ARTICLE
Marion Chamber Ambassadors will hold a special ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday, December 19 at 3:30 p.m. The ceremony will take place at 7th Avenue and 11th Street in Uptown Marion, north of City Square Park. At the ceremony, members of Marion Leadership In Action will celebrate the installation of a one-of-a-kind holiday tree created by local artist Cara Briggs-Farmer of Synergy Metalworks. The tree was commissioned to complement the existing sphere sculptures along 7th Avenue, also created by Briggs-Farmer. It incorporates roughly 500 linear feet of stainless steel and carbon steel tubing and will be lit at night. “We have heard the call for more holiday décor from our residents and have tasked the Marion Leadership In Action program with creating a master plan,” said Jill Ackerman, Marion Chamber President. “They are laying the groundwork for a flexible collection that can transition as Marion continues to grow.” The unveiling of the holiday tree coincides with the Marion Leadership In Action 2017 Classes’ Winter Light and Display Project. The group recently launched a fundraising campaign and is developing a master plan to provide the community a vision for future holiday displays that will light up the city while maintaining Marion’s distinct charm. The plan calls for the addition of various holiday decorations and lighting over the next several years that will encompass the uptown area, city parks, and gateways. To learn more about the project or to donate to the campaign, visit the Marion Chamber of Commerce website.