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Chingawassa Days offers fun for all

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A weekend of fun activities will culminate June 2 in Central Park, Marion, when country music group Trick Pony will be the main attraction at this year's Chingawassa Days.

Bring lawn chairs, blankets, and appetites because there will be a variety of tasty treats to choose in the food court.

Cheesecake-on-a-stick will be offered for the first time.

Other items include snow cones, roasted corn, funnel cakes, Chinese and Mexican food, hamburgers, Kettle Korn, nachos, Indian tacos, onion blossoms, nuts, barbecue, lemonade, and limeades.

In addition to the events listed below, there will be massage tables, Kansas National Guard climbing wall, temporary tattoo artists, and games.

The festival begins at 6 p.m. May 31 when the Extreme Rhino Challenge preliminary competitions begin at Central Park. Contact Tampa State Bank for more information.

Friday evening

Admission is a concert button.

Marion National Bank will serve up its famous Chingawassa Barbecue dinner beginning at 6 p.m. Friday in the park. St. Luke Hospital will serve ice cream as the perfect topper. The free meal and ice cream will be served to all who have a button.

A "whole lotta shakin'" will be going on at 6:30 p.m. when a bunch of Elvises will take center stage as they compete in the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest.

Contestants will travel from as far away as California, New Mexico, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Texas to compete. The winner of the Chingawassa Days competition will advance to the finals in Memphis to compete with other finalists. This contest, sanctioned by Graceland and the Presley family, is only one of 100 in the world.

If time permits, following the Elvis contest, local country group The Callahan Band will perform.

During Friday evening, Robinson Chain Saw Artists will demonstrate their skills and those items will be auctioned Saturday evening before Trick Pony takes the stage.

Saturday morning

Admission is a concert button or $5 just for Saturday during the day.

The day starts bright and early with a pancake feed, sponsored by Marion Kiwanis Club. From 7 to 10 a.m., pancakes, sausage, coffee, and juice will be served to hungry festival-goers. There is an additional fee for the breakfast.

Rhino Riders of Marion will sponsor a poker run from 8 to 9:45 a.m. Registration will be at Carlsons' Grocery. Concert buttons are required to participate.

Marion Lions Club will sponsor its annual car show with registration beginning at 8 a.m. Registration will be at the courthouse where cars will be displayed and judged.

It's back to the park from 8 to 11 a.m., for the Rhino Shoe Pitching Tournament and the Case and Son Rhino Run.

Runners and walkers can participate in the 5k run or the two-mile fun run/walk. Pre-register at 7:15 a.m. at the gate or at Case and Son Insurance.

The Chinga Chuck Water Balloon Battles will begin at 9 a.m. and will benefit Marion High School baseball.

The tradition continues when Kansas Anvil Shooters officially start the festival at 9 a.m.

Rhino Riders will be on parade at 9:45 a.m. on Main Street as they end their poker run.

A celebrity tricycle race will be held on Main Street, followed by the "Bed Rock 'n' Run" bed races. Pre-register for the bed races at Tampa State Bank.

At 10:45 a.m., hundreds of plastic ducks will float down Luta Creek in the St. Luke Hospital Dinky Duck Race.

Amusements will be set up in the park and available for children of all ages from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Watch trained miniature horses go through their paces from 11 a.m. to noon.

For all card shark wannabes, register for a Texas Hold'em Poker tournament at 11 a.m. The competition is limited to the first 100 players, 18 and older with concert buttons. The tournament begins at noon.

Contestants will compete for prize money in the Marion Amazing Race at 11:15 a.m. at Marion Historical Museum, east of the park. The race ends at 12:45 p.m.

At 11:30 a.m., there will be a gymnastics demonstration on the chamber stage.

Saturday afternoon

The Aulne Quartet will perform from noon to 12:45 p.m. on the Chamber Stage.

Children will compete in a pedal tractor pull. Registration is at noon with the competition beginning at 12:30 p.m.

Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament will begin at 1 p.m. at the chamber stage. No pre-registration is required.

Finals of the extreme rhino challenge will be from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on the chamber stage.

At 2 p.m., a classic car parade will be on Main Street.

A dodge ball tournament, sponsored by Marion Police Department, will begin at 2 p.m. at the basketball court.

Various musical acts will take the chamber stage from 2:30 to 3 p.m.

A watermelon feed will at 2:45 p.m. under the Kiwanis tent.

At 3 p.m., various games will test individual and team skills. A boot race, money in the hay, and wife carrying contest are planned. Sign up before races.

Win prizes by playing bingo at 3:30 p.m. in the Kiwanis tent.

Local musical group, After April, will perform on Luta Creek Stage from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

Kansas Anvil Shooters will close the afternoon activities with another anvil shoot at 5 p.m.

Saturday evening

Admission is a concert button.

Central Park will re-open at 5:30 p.m. with The Callahan Band taking the main stage at 7 p.m.

Following their performance, chain saw art pieces, created during the festival, will be auctioned.

Country music group Trick Pony will take center stage at 9 p.m.

A fireworks show will follow the concert.

Sunday morning

A non-denominational, community church service will be at 10:30 a.m. in Marion City Auditorium.

Buttons are available at local merchants or by calling (888) 382-0055 or 382-3425.

After Friday, buttons will be $30 each.

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