The Marion FoxTrot Festival is well-known throughout the Pee Dee area and beyond. We expect around 25,000 locals and visitors to join us on Saturday, May 19th. You can spend the day beginning at 10:00 am to enjoy one of the best parades in the area. You will see dignitaries, floats, beauty queens, tractors, antique cars, cartoon characters, bands HA HA the clown, Carrie McQueen the stilt walker & juggler, the Mime, local entrants and much, much more. Entertainment begins immediately following the parade. A variety of music will be available for your enjoyment to include, gospel, beach, country and much more. Later in the evening at 7:00 pm, join us for our Main Entertainment with Billy Scott & the Prophets along with special guest, Clifford Currry. For three hours, you can dance until your feet hurt! |
The FoxTrot Festival is designed to be a "celebration of the people and things about Marion that are special." |
The Marion FoxTrot was organized in 1991 as a non-profit organization with the goal of promoting the City of Marion, South Carolina and Historic Marion County. The festival is funded by the City of Marion, Marion County and private benefactors with the City of Marion as its fiscal agent. The Marion FoxTrot Festival Board of Directors consists of volunteers from throughout the county. Numerous other volunteers join forces with the board of directors in order to accomplish the vast amount of preparation and work that makes the festival possible. The historic and charming county square with its ancient elm trees draped with Spanish Moss and beautifully landscaped grounds provides the perfect backdrop for the Marion FoxTrot Festival. Watching over the day's events is the statue of the "Swamp Fox" himself, Revolutionary War General Francis Marion, for whom the county was named. Join us for a day of entertainment, arts, food, fun, and more at the 2008 Marion FoxTrot Festival. |
2008 MARION FOXTROT FESTIVAL History & Board Members |
Why the fox ‘trotted’ to Marion, straight from the Fox’s mouth!
By Mr. Fox
As translated by Sgt. Blease Martin
Recently, it has come to our attention that our younger visitors to the Foxtrot Festival are interested in knowing how the
fox came to Marion, and why we have the Foxtrot festival. So, the staff of the Star-Enterprise set out to find some answers.
The following is what we “discovered” about the history of the fox and the Marion Foxtrot Festival. This story comes to us
by way of “The fox” and a conversation he had with S.C. Department of Natural Resources Sgt. Blease Martin. We hope you
enjoy our “fox tale.”
Many years ago, the fox says, “When I was down in the southern end of Marion County, somewhere between the Big Pee
Dee and the Little Pee Dee, I found a pile of trash, and as all young foxes are prone to do, I couldn’t resist jumping in the
middle of it and playing. Unfortunately, I got tangled up in wire, and I was unable to break free. There I was, alone, hungry
and very depressed for a few days.”
“Then I heard someone walking and whistling down the trail,” the fox says, continuing his tale, “As the footsteps got closer,
with what little energy I had left, I let out a whimper. The footsteps stopped. To tell you the truth, I don’t really remember
anything else for a few days.”
The fox says that when he finally came to, he was in the arms of a big man dressed in green. Just like me, he was a game
warden whose job is to take care of critters, like the fox. He was out looking for poachers, or so I’ve been told.
The game warden took the fox home and took extra care of him, helping him while all his cuts and bruises healed.
“A lot of people may not realize it, because they are unable to communicate with wildlife, but let me tell you these big men in
green understand wildlife and communicate with us,” the fox whispers. “But, let me get on with my story. When it was time
for me to be released, my newfound friend gave me some advice, which is what got me to where I am today.
“He suggested I follow Catfish Creek up to this small community called Marion, which today is a city. I stayed in the woods
along Catfish Creek during the day, and at night eased on into town to look around. After several trips, I became acquainted
with different people who treated me kindly, they just could not communicate with me very well!”
The game warden says that the fox told him “One evening, while I was uptown, I saw my old friend who saved my life. He
stopped and we had a chat. He wanted to know how was I doing and I told him about my trips uptown.”
He says “I wasn't sure if it would be safe enough to venture out uptown during the day. But my friend, the game warden,
told me he would inquire around town to see how people would respond to me coming uptown during daylight hours.” The
fox and game warden departed ways, and several months later they met again at Catfish Creek.
“The game warden told me the people would be happy if I came uptown during daylight hours,” says fox, “and in celebration
of my arrival, they threw me a big party! And this is the story of how I arrived in Marion and why I stay to this day!
“These fine people keep throwing me a party every year! I hope everyone, including the children in our town, have a
wonderful time at this year’s Foxtrot Festival. See you there!”
This story first appeared in the May 2006 Foxtrot Festival tab special section published by The Marion Star & Mullins
Enterprise, a Media General Carolina company.
| APPLICATION REQUEST ANTIQUE CAR SHOW Luther Johnson-COORDINATOR TELEPHONE: HOME 843-392-4001 WORK 843-667-7885 E-Mail: scjohns@sscoast.net AMUSEMENTS CAROLYN CLARK, CHAIR TELEPHONE: 843-423-8285 E-Mail: cclrk@clemson.edu ARTISANS & CRAFTERS JANET BEST, CHAIR TELEPHONE: 843-464-0693 E-Mail: JBFB2811@AOL.com ENTERTAINMENT DEBRA FLING, CHAIR TELEPHONE: 843-229-1744 E-Mail: F9114U@aol.com CHUCK WIEGERT, CO-CHAIR TELEPHONE: 843-423-9918 E-Mail: hmra@theswampfox.com INTERNATIONAL FOOD COURT SHARON GRICE, CHAIR TELEPHONE: 843-423-8285 E-Mail: sgrice@clemson.edu FAMILY FUN SHOW/HORSESHOW VICKI JOHNSTON, CHAIR TELEPHONE: 843-617-3344 PARADE DODI WALLS, CHAIR TELEPHONE: 843-423-6289 E-Mail: foxtrotparade@yahoo.com PUBLICITY SUSAN CARTER, CHAIR TELEPHONE: 843-340-1238 E-Mail: sjcarter@sccoast.net SPONSORSHIP SUSAN CARTER, CHAIR TELEPHONE: 843-340-1238 E-Mail: sjcarter@sccoast.net ANTIQUE TRACTOR SHOW George Christmas, COORDINATOR TELEPHONE: (843) 229-9185 |
WBTW TV 13
2006, 2007, 2008 Marion FoxTrot Festival Exclusive TV Sponsor
2006, 2007, 2008 Marion FoxTrot Festival Exclusive TV Sponsor
