Joining forces: Libertyfest, Air Show team up for weekend of fun by the river

The rumors are true.

Two beloved summer events in Southeast Missouri have joined forces to present the population with the Cape Girardeau Libertyfest and Air Show on the Fourth of July. That's not the official name of it, but that's what I'm calling it for now. I've got about two months to get it right.

I had a conversation with some people working on it, and though not all the details have been ironed out, the combined event sounds promising. Libertyfest will go on relatively unchanged with the high school band providing patriotic tunes and downtown decorated like, well, like the Fourth of July.

The Cape Girardeau Regional Air Festival, which I've never been to, will obviously be different. It will be over the Mississippi River. That's like adding flame to a knife-juggling act. It'll also be free.

The organizers with the air show realized last year that they were going to have to change the format of the show in order to compete with rising costs. The ticket prices weren't going to cover all the talent they had to book and other various expenses.

Instead of going to an every-other-year format, they decided to test fly this partnership with Old Town Cape and the Libertyfest. Some of the simulators might be put downtown, but a lot of the walk-around attractions won't be included for space issues.

Libertyfest will continue unscathed. Hopefully the river will have subsided by that festive Friday and people will be able to sit in Riverfront Park and watch the planes, the sunset and the fireworks display.

Parking and a few air show attraction logistics are still being ironed out, but the two orgainzations who normally organize the two events are working together this time to ensure Cape Girardeau and the region get bright lights and fast planes.