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Thousands attend Libertyfest, air showSaturday, July 5, 2008
Beverly and Gerald Stott of Cape Girardeau loved being at the airport. "I just love the planes," said Beverly Stott, adding that pushing her husband's wheelchair over the airport's flat concrete was far easier than navigating through downtown Cape Girardeau. Lizzie Hinkle, 14, said she would have skipped the air show in favor of the fireworks later in the evening, but her family wanted to see the planes. Hinkle brought two friends, Michaela Whitehurst and Delaney Deiro, both 14, and Whitehurst said they were having fun just spending time together while waiting for nightfall and fireworks. Jason Brown, 14, and brothers Josh and Daniel Mattison, 17 and 16, respectively, said they liked the jet-powered Dodge truck the best. Gloria Farr and Tom Dudley of Millersville arrived earlier in the day for the air show, but had to leave for other family events. They hoped to return in time for the evening's fireworks. By 7:45 p.m., 6,559 people had passed through the gates at Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. Stephen Cohen, 16, of Anna, Ill., stood at the gate with a counter, clicking as fast as possible; before he handed it off to the next volunteer, his counting device had recorded more than 6,800 people. No estimate was available for a second gate. The crowds caused long lines for concessions and portable restrooms. Two women, who asked to remain unidentified, slipped into the ladies room inside the hangar and took several rolls of toilet paper to put in some of portable toilets. That, they said, was their only complaint about the event. Sgt. Brad Moore of Cape Girardeau Police Department said this was the first time police had ever had to coordinate traffic arriving at the airport for a show. He said that was a good problem to have, though some drivers said later they were frustrated at being stuck in traffic. The Cape Girardeau County Transit Authority provided four buses and free rides to people who needed them. Airport advisory board member Walt Wildman said he saw the biggest crowd ever for an air show. He suggested high gas prices and free admission were the main reasons people seemed to flock to this year's event. Marla Mills, executive director of Old Town Cape, said the crowd was "very, very good" as she surveyed people settled in on blankets bleachers or lawn chairs watching the Lima Lima air team barrel by in a missing man formation. The sound of taps filled the air and some spectators stood, hands over hearts. As late as 8 p.m. a line of cars continued to flow into the airport's grassy parking spots; the overflow lots were opened at 6:50 p.m. Many of those who attended said they were happy about the relatively mild temperatures and cloud cover. Jane Randol Jackson, co-founder of the Red House Interpretive Center and former director of the Cape Girardeau County Archive Center, was presented this year's Spirit of America Award. The evening came to a glittery close as fireworks flew into the air.
335-6611, extension 127 Golden Knights parachute at Libertyfest
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My hats are off to all who volunteered their time to make the annual Libertyfest one of the best ever. I commend the Cape Girardeau Police Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol for a job well done they had there hands full with all of the out going traffic afterwards, but over all an outstanding job goes out to every one that help put this show on. The only snags was not enough bath rooms and exiting traffic but those problems can be worked out for future events of this size at the airport. Keep the Libertyfest at the Airport in the future.
I enjoyed the air show and the fireworks, but o my gosh, afterwards, it took over 2 1/2 hours to get out of the airport. I would like to go back next year, but probably won't cause of the long wait afterwards.
Won't go back due to traffic exiting the show. Had the little one with me and didn't get home until after midnight. Over 2 hours just to leave the parking lot! So poorly handled, it was ridiculous.
was the parking free?
I think they should have it at the airport every year instead of downtown.
PARKING! PARKING! PARKING!
You couldn't fit 2000 people downtown.
I don't think there is a way improve on traffic exiting the event.
Hi folks, I stuck around until traffic cleared and the last of those waiting for shuttles were picked up -- the two buses didn't get back inside until midnight.
One thing I didn't learn until after this story was filed: A third lot and gate had to be opened after the overflow lot was filled.
Far and away this was the biggest crowd at the airport, with close to 8,000 passing through the main gate alone. (I heard everything from 7,700 to "the counter broke at 8,000" according to several people).
A conservative crowd estimate, according to Marla Mills, is 11,000. The optimists among the event's organizers suggested it was closer to 15,000. Personally I think it was somewhere in between. Important to note that only one counter was available, indicating organizers didn't expect as many as showed. In fairness, they had no way to estimate attendence for what is essentially a first-time event.
The "huge crowd" fact remains, as any driver out there experienced.
One event really caused traffic to grind to a halt. A woman went into labor in her car. Lt. Mark Majoros of Cape's police department told me she did not actually have the baby on the airport road, but said it was possible delivery occurred in the ambulance en route to a hospital.
And many of the people I interviewed said they usually go elsewhere to celebrate the Fourth of July -- a cabin, lake or other vacation site -- but gas prices or family matters kept them close to home.
Coming to a free event was, they said, "something to do."
We showed up a little after 8p.m. and didn't have any trouble finding parking (almost had trouble remembering where I parked though.) Two suggestions for next year: more bathrooms and more funnel cake vendors. No one should have to stand in line for twenty minutes for a funnel cake.
It took a long time to leave, but that will happen when thousands of people all try to leave at the same time.
The airshow & the fireworks were great! Our family had a wonderful time. Nothing against Downtown, but I can't imagine having 10K+ on the riverfront.
Although we had fun, we prefer the old way of doing things--2 days of the airshow at the "Cape Girardeau International Airport" & fireworks downtown.
We missed the Hanger Dance afterwards. Maybe that's part of the reason that leaving the airshow hasn't taken 2 hours in the past. (We have gone for countless years, but have never had a problem with getting out...) In past years, the Hanger Dance has given people something to do other than "Mass Exodus".
Overall, it was a great time! Thanks to all!