08/16/2026
We canāt wait!! š
This October 10th in Marion, North Carolina, the Mountain Glory Festival takes place as one of the best āshop localā events of the year surrounded by the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains! The 43rd annual festival fills three blocks of downtown Marion from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., bringing more than 150 booths to Main Street. Visitors can browse handmade pottery, jewelry, textiles, woodwork, fall decor, artwork, and other locally made goods while downtown shops, restaurants, pubs, and taprooms stay busy throughout the day. Festival food and regional flavors are a big part of the experience, too. Local entertainment runs throughout the day, with musicians, choirs, dance groups, gospel, and traditional mountain music adding to the small-town fall atmosphere. Families can stop by Kidās Korner for hands-on activities, spin art, a fishing booth, balloon art, games, and more. The Mountain Glory Quilt Show at the McDowell Arts Council is another favorite, with handmade quilts from regional quilters on display. The Family Stage hosts the Best Dressed Pet Contest, and visitors may even spot Bigfoot, Marionās mascot, downtown. Free shuttle service runs every half hour from the Marion City Square plaza parking lot, with handicap parking available at Marionās Community Building. If you're in the area and want to get into the "fall spirit", enjoying this festival in the NC mountains is a great way to do it!
