Marion, NC Guidebook
Annual Festivals
Marion is home to a number of annual festivals if you're lucky enough to be in town for one!
1st Saturday in June . The streets are closed and the downtown area becomes an open space for the community to celebrate this southern staple. Includes a livermush eating contest, hog calling contest, live music and a kid's zone. Free admission.
Liver Mush Festival
48 U.S. 221 Business1st Saturday in June . The streets are closed and the downtown area becomes an open space for the community to celebrate this southern staple. Includes a livermush eating contest, hog calling contest, live music and a kid's zone. Free admission.
Annual Bigfoot Festival:
An annual tradition since 2018! This year's festival will be held Friday May 19 & Saturday May 20, 2023. Whether you’re interested in learning more about the mysterious creature, trying food inspired by Sasquatch, or you want to try your hand at the Bigfoot Calling Contest, there’s something for everyone planned during the 2023 WNC Bigfoot Festival.
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Marion
Annual Bigfoot Festival:
An annual tradition since 2018! This year's festival will be held Friday May 19 & Saturday May 20, 2023. Whether you’re interested in learning more about the mysterious creature, trying food inspired by Sasquatch, or you want to try your hand at the Bigfoot Calling Contest, there’s something for everyone planned during the 2023 WNC Bigfoot Festival.
Annual Golden Nugget Drop:
At midnight on New Year's Eve, watch a 6-foot gold nugget drop into a pot of gold, celebrating the local gold heritage. Celebration begins at 8:30PM and includes a Comic-Con costume contest, music, wagon rides, and local brews.
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Marion
Annual Golden Nugget Drop:
At midnight on New Year's Eve, watch a 6-foot gold nugget drop into a pot of gold, celebrating the local gold heritage. Celebration begins at 8:30PM and includes a Comic-Con costume contest, music, wagon rides, and local brews.
Food and Drink
Restaurants in and around Marion, NC.
Ice cream stand started in 1970, serving over 50 flavors of ice cream. Located at the bottom of the mountain at the corner of 80 and 70. Open seasonally; weather permitting. Plenty of outdoor seating and space for kids and dogs to run! Cash only.
Dot's Dairio
30 Lake Tahoma RoadIce cream stand started in 1970, serving over 50 flavors of ice cream. Located at the bottom of the mountain at the corner of 80 and 70. Open seasonally; weather permitting. Plenty of outdoor seating and space for kids and dogs to run! Cash only.
Wings with scratch made sauces and other traditional bar fare Live music and popular sports bar. Has NFL Sunday Ticket on all TV's.
The Marion Wing Factory
29 Logan StreetWings with scratch made sauces and other traditional bar fare Live music and popular sports bar. Has NFL Sunday Ticket on all TV's.
Traditional Mexican fare. Large menu with fresh ingredients.
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Jalapeno Fresh Grill
1582 Rutherford RdTraditional Mexican fare. Large menu with fresh ingredients.
Bakery offering cookies, cupcakes, pies, and cakes. Also serving coffee, milkshakes and slushies. For the health concious, offers homemade protein bars and smoothies made with real fruit and no added sugar. Closed Sunday.
Chance of Sprinkles Bake Shop
29 Logan StreetBakery offering cookies, cupcakes, pies, and cakes. Also serving coffee, milkshakes and slushies. For the health concious, offers homemade protein bars and smoothies made with real fruit and no added sugar. Closed Sunday.
Locally sourced, farm to table style restaurant serving salads, burgers, sandwiches, and pizza. Open Tues-Sat 3pm-9pm. Closed Sun/Mon.
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McDowell Local
23 N Main StLocally sourced, farm to table style restaurant serving salads, burgers, sandwiches, and pizza. Open Tues-Sat 3pm-9pm. Closed Sun/Mon.
A traditional steak house. Open for dinner M/Th/F/Sa. Closed Su/Tu/Wed.
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Toonez Chophouse
29 Logan StreetA traditional steak house. Open for dinner M/Th/F/Sa. Closed Su/Tu/Wed.
Tacos, burritos, and other fresh Mexican fare, made from scratch.
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Burrito Bros.
29 N Main StTacos, burritos, and other fresh Mexican fare, made from scratch.
A fresh, seasonal, seafood restaurant. Also offers burgers and sandwiches. Open Wednesday - Saturday for dinner starting at 5pm and Sunday for brunch and dinner from 12-8. Takeout platters available that serve 6-8 people; must be ordered the day before by 5pm.
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Crabby Abby's
105 S Main StA fresh, seasonal, seafood restaurant. Also offers burgers and sandwiches. Open Wednesday - Saturday for dinner starting at 5pm and Sunday for brunch and dinner from 12-8. Takeout platters available that serve 6-8 people; must be ordered the day before by 5pm.
Serving traditional slow wood-cooked BBQ and other southern favorites.
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Smokey Que's
1700 N Main StServing traditional slow wood-cooked BBQ and other southern favorites.
But First, Coffee
Coffee shops in and around Marion, NC.
A small local coffee shop run by a former bartender. Ingenious Coffee Roasters is a community-based coffee shop located in Downtown Marion, North Carolina with in house fresh roasted coffee, and full speciality coffee bar.
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Ingenious Coffee Roasters
140 S Main StA small local coffee shop run by a former bartender. Ingenious Coffee Roasters is a community-based coffee shop located in Downtown Marion, North Carolina with in house fresh roasted coffee, and full speciality coffee bar.
A mobile trailer pop-up coffee shop around town! Check them on Insta at @hotshots_coffee to see where they are today.
Hotshots Coffee
A mobile trailer pop-up coffee shop around town! Check them on Insta at @hotshots_coffee to see where they are today.
For the traditionalists. We highly recommend supporting the local businesses above, but we understand the love of Starbucks as well. This Starbucks is located inside the Ingles Grocery Store.
Starbucks
309 West Henderson StreetFor the traditionalists. We highly recommend supporting the local businesses above, but we understand the love of Starbucks as well. This Starbucks is located inside the Ingles Grocery Store.
Breweries, Bars, Nightlife and Entertainment
Locally crafted beer, cider, and spirits. Dog and kid friendly! Serves snacks or you can bring in your own food.
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Mica Town Brewing
25 Brown DrLocally crafted beer, cider, and spirits. Dog and kid friendly! Serves snacks or you can bring in your own food.
Serving all NC craft beer and wine alongside traditional bar fare - wings, nachos, sandwiches and more.
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Refinery 13
13 N Main StServing all NC craft beer and wine alongside traditional bar fare - wings, nachos, sandwiches and more.
Offering wine-style and draft mead by tasting, flight, glass, and bottle in their large tasting room. Also enjoy mead cocktails, charcuterie & cheese boards, desserts, snacks, and soft drinks.
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Keeper’s Cut Meadery
175 W Henderson StOffering wine-style and draft mead by tasting, flight, glass, and bottle in their large tasting room. Also enjoy mead cocktails, charcuterie & cheese boards, desserts, snacks, and soft drinks.
A new music venue and taproom with 20 beers on rotation. Also offering a menu of sharing plates, panini sandwiches, including dessert paninis.
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Spillway Bridge & Co.
93 S Main StA new music venue and taproom with 20 beers on rotation. Also offering a menu of sharing plates, panini sandwiches, including dessert paninis.
A non-profit promoting the cultural arts. Regular art shows as well as performance theater; check website for current schedule of events.
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Mc Dowell Arts Council
50 S Main StA non-profit promoting the cultural arts. Regular art shows as well as performance theater; check website for current schedule of events.
Heathens Den Axe Throwing & Ales
33 Burgin StreetAxe throwing, pool hall, arcade, and live music hall.
That's So Basic
Ingles Market
625 W Henderson StGrocery store
United States Postal Service
201 South Main StreetPost office
Tractor Supply Co.
2565 U.S. 76A close location for pet supplies!
Walmart Supercenter
60 Airport RdIt's Walmart. They probably have what you need.
CVS
700 North Main StreetDrug store
Lowe's Home Improvement
480 US-70Hardware store
Things to Do
Built in the late 1700's, the two-story mansion offers a delightful walk through the Carson family's experience in the Revolutionary War, Native American struggles, the Civil War, the North Carolina Gold Rush, the political/economic climate of the times, slavery and plantation life.
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Historic Carson House
1805 US-70Built in the late 1700's, the two-story mansion offers a delightful walk through the Carson family's experience in the Revolutionary War, Native American struggles, the Civil War, the North Carolina Gold Rush, the political/economic climate of the times, slavery and plantation life.
Open every Tuesday from 3-6pm, May through October. A grower-certified market that provides community access to the freshest, best quality foods available.
Marion Tailgate Market
67 West Henderson StreetOpen every Tuesday from 3-6pm, May through October. A grower-certified market that provides community access to the freshest, best quality foods available.
Family fishing right on Buck Creek! No license required, poles and bait provided. Groups welcome. Country store also on site, selling smoked trout and other wares. You can access Buck Creek Trout Farm by walking up the road the cabin is on - you will see it off to your right. If you choose to drive you will need to go back out to 80.
Buck Creek Trout Farm
74 Rainbow Trout DrFamily fishing right on Buck Creek! No license required, poles and bait provided. Groups welcome. Country store also on site, selling smoked trout and other wares. You can access Buck Creek Trout Farm by walking up the road the cabin is on - you will see it off to your right. If you choose to drive you will need to go back out to 80.
The Great Outdoors
The highest peak east of the Mississippi River. A state park with hiking trails and an observation tower. Driving to the top is also an option. ADA accessible, but uphill.
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Mount Mitchell
The highest peak east of the Mississippi River. A state park with hiking trails and an observation tower. Driving to the top is also an option. ADA accessible, but uphill.
Located on the Blue Ridge Parkway with trails leading to both the upper and lower falls.
The falls are located at Mile Post 316.3 of the Blue Ridge Parkway, north of where US 221 crosses the Parkway and south of where NC 181 crosses the Parkway.
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Linville Falls
Located on the Blue Ridge Parkway with trails leading to both the upper and lower falls.
The falls are located at Mile Post 316.3 of the Blue Ridge Parkway, north of where US 221 crosses the Parkway and south of where NC 181 crosses the Parkway.
This 36-acre park features a picnic shelter and a one-mile roundtrip hiking trail with views of downtown Marion from the top. The trail is open to the public from sunrise to sunset.
Mount Ida Wilderness Area
Mount Ida DriveThis 36-acre park features a picnic shelter and a one-mile roundtrip hiking trail with views of downtown Marion from the top. The trail is open to the public from sunrise to sunset.
One of the most challenging hiking/mountain biking trails in western North Carolina, this 24.9-mile single-track loop crosses the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. This trails begins on SR 1439 near the Blue Ridge Parkway at Buck Creek Gap,
Woods Mountain
One of the most challenging hiking/mountain biking trails in western North Carolina, this 24.9-mile single-track loop crosses the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. This trails begins on SR 1439 near the Blue Ridge Parkway at Buck Creek Gap,
An easy hike for dogs and kids with beautiful views.
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Roaring Fork Falls Trailhead
208 Busick Work Center RdAn easy hike for dogs and kids with beautiful views.