The Weekend Pulse: Happenings in Marion County, Friday, May 15–Sunday, May 17

MARION, Ohio — The weekend lineup around Marion County brings art classes, model trains, sing-along brunches, West African drumming and dancing, live music, ice cream, patio rock, pottery, and a few good reasons to get out before summer fully kicks the door open.

Here’s what’s happening around Greater Marion from Friday, May 15, through Sunday, May 17.

Friday, May 15

5:30 PM – Glow Painting Class – Mimi’s Art Hollow – 287 W. Center St., Marion – A $25 glow painting class at Mimi’s Art Hollow, giving the weekend an early hit of downtown art-studio energy.

7:00 PM – Live Music with Joe Waters – Shovel City Drinkery – 181 N. Main St., Marion – Joe Waters brings blues, funk, folk, and Americana to Shovel City, with The Hibachi Hut food truck parked out front.

Saturday, May 16

10:00 AM – 17th Annual Ohio N-Scale Weekend – Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Marion County Fairgrounds – 220 E. Fairground St., Marion – A weekend model train show featuring N-scale layouts, vendors, trains, door prizes, clinics, and more. Saturday hours run 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

10:00 AM – Brunch, Please! A Mimosa-Fueled Throwback Sing-Along – Bucci’s Italian Scratch Kitchen – 320 W. Center St., Marion – The sing-along brunch phenomenon returns with mimosas, food, entertainment, inflatable microphones, sunglasses, and a room full of people belting the songs they absolutely know by heart.

10:00 AM – Sketching Marion in Watercolor & Ink – Art Loft Marion – 186 W. Church St., Marion – A drawing and watercolor class that begins in the studio before moving into plein air sketching and painting at sites around Marion. Cost is $20 per session, with discounted pricing for children attending with an adult, senior citizens, and Marion Women’s Club members.

11:00 AM – Traditions in Motion: West African Drumming & Dancing with Djapo – Marion Public Library – 445 E. Church St., Marion – An interactive all-ages program with the Djapo Cultural Arts Institute exploring African diasporic music, dance, history, and folklore.

2:00 PM – Flower Wagon Canvas Painting Class – Mimi’s Art Hollow – 287 W. Center St., Marion – A $30 canvas painting class at Mimi’s Art Hollow, built around a flower wagon theme.

3:00 PM – Parad’Ice Cream Island Presents Elvis’ Lost Brother – Parad’Ice Cream Island – 809 Bellefontaine Ave., Marion – Free live music, food, ice cream, and a relaxed Saturday afternoon stop at Parad’Ice Cream Island.

7:00 PM – Live Music with Joe Waters – Shovel City Drinkery – 181 N. Main St., Marion – Joe Waters brings blues, funk, folk, and Americana to Shovel City, with The Hibachi Hut food truck parked out front.

6:00 PM – Sneaky Pete and The Players Rock the OK Café Patio – OK Café – 734 E. Center St., Marion – Sneaky Pete and The Players bring live rock to the OK Café patio for a free Saturday night show with food, cold drinks, and no cover.

7:00 PM – Live Music with Brooklyn Wallace – Kin & Kilt – 130 S. Prospect St., Marion – Brooklyn Wallace returns to Kin & Kilt for a free night of live music, pub energy, cold drinks, and a packed-house Saturday vibe.

7:30 PM – Queen of Hearts – Kin & Kilt – 130 S. Prospect St., Marion – Kin & Kilt’s weekly Queen of Hearts drawing continues Saturday night. Grab a ticket, try your luck, and see if the crown lands on you.

8:00 PM – Potty Mouth Pottery Class – Mimi’s Art Hollow – 287 W. Center St., Marion – A 21-and-older pottery class at Mimi’s Art Hollow. Cost is $5.

Sunday, May 17

9:00 AM – 17th Annual Ohio N-Scale Weekend – Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Marion County Fairgrounds – 220 E. Fairground St., Marion – The model train weekend continues Sunday with N-scale layouts, vendors, trains, clinics, and more. Sunday hours run 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

10:00 AM – Brunch, Please! A Mimosa-Fueled Throwback Sing-Along – Bucci’s Italian Scratch Kitchen – 320 W. Center St., Marion – Brunch, Please! continues Sunday with mimosas, brunch, throwback sing-alongs, and the kind of full-room nostalgia that turns a meal into a destination.

3:00 PM – Resin Art Class – Mimi’s Art Hollow – 287 W. Center St., Marion – A resin art class at Mimi’s Art Hollow for anyone looking to end the weekend with something creative. Cost starts at $10.