Chingawassa Days

New games, events announced

This year’s Chingawassa Days festival June 3 through 5, downtown Marion, will be a combination of new and familiar entertainment and contests.

Games

On June 4, an Amazing Race competition, similar to the popular television show. For more information, contact Marion Historical Museum at (620) 382-9134.

Minute to Win It, also a take on a popular television game show, will make its debut as will an arm wrestling tournament.

Another new interactive game is Heads Tails. The committee doesn’t want to divulge too much information about it. No registration is necessary for this game — just show up and play for prizes.

Other Saturday activities will include a 5-kilometer run and 2-mile run/walk, horseshoe pitching tournament, bed races on Main Street, a petting zoo, dinky duck race, children’s inflatable amusements, Texas Hold’Em tournament, games for all ages, rock-paper-scissors tournament, a dodge ball competition, a texting contest, and bingo.

Events

A community barbecue, a 15-year tradition of the festival, will be served June 3 followed by an ice cream social.

The park will be rocking that evening with performances by Edge of Forever, a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band, and Hells/Bells, an AC/DC tribute band.

Hells/Bells, not to be confused with other tribute bands by the same or similar name, has been entertaining rockers since 1996, performing in 36 states across the country with the cover hits of rock and roll legend AC/DC. The show is known for including pyrotechnics, the usual antics by lead singer “Angus,” and two firing canons.

Edge of Forever includes a six-piece band that emulates the Southern rock style of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

The name, Edge of Forever, was chosen because the band not only plays the classics but also keeps current with the newly reformed Lynyrd Skynyrd band and its music.

Edge of Forever will play at 7 p.m. Hells/Bells will follow at 8:45 p.m.

Other events

Chain saw artist Rick Sardou of Marion will demonstrate his skills June 4. He will make some items that will be auctioned that evening as well as some items he made before the festival.

McPherson Bag Pipe Band will perform as well as Tropical Shores, a steel drum band.

Drum lines from Marion Middle School and El Dorado High School will perform.

The main event

All of the weekend’s activities culminate June 4 when country music band Diamond Rio performs.

Before the main attraction, the bands Vegetable and Clearview will begin performing at 6 p.m.

The chain saw art auction will begin at 8 p.m. with Diamond Rio taking the stage at 9:15 p.m.

Day passes for June 4 are $6.

Buttons are on sale for $25 through May 27 at Central National Bank, Marion National Bank, Tampa State Bank, Carlsons’ Grocery, and Marion city offices. Prices will increase to $35 after May 27.