The City of Marion Illinois

09/15/2026

Join us to welcome our veterans home 🇺🇸

Their trip may have gotten slightly extended but their homecoming will be nothing short of a celebration! Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois Flight 17 will be here soon ✈️

📍 : Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois - MWA
📅 : Tuesday, September 15, 2026
⏰ : 12:50pm

09/14/2026

Thanks to Jared Long with SO ill CINEMA for capturing the magic of 🤩

09/10/2026

Freedom Sings USA returns to Tower Square Plaza on Saturday, September 12, 2026 for a free concert starting at 6pm 🇺🇸

Over the course of a two day retreat, five of our local veterans will be partnered up with professional singer-song writers from Nashville, TN. Together, they will put the veterans story and experience into a song which will be performed live for the first time at the concert on Saturday evening. There will also be a special Writers Round at The Little Nashville Cafe on Friday, September 11, 2026 at 7pm which is also open to the public!

Grab your lawn chairs, invite some friends, and make plans to be a part of this special event in ⭐

We're gearing up for our next Veterans Songwriting Retreat in downtown Marion, and we couldn't do it without the support of our sponsors and community partners: The City of Marion Illinois, Banterra Bank, Artspace Southern Illinois, Visitsi, The Little Nashville Cafe, Cold Blooded Coffee Co., SO ill CINEMA.

🎤 Special Emcee Announcement: Jim Rasor!

If you're a Veteran with a story to tell, or you know someone who is, we'd love to hear from you! [email protected] or 618-713-9264.

09/08/2026

The annual Veteran Resource Fair, put on by the Marion VA Health Care System, is back at The HUB Recreation Center on Friday, September 11, 2026 from 9-11am 🇺🇸

All veterans, caregivers, families, and friends are invited to this free event ⭐

09/04/2026

It's time, !

This two day event primarily takes place at Mtn Dew Park on Friday, September 4 and Saturday, September 5, 2026.

Don't miss the Southern Illinois Truck Showdown on Tower Square Plaza Saturday (September 5, 2026) starting at 6pm 😎

☀️🛻 RISE & SHINE, TRUCK FANS! IT’S SHOWDOWN TIME! 🛻☀️

The sun is coming up over Mtn Dew Park, the trucks are rolling in, and Day 1 of the 5th Annual Southern Illinois Truck Showdown is HERE! 🔥

🚪 Gates open to the public at 8:00 AM!
🎟️ Spectator Parking: $5 — located north of the Fairfield Inn on Champion Drive
🛻 Still want to show off your truck? There’s still time! Drive up to the Northeast Gate this morning to get registered and join the Showdown.

Today’s show runs 8 AM–4 PM, and that’s just the beginning! Keep the party going tonight for the Level 1 Motorsports Open House from 5–8 PM followed by the 618 Tap House Welcome Party from 7–11 PM! 🍻

The trucks are polished. The sun is up. Mtn Dew Park is ready.

Southern Illinois, it’s time to SHOWDOWN! 🤘🛻

📍 Mtn Dew Park | Marion, IL
📅 September 4–5

09/03/2026

It Library Card Sign Up Month!

Show your Marion Carnegie Library at any of the participating business featured on this graphic for a special offer for the rest of September 2026 ⭐

We love partnering with local businesses! Show your library card at these terrific places and get a discount or product!

09/02/2026

City Hall will be closed on Monday, September 7, 2026 in observance of Labor Day.

Regular operating hours, 8am-5pm, will resume on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.

09/02/2026

UPDATE: Due to the predicted heat, event organizers have made the decision to change the date of the parade. The new date is Saturday, October 3, 2026. It is still set to start at 10am. ( update as of 09/08/2026)

The 22nd annual Veterans On Parade is on Saturday, September 12, 2026 starting at 10am 🇺🇸

The parade begins at Marion Junior High School, rolls east on Main Street ending at Washington Elementary School. Following the conclusion of the parade, there will be a short ceremony on Tower Square Plaza.

Patriotic festivities will continue with the Freedom Sings USA concert, made possible by Heroes United, at 6pm. All are invited to this free event and are encouraged to bring lawn chairs 🎶

For more on the parade ➡️ https://swinfordmediagroup.com/f/veterans-on-parade-to-return-for-22nd-year-on-sept-12

09/01/2026

Marion Connects concert series continues tonight with A1C taking the stage on Tower Square Plaza from 6-8pm 🎸

Grab your friends, a lawn chair, and something cold to drink and head downtown for a good time 🎶

TONIGHT: A1C will Rock the Plaza in Marion starting at 6 p.m.!!

DON'T FORGET - The Potato Plug will be serving delicious loaded potatoes and plenty of parking will be available around and near the square!