Marion County has plenty of fun spring activities to get into this season!

Springtime calls for new experiences, which Marion easily provides. May 17 is the night of the 8th Annual Accordion Concert at the Knights of Columbus. Kevin Solecki is back playing what might be the most complicated instrument. West Virginia is Solecki’s last stop before his concert season takes him to Iceland. Either pack a bag for Reykjavik or mark May 17 (7 p.m.) in your calendar.

The West Virginia Three Rivers Festival is full of live music and intriguing entertainment (to say the least). On May 22-25, rides, games and cotton candy are only the beginning! Bear Hollow Wood Carvers, a pepperoni roll bake-off, and an illusionist are all incredible sights to see before the 9th Annual World Championship Pepperoni Roll Eating Contest.

Palatine Park doesn’t just host the WV Three Rivers Festival but has started the Coal Heritage Festival on June 22. This is its second year with live music from Buffalo Rose, Soup Camel, New Diesel Trio, and Barefoot Colby, all of which sound very bluegrassy based on name alone.

It isn’t just Fairmont that has incredible entertainment. Take a drive to Mannington on June 14-15 for Smokin’ on the Buffalo BBQ Brawl. Make some BBQ, eat some BBQ and watch Real Shoot Wrestling.

Aside from annual festivals, Palatine Park hosts events every week. The Farmers Market starts on May 28. If it’s anything like last year, you can find cupcakes, fruits, vegetables, local eggs and meat, homemade candles and local honey. Yoga in the Park is another of the park’s weekly events starting May 7. The class is at 7 p.m. and open to all levels. Bring your own mat, enjoy the riverside and flow for just $5.

Marion is full of parks and the great outdoors! Rent a bike at Pricketts Fort and hit the trail with the wind in your hair and spring in your face. Pricketts Fort isn’t just a park; it’s obviously a fort with tons of history. Experience the past with blacksmithing class (June 15) plus hearth cooking demonstrations and Colonial Kids Days every week in June.

That’s not all; Marion has even more biking and hiking. Mountain bike  – or hike casually – down the rolling hills at Valley Falls (or just lounge by the falls). There’s obviously plenty of hiking in West Virginia… Hike and disc golf your way through Morris Park on the Seth Burton Memorial Disc Golf Course.

Prepare your hearts (and stock up on sunscreen and aloe vera) for the opening of the Wave Pool! Take an inner tube out on the waves, bask in the sun or hide from it in a personal cabana. Don’t like waves? Cabanas? 12th Street Pool and Mannington Pool have the spring and summer simplicity for fun in the sun.

All these activities require an increase in calorie intake. Marion County can take care of that!

The tallest cones in town are back at Dairy Creme Corner with so many flavorful choices from bubblegum to pina colada to Poptart to PB&J. And flavor isn’t the only choice you have to make: an avalanche, a sundae, a split, a cone, a cup or some form of ice cream.

The Poky Dot has the most shareable milkshakes and sundaes in town, you know because they’re massive! Grab some friends, sit in the open air and eat your heart out.

At Pufferbelly’s Ice Cream Station, the sky’s the limit when it comes to flavors. Sweet & Salty Kettle Corn, Magic Bar (coconut flavored ice cream, graham pieces, choco chips, caramel swirls) and Caramel Cheesecake Cookie Monster are just some of their creatively original ideas. Take it on the patio; ice cream is always better on a patio!

Tradition, especially Italian tradition, shouldn’t be scoffed at. Homemade gelato at Colasessano’s means berry cheesecake, cookies n’ coffee, vanilla with mint cookies, tiramisu, s’mores and more!

With spring events, spring activities and spring foods, Marion is ready to successfully spring into spring!

What’s your favorite spring activity?