The 2017 Celebrate Marion Gala included a cocktail hour and catered dinner in the May Pavilion. The formal dinner was attended by more than 430 people–the maximum capacity of the Pavilion–and catered by All Occasions Catering. Melody Warick, author of This is Where You Belong, addressed the guests.
At 8 p.m., the event moved into the main house of the Theatre for an Oscar-style recognition ceremony and entertainment featuring a number of successful performers with hometown ties to Marion, including jazz musicians Bill Sims, Jr. and Randy Baker, actresses Carly Augenstein and Emma Fitzpatrick, singers Sara Grote and John Garnes, a capella group NINE, and the MarionMade! community choir. The evening concluded with an after party and dancing in the Pavilion.
