Kevin Danzig performs for Tunes at Twilight

Kevin Danzig, the man behind "The Great Mississippi," the song used by the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau to promote Libertyfest 2004, is playing Tunes at Twilight today at 6:30 p.m. at the Common Pleas Courthouse gazebo.

SEMO District Fair begins 149th season Saturday

The 149th SEMO Distrtict Fair starts at 9 a.m. Saturday and will run until Sept. 18. This year's fair will feature such familar events as amusement rides, tractor pulls, 4-H events, pageants, and lots of food and drinks. Musical entertainment begins Thursday with Leroy Van Dyke and continues with Sammy Kershaw on Sept. 17 and Three Dog Night on Sept. 18. The fair will also feature a demolition derby and the Heartland Idol talent search. For more information, check out the fair's Web site at www.semofair.com.

Popeye's 75th birthday celebrated in Chester

CHESTER, Ill. -- The city is getting ready to celebrate its favorite son once again with the 25th annual Popeye's Picnic today through Sunday. Chester is the birthplace of Popeye creator Elzie Seger, who started drawing the famous sailor 75 years ago. The Popeye Picnic has rides, helicopter rides, contests, fireworks, parades and a lot more. For more information, go to www.popeyepicnic.com.

Harvest Festival set at Cache River winery

BELKNAP, Ill. -- The Cache River Basin Vineyard is holding its 2004 Harvest Festival from 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday. The festival will feature food from Hog Wild Bar-b-que, wine from the vineyard and musical performances by Nat Williams. For more information, call (618) 658-2274.

Cedarhurst Crafts Fair planned for weekend

MOUNT VERNON, Ill. -- The Cedarhurst Crafts Fair takes place Saturday and Sunday on the grounds of the Cedarhurst Center for the Arts. The annual event usually attracts about 15,000 visitors who want to enjoy its live music, food and crafts. There will be more than 160 booths filled with items such as jewelry, glass, baskets made by artisans from all over the country. A children's area will also be a part of this year's event. For more information, call the center for the arts at (618) 242-1236.

Blues festival planned close to Illinois cave

MURPHYSBORO, Ill. -- The 2004 Murphysboro Blues Fest will run today through Sunday at the Shawnee Natural Ampitheater located at the Salt Petre Cave, seven miles south of Murphysboro, Ill. This year's musical lineup feature regional and national blues acts, including Guitar Shorty, Jimi Hendrix's brother-in-law. More information about the fest can be found at the event's Web site at www.murphysborobluesfest.com.

Count Basie Orchestra anniversary celebrated

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Count Basie's birth, the County Basie Orchestra and vocalist Nnenna Freelon are performing at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Shryock Auditorium. For more information, contact the auditorium at (618) 453-3379.

Living History Day comes near East Prairie, Mo.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Big Oak Tree State park near East Prairie, Mo. will play host to Living History Day, an event sponsored by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The event will feature demonstrations of old-time skills such as wooden toy making, soap making, knife making, weaving, calligraphy, hide tanning, spinning and woodcarving. Bluegrass music will be performed by the "Old Time Ozark Mountain String Band" throughout the day and a fried catfish and chicken dinner will be prepared by the James Bayou Cookers. Big Oak Tree State Park is located 15 miles south of East Prairie on Highway 102. For more information about the event, contact Hunter-Dawson State Historic Site at (573) 748-5340 or the Department of Natural Resources toll free at 1-800-334-6946

Highland Festival marked in Western Kentucky

PADUCAH, Ky. -- The annual Western Kentucky Highland Festival will be held today through Sunday in Paducah, Ky. The festival features pipe and drum bands, Scottish dancers, children's games, Scottish vendors, clan and genealogy tents, highland cattle, Shetland sheep herding, storytelling, weaving and spinning. The festival gets underway today at 7 p.m. with a party at Whalers Catch French Quarters at 123 N. 2nd St. and runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. On Sunday, there is a worship service at First Presbyterian Church, 7th and Jefferson streets, at 10:45 a.m.

Reading, book signing by author Gary Gildner

Fiction and poetry writer Gary Gildner will read from his work at 7 p.m., Sept. 16 in Glenn Auditorium in the Dempster Building, located at the corner of Henderson and New Madrid streets. A book signing will follow the reading.

Deadline for art competition approaching

Artists living within a 175 mile radius of Cape Girardeau have until Monday to enter their work in the "Borders" juried exhibition of regional artwork being sponsored by the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri. Slide entries are due no later than Monday at the Arts Council Galleries 32 N. Main St. in Cape Girardeau. Accepted works for the November exhibit will be chosen by juror Shirley Howard of Little Rock, Ark.

Southeast Baroque Trio opens season

The Southeast Missouri State University's Department of Music holds its first musical offering of the school year at 8 p.m. Sept. 16 in Old St. Vincent's Church with a concert by the Southeast Baroque Trio. The trio consists of Sara Edgerton on cello, Paul Thompson on flute and Gary Miller on harpsichord. This concert will also feature an appearance by Brandon Christensen on violin. Tickets are available at the Performing Arts Box Office in the lobby of the Rose Theatre. To order tickets by phone, call (573) 651-2265.

-- From staff reports