Good bets

FAMILY

Armbands

For some people, it's all about the rides. Ride them on the cheap with an armband.

• When: 5 to 10 p.m. today
• Where: SEMO District Fair

Magic shows

Magic man Bob Bohm entertains the adults and kiddies for free at the fair.

• When: Numerous shows tonight, Friday, Saturday
• Where: SEMO District Fair

Gospel concert

The Pullen Family, David Patillo and Heaven Sent perform in the activities tent.

• When: 5 to 8 p.m. Friday
• Where: SEMO District Fair

Saw contest

Watch the lumberjack old school style at the cross-cut saw contest at the antique tractor display.

• When: 6:30 p.m. Friday
• Where: SEMO District Fair

Play dress up

Watch chicken and bunnies dress like people at the poultry and rabbit dres- up contest, and hear some rooster belt it out during the rooster crowing contest.

• When: 1 p.m. Saturday
• Where: SEMO District Fair

Straight country

Have a hoedown to the sounds of the Straight Country Band.

• When: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday
• Where: SEMO District Fair

Car show

The River City Rodders host their 30th annual River Tales Classic car show.

• When: 9 a.m. Saturday
• Where: Downtown

Washers tournament

Show 'em how to play at the washers tournament.

• When: 1 p.m. Saturday
• Where: SEMO District Fair

RECREATION

Trail of Tears Triathlon

The Trail of Tears Triathlon has become an area sporting tradition.

• When: Saturday
• Where: Trail of Tears State Park

White Oak Trace Hike

The Cape Conservation Campus takes visitors on a stroll along the White Oak Trace at County Park North.

• When: 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday
• Where: Cape County Park North, Conservation Campus

Blue Pond hike

Conservation department volunteers lead a hike at the Blue Pond Natural Area along the Castor River. Trail rated difficult.

• When: 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday
• Where: Cape County Park North, Nature Center

LIVE MUSIC

Baroque ensemble

Check out some chamber music at the River Campus with this faculty chamber group.

• When: 7:30 p.m. today
• Where: Shuck Recital Hall (River Campus)

Doug Rees

Rees struts his stuff in the activities tent.

• When: 6 p.m. today
• Where: SEMO District Fair

Blake Shelton

Mr. "Pure BS" kicks off three nights of musical grandstand entertainment at the fair.

• When: 8 p.m. today
• Where: SEMO District Fair

Ivas John Band

Not much going on to kick off this weekend early, unless you count the SEMO District Fair, but you can always stop by Port Cape and check out the smoking guitar work of Ivas John if the fair's not your bag.

• When: 9 p.m. today
• Where: Port Cape

Keith Sykes

Keith Sykes has worked with and written songs for the likes of Jimmy Buffett, John Prine, Todd Snider, Rosanne Cash and Patty Loveless. This year he returns to Tunes at Twilight to close out the series.

• When: 6:30 p.m. Friday
• Where: Common Pleas Courthouse Gazebo

REO Speedwagon

The Midwest rock heroes and perennial fair band performs.

• When: 8 p.m. Friday
• Where: SEMO District Fair

Vintage

Regardless of what band is playing, it's always fun to listen to some music under the stars.

• When: 9 p.m. Friday
• Where: Bel-Air Grill

The Level

Think it's hard to find a reggae/ska band in Cape Girardea? Not anymore, especially when that band is made up of one-half the members of blues rockers Mojo Filter.

• When: 9 p.m. Friday
• Where: Rude Dog Pub

Live Piano

For those who want a little more upscale evening, Jennifer Jolls provides live piano music.

• When: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday
• Where: Royal N'Orleans

Real blues

The Blues Bandits market themselves as a real deal, old school blues band. You make the call.

• When: 9 p.m. Friday
• Where: Port Cape

Bloc Party

The indie-rock darlings take the stage at St. Louis.

• When: 8 p.m. Friday
• Where: The Pageant, St. Louis

Carl Banks

The singer does a solo gig.

• When: 9 p.m. Saturday
• Where: Last Call

Pat Green

The Texas country hero brings his show to Southeast Missouri for the first time.

• When: 8 p.m. Saturday
• Where: SEMO District Fair

Amelia White

Nashville, Tenn., singer/songwriter Amelia White lists Lucinda Williams as one of her biggest inspirations.

• When: 8:30 p.m. Saturday
• Where: Cup 'N' Cork

Mathien

Carbondale, Ill.,-based singer/songwriter Chris Mathien and band return to Cape.

• When: 9 p.m. Saturday
• Where: Port Cape Girardeau

Steppin' Out

Take it easy and chill to the sounds of light jazz and adult contemporary in the Mississippi River Hills.

• When: 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday
• Where: River Ridge Winery, Commerce, Mo.

Jobu

The crowds down at Rude Dog Pub must love the reggae rock of stoner band Jobu because they just keep coming back for more.

• When: 9 p.m. Saturday
• Where: Rude Dog Pub

State park concerts

Bluegrass band Cabin Fever plays Trail of Tears State Park and Bollinger Mill State Historic Site.

• When: 7 p.m. Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Sunday
• Where: Trail of Tears State Park, Bollinger Mill State Historic Site

Bruce Zimmerman

The old man of Cape's music scene never disappoints in his famous weekly gigs at Port Cape Girardeau.

• When: 9 p.m. Sunday
• Where: Port Cape

Rees and Texas

Doug Rees teams up with the Texas-based duo the Ginn Sisters, veterans of the Tunes at Twilight series.

• When: 7 p.m. Sept. 20
• Where: Stooges, Jackson

Widespread Panic

Princes of the jam band world take their show inside the arena.

• When: 7 p.m. Sept. 21
• Where: FedEx Forum, Memphis

Voice recital

Southeast Missouri State University music professors Chris Goeke, Leslie Jones and Lori Shaffer team up for a voice recital at the River Campus.

• When: Sept. 20
• Where: Shuck Recital Hall, River Campus

ARTS

Sculpture exhibition

Southeast Missouri State University sculpture professors Benjie Hue and Chris Wubbena team up for an art exhibition at the River Campus.

• When: Starts Monday
• Where: River Campus art gallery

Museum trip

The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri takes a trip to the Contemporary Art Museum and other St. Louis locations.

• When: 8 a.m. Friday
• Where: Bus leaves from West Park Mall parking lot

Red House Interpretive Center

The Red house celebrates Native American Month with the artwork of Chief Paul White Eagle and Bill Eddleman.

• When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday
• Where: Red House Interpretive Center

THEATER

"Evita"

Paducah, Ky.'s Carson Center hosts the Tony Award-winning musical by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

• When: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 20, 21
• Where: Carson Center, Paducah.

FESTIVALS

Harvest festival

Drink some wine and listen to the trash can Americana of The Woodbox Gang.

• When: Noon to 7 p.m. Sunday
• Where: Blue Sky Vineyard, Makanda, Ill.

Traditional Music Festival

The Fort Kaskaskia Traditional Music Festival takes place for its 18th year.

• When: Saturday and Sunday
• Where: Pierre Menard Home, Ill.