MARION, Ky. –   Backroads Festival, sponsored by Marion Main Street and the Marion Tourism Commission is an annual event which invites visitors to take a peek at what Marion and Crittenden County have to offer tourists.  This year new exciting events are scheduled for the April 29 – 30 festival.

In the past guests have enjoyed the city and county’s antique stores, specialty shops, restaurants, fabric shops, quilt shows, and craft booths, free ferry rides across the beautiful Ohio River to and from Cave-in-Rock, IL, and forays into the scenic Amish community.  Quality craft vendors will be selling their products Friday and Saturday at the Marion Commons / Welcome Center Court Yard.

 “Information about our Amish community is always the number one request in the “Welcome Center” Michele Edwards, Director of the Marion Tourism Commission stated.  The “Amish Backroads Trail” will be marked with Amish Buggy Signs.  These signs will lead visitors to Amish Businesses and back to Marion.

“As usual, our Amish friends are a tremendous asset to this community,” Edwards said.  “We’re glad to help showcase some of their products, especially quilts.”

Speaking of quilts, the festival will also showcase various quilt shows. The Welcome Center Quilt Shows features a variety of quilts from local quilt collectors. This display is open the entire month of April daily from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.  The Women’s Club Quilt Show will be held at the Women’s Club building, 126 Carlisle Street on Friday, April 29.   The Backroads Quilt Show will be held at Marion City Hall on Saturday the 30th.  The Native American Quilt show will be held at Mantel Rock Center, 318 Sturgis Rd.  Friday and Saturday.  Marion Christian Church, VFW, Historical Museum, local businesses and banks will also have quilt displays during the festival.

Backroads is scheduled to coincide with the annual Paducah, Ky. show of the American Quilter’s Society, and while Edwards said it would be difficult to gauge how many visitors to expect, the community is geared up and ready to greet visitors.

For more information or to reserve a vendor booth, contact Susan Alexander at 1-800-755-0361 or
 270-965-5015, or visit www.marionkentucky.org.