Paytn Smith and Alexander Thompson were named Miss and Mr. Wee Pop 2012 during competition held Saturday morning at Grant Middle School. Smith is the 2-year old daughter of Tiffany Smith and Jonathan Lechleitner.  She also took Overall Costume with a Popcorn Theme and Overall Photogenic.  Thompson is 5-years-old and is the son of Bryan and Ashley Thompson.  He won Overall Swimwear as well as his age division in both formalwear and photogenic.

Thirty-nine contestants vied for the title of Marion Popcorn Festival’s 2012 Little Wee Pop Prince and Princess at Marion Harding High School Saturday morning.  Little Wee Pop is designed for children aged 0 – 23 months.

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 32nd annual Miss Marion Popcorn Scholarship Program will be held this Saturday, August 4, at the Grant Middle School gymnasium.  In addition to the eight contestants in that competition, eight others will vie for the crown of Ms. Marion Popcorn Festival.

Marion Popcorn Festival officials are encouraging residents to help support and enjoy the Festival by wearing official Marion Popcorn Festival apparel. This year’s theme, The Wild, Wild West, is displayed on tee shirts designed by local Marion resident Joe Howard.

The annual Marion Popcorn Festival Golf Outing will be held on Sunday, August 12, at 8:00 a.m. at King’s Mill Golf Course.  The cost of $50.00 per person or $200.00 per foursome will include golf, cart and dinner.  A cash bar will be available.  Proximity prizes and low scores will be awarded.  The senior category will be considered those 62 years of age and older. 

The Marion Popcorn Festival’s Poppin’ Pooch Pageant will take place at 2:00 pm on Saturday, July 21, at the Yancey Clinic of Veterinary Medicine located at 1097 Mt. Vernon Avenue in Marion. Dogs will compete in four categories: Sportswear, Western Wear, Popcorn Wear, and Perform a Trick (2 minutes).

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.  There will be an informational meeting for parents interested in entering their children at BlueFusion Saturday, July 7, at noon.  Blue Fusion is located in the Plaza Shopping Center on Route 95 East.

The 2012 Miss Teen Popcorn will be chosen Saturday, August 11, 7:00 p.m., in festivities at River Valley High School. An informational meeting has been set for those interested in competing in this event for Sunday, July 1, 2:00 p.m., in the ice cream parlor at Primrose of Marion, 1550 Wellness Drive in Marion (off of Barks Road just south of the Marion YMCA).