Family heading in for the holidays? We can help you keep them entertained!

Share a bit of our county’s charm with them! Nobody will be bored with these hometown favorites and holiday events:

Marion favorites to share together

1. Country classics at Sagebrush Round-up

This family-friendly weekly live country music show will warm your spirits and get your boots tapping every Saturday. Grab a traditional homemade country dinner, listen to the open mic singers then stay around for dancing and masterful country performances.

2. Outdoor ice skating in the park

Ice skating has to be winter’s most timeless activity. Palatine Park opens its synthetic rink Dec. 10, so make sure the family car is free that day. And speaking of free, Iceless Ice Skating doesn’t cost a cent. Neither do the skate rentals!

3. Music, moonshine & merriment

Yup, you get all 3 at Heston Farm! Settle into this rustic farmhouse barn, which is a distillery, winery, brewery and gourmet restaurant. Share some real mountain moonshine, like the fiery “white lightening,” while you enjoy creative fare and live music at Foxfire Restaurant.

4. Gift & antique shopping

Find that unusual gift in our cute boutiques and eclectic shops! For starters, Sweet Memories Antique Mall has a vast assortment of military memorabilia, furniture, primitives and toys. Pickers Paradise crams vintage and funky goodies into every corner, but it’s also known for acoustic, electric and antique musical instruments. 

As if that’s not enough, there’s also the massive Arts & Antiques Marketplace, which has more than 90 vendor spaces!

5. Museums

Marion County’s heritage reaches far back to frontier times, so you have a lot of catching up to do! Visit the Barrackville Covered Bridge, a crimson 19th-century span that looks especially striking after a snowfall. We even have a Huey helicopter that survived the Vietnam War. See how much you and your family can learn over the holidays.

Holiday cheer

1. Acres of lights

Morris Park flicks to life with 1.3 miles of Christmas bulbs the Friday after Thanksgiving. The Celebration of Lights also packs in 320 displays. It’s a glimmering landscape the kids will want to see every night, and so you can— at least, until the final Sunday in December.

2. A calendar of joy

Get exclusive Christmas deals at shops and stops throughout the country! Check out our Advent calendar and find out which boutiques and restaurants have specials right now. Every day is different, and you have weeks of savings ahead of you!