Perryville Mayfest to have circus theme this year

Perryville, Mo. --

When the carnival comes to Southeast Missouri next week, it's bringing the circus along with it. The theme of the 29th annual Perryville Mayfest is "Let the Show Begin."

"To go with this year's circus theme, there will be magic, stilt walking, jugglers, balloon animals and more," Melissa Hemmann, director of the Perryville Area Chamber of Commerce, said.

The carnival in the American Legion parking lot will open at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. The festival kicks into full swing at 6 p.m. May 9 with the Mayfest parade, which will feature the Wonder Wheelers Unicycle Troupe. The parade runs from Perryville City Park to the downtown square, where at 7:30 p.m. Perryville-based rockers The Tungsten Groove will take the main stage with their signature blend of southern-fried blues rock and Midwest Americana.

"We always try to get a local fan favorite for Friday night and a bigger band for Saturday," Hemmann said.

The Perryville High School Marching Band performs during the Perryville Mayfest Parade on May 10, 2013. (Adam Vogler)

The festivities resume bright and early the morning of May 10 with the Perry Park Center 5k race at Perryville City Park and the Memory Makers Quilt Show at First Assembly of God Church.

Also that morning, there will be an antique tractor show and the annual Hi-Way Rodders car and motorcycle show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

And what circus would be complete without animals? Children and adults will be able to get up close to the animals at Big Joel's Safari Petting Zoo on the corner of Jackson and St. Joseph streets from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hemmann said there will also be a variety of craft and folk-art booths as in previous years.

She went on to explain that while some of the attractions -- such as the mother-daughter look-alike contest -- are yearly favorites, some of the events are new.

Martial arts Grand Master Han will hold an exhibition the afternoon of May 10, and American Home Realty will sponsor a diaper derby -- in which babies will crawl, walk or waddle in a race to the finish -- followed by a decorated diaper contest.

Kamea Foster, 9, leaps into the air trying to attract the attention of people throwing candy during the Perryville Mayfest Parade on May 10, 2013, in Perryville, Missouri. (Adam Vogler)

After the babies race, Main Street Signs will sponsor the return of the bed races, in which teams of five must navigate a decorated hospital bed through an obstacle course.

For dog lovers, First State Community Bank will sponsor the new "Wag 'n' Walk" dog show May 10 in front of the main stage.

But the biggest new attraction will be the antics of St. Louis troupe Circus Kaput. Their shows are a family-friendly blend of comedy, dance and circus theatrics. They will perform a magic show when the carnival opens at 11:30 a.m. May 10 and later perform the circus show at the main stage before the night's live music is slated to begin.

JR Digital will provide music from the main stage in the morning on May 10, and Griffin and the Gargoyles will bring their wide-ranging modern rock repertoire down from St. Louis at 8 p.m. that night.

Hemmann explained that this year's Mayfest has something for people of all ages.

"There will be lots of activities and things to do, lots of good food and drinks, and lots of good entertainment," she said.

tgraef@semissourian.com

Pertinent address:

6 East Sainte Marie Street, Perryville, MO 63775