Entertainment History
The Marion Popcorn Festival has included many of the top names in entertainment on the main stage over the years. And it has all been absolutely free to those attending!
Below is a history of the acts to appear on our stages.
1981
Ray Stevens
The Lettermen
Henny Youngman
1982
Helen Reddy
Lee Greenwood
The Spinners
Art Mooney (Guy Lombardo's Royal Canadian Band) (Palace Theatre)
1983
The Four Tops
The Righteous Brothers
T. G. Shepherd
1984
Louise Mandrell
Atlanta
The Pointer Sisters
The Guess Who
1985
Charlie Daniels
The Commodores
Phil Dirt and the Dozers
1986
Tanya Tucker
Cheap Trick
Restless Heart
1987
Michael McDonald
Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers
The Coasters
The Vogues (Palace Theatre)
1988
Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine
Eddie Rabbitt
The Shirelles
The Girls Next Door
1989
REO Speedwagon
B. J. Thomas
The McCarters
JoAnn Castle (Palace Theatre)
1990
The Four Freshman
Smokey Robinson
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
1991
The Statler Brothers
Eddie Money
U.S. Air Force Band
Bill Pinkey & The Original Drifters (Palace Theatre)
1992
The Oakridge Boys
George Jones
Jan & Dean
Ralna English (Palace Theatre)
1993
The Neville Brothers
Waylon Jennings
Three Dog Night
Myron Floren (Palace Theatre)
1994
Kathy Mattea
David Lee Roth
Fabulous Flashbacks
The Four Lads (Palace Theatre)
1995
Lorrie Morgan
Loverboy (Foreigner cancelled)
Frankie Yankovic (main stage & Palace Theatre)
1996
Willie Nelson
Firehouse and Romantics (Night Ranger cancelled)
1964 (a tribute to the Beatles)
Vaudvillities (Palace Theatre)
1997
Aaron Tippin
Kansas
Mike Albert (Memories of Elvis)
The Fox Brothers (Palace Theatre)
1998
Clay Walker
Tom Jones (cancelled, his band performed)
The Vogues
1999
Joey Dee and the Starliters
Huey Lewis and The News
Sammy Kershaw
The Ragtime Strutters (Palace Theatre)
2000
Bill Sims
Styx
Pam Tillis
Richens Timms Irish Dance Troupe (Palace Theatre)
2001
Kool & The Gang
Joe Diffie
The Platters (main stage and Palace Theatre)
2002
The Van-Dells
38 Special
Marty Stuart
2003
Neal McCoy
Steppenwolf
Ricki Martin
2004
Rick Brunetto Big Band
The Danger Brothers
Honky Tonk Tailgate Party
BTO
2005
Parrot Head Band
Foreigner
Mark Chesnutt
2006
KISS Army
Mickey Thomas & Starship
Trick Pony
2007
Hells Bells
Radio Pirates
Blake Shelton
Gin Blossoms (canceled due to weather)
2008
Draw The Line
Soul Cadence
Phil Vassar
Molly Hatchet
2009
Number One Bad Boys (Poison Tribute)
November Rain (G-N-R Tribute)
Sawyer Brown
Survivor
2010
Kentucky Headhunters
Joe Nichols
Blues Travelers
2011
Vicious Cycle (Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute)
Grace Potter and The Nocturnals
Jason Michael Carroll
2012
The Ultimate Journey Xperience
Josh Thompson
Boyz II Men
Derrick & Derrick
2013
The Village People
Jo Dee Messina
Wanted (Bon Jovi Tribute)
Robert James McArthur (Neil Diamond Tribute)
2014
The Rat Pack Is Back
Panama (Van Halen Tribute)
Craig Morgan
Night Ranger
2015
Straight On
Rodney Atkins
Warrant
2016
Kellie Pickler
Skid Row
Rock Brigade – a Def Leppard Tribute Band
2017
Gin Blossoms
Georgia Satellites
The Prince Experience – a Prince Tribute Band
2018
Lonestar
Pop Evil
Stranger – The Ultimate 80s Tribute
2019
Hinder
Frankie Ballard
The Four Horsemen (Metallica Tribute)
2020
No Festival
2021
Rumours (A Fleetwood Mac Tribute)
Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry
Great White
2022
KatMandu, a Bob Seger Tribute Band
Parmalee
Lita Ford
2023
Old Skool
Collin Raye
Black Stone Cherry