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KNIA/KRLS Radio is sponsoring this week’s “Thursdays in Pella”, which will bring a “Blast from the Past” to Pella’s downtown square. Highlights of Thursday’s event include a classic car show, inflatable games and a performance by the Pella City Band, along with several contests that Trevor Castle of KNIA/KRLS says are very popular with the event’s younger attendants.

“For the kids, that includes our hula hoop contest that they have a lot of fun with, our twist contest, and our messy bubble gum-blowing contest,” said Castle. “All of those contests are back this year. We’ve got prizes from Adventureland, the Iowa Cubs and Marion County Bank’s got some prizes.”

The contests will begin at 7:00 p.m. in front of the KNIA/KRLS Big Red Radio on the south side of the square. While there are plenty of marquee attractions to draw people downtown, Castle says a free hamburger meal from Marion County Bank will probably be the most popular portion of the evening.
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“Marion County Bank will be serving 3,000 hamburger meals – beginning at 5:00 p.m. tonight,” says Castle. “They’ve got the Pork Producers and the Cattlemen’s Association, so there’ll be pork burgers and beef burgers with all the fixings. I believe chips, baked beans, a couple of different side items with that, and then kettle corn in a commemorative Marion County Bank cup.”

The meal is being served in celebration of the bank’s 75th anniversary. The Thursday’s in Pella festivities run from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.