101 Fun Things to Do: On the Town

40. Watch a free movie drive-in style Aug. 3 at Jackson City Park. The "Movie in the Park" night starts at 8 p.m. in the rock garden.

41. Southeast Missouri is alive with the sound of music in the summer, thanks to several outdoor music series. Local and traveling musicians perform on Friday nights throughout the summer during Tunes at Twilight. The concerts are held at the courthouse gazebo on Lorimier Street in downtown Cape Girardeau. In the mood for even more music? Check out Jackson's Rock in the Rock Garden, or outdoor concerts in Perryville, Sikeston and Ste. Genevieve. The Cape Girardeau and Jackson municipal bands also perform weekly concerts in Capaha Park and Jackson City Park, respectively, during the summer.

42. Southeast Missouri has a variety of challenging, well-designed golf courses. Dalhousie Golf Club, a Nicklaus Design course, was named the No. 1 golf course in Missouri in Golf Digest's rankings for 2007-2008. The Jaycee Municipal Golf Course in Cape Girardeau underwent a $1.5 million renovation in 2009. There's also the Cape Girardeau Country Club, Bent Creek Golf Course and Kimbeland Country Club in Jackson, Ste. Genevieve Golf Club in Ste. Genevieve, Mo., Crowley's Ridge Golf Course in Bloomfield, Mo., Hidden Trails Golf Course in Dexter, Mo., Bootheel Golf Club in Sikeston, Mo., and Perryville Golf Course in Perryville, Mo.

43. Talent from around the world is showcased at the Show Me Center, including big-name performers such as Larry the Cable Guy in 2009, Jason Aldean in 2010, Blake Shelton in 2011 and Willie Nelson in 2012. Beyond music, the venue also hosts a variety of events ranging from professional wrestling and monster truck rallies to Disney Live! events and circuses.

River Campus events include dance, theater and musical performances

44. Enjoy a show at the River Campus in downtown Cape Girardeau. Southeast Missouri State University's arts campus offers great gallery exhibits, student productions and big-name traveling performances.

44. On weekends, speedways in Malden, Poplar Bluff and Sikeston offer a wide variety of races, including late model, super street, pure street, cruisers, four-cylinder, hobby and open wheel modified.

Art openings

46. You don't have to travel far to see high-caliber art. Many local galleries feature rotating exhibits of home-grown talent and other artists. And the best way to see what's new is with monthly art openings held in various communities. Cape Girardeau's art galleries have opening receptions, usually from 5 to 9 p.m., the first Friday of each month. In Jackson, new art is on display for Second Saturday; in Ste. Genevieve, the monthly art walk is held on the fourth Friday. Dexter is the latest community to join the club, with its own First Friday event featuring live music and demonstrations in addition to artwork.

Community/dinner theaters

47. A variety of community theater shows are held throughout the year in Southeast Missouri, from comedies to dramas to dinner theater. The River City Players of Cape Girardeau perform a few dinner theater shows a year at Port Cape's River City Yacht Club, while the Sikeston Little Theatre presents about five shows every season, including a children's production, a youth production, a musical and one or two plays.

48. Southeast Missouri State University hosts the talented artwork of area high school students at the High School Art Symposium, each spring. Amazement over the abilities of the students is guaranteed.

49. See some true class acts as students showcase their drama abilities in theater productions at local schools. From spectacular musicals starring Central Junior High students under the direction of Mike Dumey to student-directed plays at SEMO's River Campus, the area's young thespians are sure to impress.

50. Enjoy big-screen cinema in a nostalgic setting at classic drive-in movie theaters in Piedmont and Van Buren, Mo.

Wineries

51. Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois are home to more than 40 wineries. Some have gourmet snacks and meals, some let you stroll through the vineyards and some have live music and other special events on the weekends. What they all have in common is delicious, locally made wine and a peaceful setting where you can relax with friends all day.

52. Sure, it's fun to head to the big city for a shopping spree now and then, but there's something to be said about the downtown shopping districts in Southeast Missouri. Cape Girardeau's downtown riverfront has everything from antique shops and jewelry stores to art galleries and cafes. Uptown Jackson has about 14 retail shops and a few locally owned restaurants, while the Perryville Square has gift shops, restaurants, the local newspaper, an old-fashioned barber shop and more. Shopping opportunities abound in downtown Sikeston, Marble Hill and Dexter, as well, and Ste. Genevieve combines eclectic shops and restaurants with its 18th century historic sites.

Look for deals at giant yard sales

53. Looking for a deal? Check out one of Southeast Missouri's giant yard sales. Every year on Memorial Day weekend, Highway 25 from Jackson to Kennett, Mo., becomes one long yard sale where vendors hawk everything imaginable. The U.S. 61 Yard Sale is another hit every Labor Day weekend. Hundreds of sales are scattered along the highway between Jackson and Bloomsdale, Mo., but the hot spots are often Fruitland and Perryville, Mo. Scott City will also host a citywide yard sale and craft show June 8 and 9. Other can't-miss sales: Zonta Club's Neiman Marcus of Flea Markets in March or April, which draws a huge line before the doors open at 7 a.m.; community garage sales at the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau throughout the year; and the twice-a-year Little Lambs Children's Sale in Cape Girardeau. Grab some friends and start digging for deals!

54. There's nothing better than a juicy peach grown right in your neighborhood or a hot glazed doughnut made right in front of you. Get your fix of garden and oven-fresh foods at the weekly farmers markets throughout Cape Girardeau, Scott, Butler, Stoddard, Bollinger, Perry and Ste. Genevieve counties, and some in Southern Illinois, too.

Show Me Center events

VintageNOW

54. Pastimes Antiques hosts the annual VintageNOW Fashion Show, which showcases live models wearing a mix of vintage and modern fashion, all to benefit the Safe House for Women in Cape Girardeau. It's a glamorous night with plenty of outfit inspiration, not to mention tasty hors d'oeuvres, and it gets bigger every year. Don't miss this year's event Oct. 16 at The Venue in Cape Girardeau.