Best Fourth of July Events in Marion, NC

Celebrate Independence Day in Marion, North Carolina. This mountain town, the county seat of McDowell County, is an inviting place to spend the Independence Day weekend. In Marion, you can participate in several activities to commemorate the Fourth of July. Gather your friends and family and decide which of the following Fourth of July events to attend.

Independence Day Celebration in Downtown Marion

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Join the members of the Marion community to witness a spectacular patriotic parade downtown. Marion’s Independence Day parade  begins at 6 p.m. and will feature McDowell County veterans serving as grand marshals. Look for “anything that rolls” in a special spot at the parade’s beginning. Following the parade, the local dance band Fox & Company will perform a street dance at 7 p.m.

End your holiday evening with a spectacular fireworks display. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket with you, and grab a seat to enjoy the fireworks over Marion at 9:45 p.m.

Contact the Marion Business Association at 828-652-2215 for additional details.

Independence Day Celebration in Valdese

One Fourth of July celebration is never enough on Independence Day weekend in North Carolina. Jump in your vehicle  and take a short trip to Valdese to discover exciting Independence Day festivities.

The following activities offer some highlights of this patriotic community event on Friday, June 30:

• Admire automobiles from the past at the Classic and Antique Car Cruise-In, taking place downtown at 5 p.m. Main Street will close to vehicle traffic for this exhibition.
• Enjoy live music from The Tonez at 7 p.m. Hailing from Salisbury, North Carolina, this talented musical group features a phenomenal horn section and six lead vocalists, who all give nonstop energy throughout their performance.
• Prepare to experience one of the most memorable fireworks displays in North Carolina. At dusk, the sky above Valdese will shimmer with a brilliant fireworks show that bursts at a lower altitude to deliver various swirls and explosions. Sponsored by the Town of Valdese, the fireworks display will launch from behind the Old Rock School, 400 Main St. W.

The Valdese Independence Day Celebration will feature amusement rides and plenty of food. Additionally, several local restaurants, such as Los Compadres Mexican Restaurant and Myra’s Little Italy, are within an easy walk from the festival’s activities.

Independence Day 5K

Lace up your sneakers and head to Asheville for the annual Independence Day 5K. This fun fitness event on the Fourth of July at Carrier Park offers something for every participant.

Kids can engage in the untimed Firecracker Loop fun run, beginning at 8:05 a.m. The $5 participation fee includes a racing bib and a finisher medal. Adults aged 21 and older can register for the 5K or the Wicked Beer Mile.

Participation in the 5K race costs $45 per person and includes the following:

• A race T-shirt.
• A custom race bib.
• Beer from Wicked Weed.
• A professionally chip-timed race.

Overall winners will receive complimentary gifts, gift certificates from Jus’ Running, and cash prizes. The Wicked Beer Mile participation fee is $50 per adult aged 21 and older and includes the following:

• A race T-shirt.
• A custom race bib.
• Four beers provided by Wicked Weed as you run.
• A professionally chip-timed race.

The fastest male and female runners in the Wicked Beer Mile will receive a $50 gift certificate to Jus’ Running and a commemorative clay beer stein from Rosa Pottery.

Old Fort July 4th Rodeo

Hop in your vehicle and take a short drive  from Marion to Old Fort and experience a Fourth of July rodeo tradition. The Old Fort July 4th Rodeo features the best cowboys and cowgirls in a rodeo setting. Professional bull riding, barrel racing, cowboy action, and Wild West entertainment will excite and inspire you. After the rodeo on Monday, July 3, you can stay to witness a spectacular fireworks display over Old Fort.

General admission is $20 for adults aged 13 and older, $10 for children aged 6-12, and free for children aged 5 and younger. Purchase tickets on the rodeo’s website.

The Old Fort Rodeo takes place at 189 Catawba River Road, off Exit 73 on Interstate 40 in Old Fort.

Red, White, and Blues Ice Cream Social

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Reach for your spoons and savor a sweet way to commemorate Independence Day with the Mountain Gateway Museum in Old Fort. The Red, White, and Blues Ice Cream Social, taking place Tuesday, July 4, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., brings the community together to cool off in the July heat and enjoy the tunes of Possum Creek before the Old Fort Fourth of July parade begins at 4 p.m. Stop by to sample delicious ice cream with your favorite toppings. The ice cream is free and available until supplies last.

You can find the Mountain Gateway Museum, which interprets the cultural history of western North Carolina, at 24 Water St. in Old Fort. Contact Brittany Joachim at 828-668-9259 or email her for more information about the ice cream social.

Fireworks Viewing at the Skyline Village Inn

Guests at the Skyline Village Inn in Spruce Pine, located approximately 30 minutes from Marion, can catch the sights and sounds from several  Fourth of July fireworks shows from the inn’s balcony. Watch the sky light up with stunning fireworks displays from the towns of Marion, Lake James, Old Fort, and Woodlawn.

Located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Skyline Village Inn offers a comfortable mountainside retreat with exquisite views of the Catawba Valley. The 16-room inn makes an inviting place to stay when you want to take a few days to explore all the valley’s charms.

Call 828-765-9394 to make reservations, or visit the Skyline Village Inn’s website for more details.

As you see, Marion is an attractive destination with plenty of options for things to do for Independence Day. What did you think about our events roundup? Do you have a favorite Marion event that we should include here? Write to us and let us know. Our Marion Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram team always appreciates hearing from our customers and friends about the best things to see and do in our community.