Marion, Va canceling several holiday events amid COVID-19

A number of upcoming holiday events in Marion, Va are being canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Town of Marion officials say those events include the town’s Halloween Madness Trunk-or-Treat, the December Christmas parade, and New Year’s Eve events at the Henderson. The town cited restrictions in Gov. Ralph Northam’s Executive Order 67 as well as rising COVID-19 cases as reasons for cancellation.

“We are as disappointed as everybody,” said Marion Mayor David Helms. “Our staff has worked with the Health Department, our legislators, all the way to the Governor’s office, but in the end, unless every single person wears a cloth mask the whole time, we’re just not able to have these events we all look forward to.” Town Manager Bill Rush agrees. “We’ve tried everything way we can to find a way, but at the end of the day, there’s just no way to truly enforce it”, added Rush. “And if we can’t enforce the requirements, we can’t promise to keep our community safe and healthy at town-sponsored events.”

Other events like Halloween movies being screened at Park Place Drive-In and the Marion Christmas Market will continue as planned. For the Marion Christmas Market, it will offer local and regional crafts at the open-air Farmers Market each Saturday Thanksgiving through Christmas from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Photo Courtesy: Town of Marion, Va Logo