entertainment, visit www.popcornfestival.com or call 740-387-FEST.  The Marion Popcorn Festival is sponsored in part by the City of Marion.