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2006 Press Releases

1^st Annual Cornhole Classic

MARION, OH – The Marion Popcorn Festival will be hosting their First Annual Cornhole Classic tournament on Saturday, September 9^th. Registration begins at 10:00 a.m. and tournament play starts at 12:00 p.m. This event, sponsored by 3-D Concepts and Logan Tire, will award cash prizes to the top teams. The payouts will be based on the number of overall entries. All teams will be guaranteed at least two games. Entry fees are $25.00 per team (pre-registered) and $30.00 per team (registration day of the tournament). Pre-registration is available by sending check or money order to Marion Popcorn Festival, P.O. Box 1101, Marion, Ohio 43301-1101. For more information e-mail axec2003@yahoo.com or look on line at www.popcornfestival.com.
Cornhole is similar to horseshoes except you use wooden boxes called cornhole platforms and corn bags instead of
horseshoes and metal stakes. Contestants take turns pitching corn bags at the platform until a contestant reaches the score of 21 points. A corn bag in the hole scores 3 points, while one on the platform scores 1 point.

GARNISH YOUR WINDOWS IN POPCORN

MARION, OH – The Marion Popcorn Festival is coming soon and Marion area businesses, organizations, and government offices are urged to celebrate “The Big Pop 500 ” and enter the Festival’s window decorating contest.

The Marion Popcorn Festival draws more than 250,000 people each year. Festival officials are encouraging those outside the downtown area to enter, as well.

Windows are judged on originality, creative use of popcorn, and utilization of the theme, “The Big Pop 500”. For those entering, Wyandot, Inc. generously provides plenty of free popcorn for decorating use.

Creators of the first place window will receive two Kernel seats for either KISS Army on Thursday; Trick Pony on Friday; or Starship with Mickey Thomas on Saturday. They will also receive a blue ribbon and a rotating trophy. Second and third place windows will receive ribbons.

Deadline for entries is Friday, August 25, and windows must be ready for judging by 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 6. Winners will be notified by September 7.

Entry forms may be picked up at the Chamber of Commerce or by calling 740/387-5308.

MARION POPCORN FESTIVAL
5 K Run

MARION, OH – The Marion Popcorn Festival Popcorn 5000 5 K run will be held Saturday, September 9, 2006. This event is TAC Certified. Entry fees will be $12.00 prior to the pre-registration deadline of September 6, and $15.00 after deadline. The first 100 pre-registered participants will receive T-shirts. Check in and late registration begins at 7:30 a.m. on the day of the race, and the 5K run begins at 9:30 a.m.

Plaques will be awarded to the overall top male and female runners and trophies will be awarded to the 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place finishers in each age category.

Walkers are also welcome for the 5K power walk. First, second, and third-place finishers will receive trophies.

Information and registration forms are available on line at www.popcornfestival.com and www.premierraces.com. Contact Tammy Shirk at 740-387-4519 after 5:30 p.m. for additional information.

The dates for the 2006 Marion Popcorn Festival are September 7^h, 8^th, and 9^th. Headline entertainment includes KISS Army sponsored by Thiel’s Wheels Harley Davidson on Thursday, Trick Pony on Friday, and Starship with Mickey Thomas on Saturday. All performances are free of charge.

Kernel sponsorship seats for these performances are available by calling 740-383-2076. For more information on all Festival events, visit our web site at www.popcornfestival.com or call 740/387-FEST.

MARION POPCORN FESTIVAL
Golf Outing

MARION, OH – The Marion Popcorn Festival Golf Tournament will be held Saturday, August 5, 2006 at Whetstone Golf Course. This outing is a 4-person scramble and tee times will be established. Co-ed teams are welcome. Participants will be notified of their exact tee time.

The entry fee of $50 includes your greens fee, ½ cart and barbeque dinner. First, second and third team prizes will be awarded, along with a number of door prizes. For more information or to obtain an entry form, contact Karen at 740-387-8919. Entry forms are also available on line at www.popcornfestival.com. Entry deadline is July 22.

DATE: June 1, 2006

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Mary Dutton; 740/725-9691; Karen Herr, 740/499-3411

FOR RELEASE: Immediate

MARION POPCORN FESTIVAL
REVS UP FOR PARADE

MARION, OH – The Marion Popcorn Festival’s ConAgra Snack Foods Parade will once again step off at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 7^th.

The theme for this year’s event is The Big Pop 500 and follows a racing theme. “We always look for a theme that allows for a lot of creativity,” said parade chairman Mary Dutton, “as we feel this provides the basis for a festive entry. This year we’re inviting everyone to pull their pit crew together, don their favorite racing gear, get revved up for The Big Pop 500.” A total of nineteen trophies will be awarded in eight categories.

Dutton said that the parade route will remain the same, beginning on East Center Street at Forest Lawn Boulevard, continuing down East Center Street to State to Church to Main, and disbanding at the top of the hill.

Dutton said parade entry forms have been mailed to anyone who participated in last year’s parade. If you have not yet received a parade entry form, they can be obtained by calling Dutton at 740-725-9691, printing it off the Marion Popcorn Festival Web Site at www.popcornfestival.com, or by picking one up at the Marion Chamber of Commerce.

Dutton also said the $10 entry fee per unit would also continue. “With the cost of everything going up, it has been harder and harder for the Marion Popcorn Festival to absorb all of the costs for the parade. It was the only event which didn’t pretty much pay for itself. This fee goes toward covering the cost of the entry forms, postage, trophies, the high school bands, etc.

“We feel the entry fee is low enough that it won’t become a burden on anyone,” said Dutton. “In fact, any club, organization, or business can enter up to five motorized vehicles for the one $10 fee – and there’s no limit on the number of passengers.”

Entry forms are due by Wednesday, August 24.

The Marion Popcorn Festival is the largest popcorn festival in the world with annual attendance estimated in excess of 250,000 over the three-day festival. For more information, visit our web site at www.popcornfestival.com or call 740/387-FEST.

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