MARION, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—The Marion County Fair kicked off this week with a record turnout for its annual Senior Day. Over 300 seniors and 30 vendors enjoyed the live music of “Full Moon”, a delicious lunch, and a variety of senior games with many prizes up for grabs.
Senior Day is an annual event hosted by the Marion County Council on Aging and sponsored by Kingston Residence of Marion and OhioHealth. The event serves as a major fundraiser for the 2025 Council on Aging levy.
Cassie Gregory, Executive Director of the Marion County Council on Aging, expressed her delight at the event’s success. “Senior Day is a gathering to celebrate seniors. I love watching them have a fun time and enjoy the festivities,” said Gregory. “We thank our sponsors and vendors for making this special day possible.”
Among the attendees was Larry Wood, a 79-year-old Marion County resident and retired lead engineer from Whirlpool. Wood, who now works part-time as a Ram Tech instructor, has attended Senior Day for several years. “I look forward to this day each year to see many of my friends and enjoy the music, food, and games,” Wood shared.
Vendors at the event also expressed their enjoyment. Candy Klingel, an LSW Volunteer Coordinator for Tranquility Hospice, has been a vendor at Senior Day for several years. “I love meeting the seniors. I see lots of familiar faces and I get to meet many new seniors. They are a fun bunch to be around,” Klingel said.
Kim Manley, Community Relations Director with Kingston Residence of Marion, attended her first Senior Day at the fair event. “I didn’t know what to expect but I was amazed at how many seniors came and how much they enjoyed the day. Seniors know how to have a good time and it’s fun to watch them,” Manley noted.
The Marion County Council on Aging’s next major event is the Senior Summit on August 27th, to be held at the Marion Senior Center. “We are bringing together community organizations that serve seniors and the seniors themselves to develop initiatives to support our seniors,” Gregory stated. More information about the Senior Summit will be shared in the coming days.