Lost in the Libertyfest crowd

Man, Cape Girardeau really goes all out with the Fourth of July fireworks display, doesn't it?

Few things are better than a good explosion -- or about 500 of them -- setting off luminous bursts of light covering the whole spectrum of visual stimulation. Combine those explosions with cook-outs, beer, maybe a swim, and you have one of the absolute most party-friendly days of the year.

And who doesn't love a good party?

Me.

Typically I'm down for getting a little sloshed, fighting mosquitoes and waiting to be dazzled by amazing aerial displays. But last year at Libertyfest, things weren't so cool.

Last year was my first time attending Libertyfest -- Cape's big celebration of American independence held every year on the riverfront. I don't blame Libertyfest or its organizers for my bad time, I was simply unprepared.

The details are sketchy now, but sometime shortly before the fireworks were set to go off around 9:30 p.m., I made the trek to downtown Cape Girar-deau with my wife and few buddies to stake out our spots for fireworks viewing.

Who could know that by the time we got downtown the closest available parking would be about two states away? Certainly not me, probably because I didn't ask anybody beforehand.

Our first stop was at a friend's house. He lives on a bluff overlooking the river. A nice place for fireworks viewing without having to battle the crowds down on the ground, right? I thought so.

Even at his house, a few blocks away from downtown, people were parking (on private property) to stake out their own view of the fireworks.

Only one problem -- I took for granted that my friend would be home and open to company. He wasn't.

We hadn't really tried to approach downtown yet -- we knew to stay away from that place and its hyper-crowded atmosphere that inspired the feeling of being just another bovine being herded to slaughter. We don't deal well with crowds, to say the least. Having to do so makes us cranky (and yes, that is the royal "we" you're hearing bleed through my sloppy prose).

We checked out the Southeast Missourian parking lot, where surely I should be able to find a spot. All full.

We drove over the bridge, which was lined with cars and people waiting for the big bang. No quarter there, either.

We came back and headed north on Main Street, checking to see if maybe, just maybe, there would be parking in the vicinity of that big field across from the Main Street Bar. No way. This thing was first come, first served, and I believe every single person living within a 50-mile radius of Cape Girardeau was already there.

I can remember being a young child growing up in Sikeston, Mo., a city that also has a big fireworks display every year, at the sports complex. Big crowds are part of those memories, but not the kind of turmoil-inducing battle that I was engaged in at last year's Libertyfest. I guess I should ask my father about it -- I'm sure he dealt with the same problems I experienced, but being a child I never noticed. My only concern was the fireworks.

Finally we decided to head to my above-mentioned buddy's house and stand on his lawn watching the display, even though he wasn't there. We were surrounded by strangers, whom I believe were there for the same reason. I think I even smelled the odor of marijuana -- one of them must have been toking on a joint. The experience was weird, to say the least.

My friend lives in an apartment building, and I think the people in the building were getting nervous about the strangers showing up on their lawn. Had they wanted to get away, they couldn't, as every car in the place was blocked in by me and these strangers.

This is not a pleasant way to spend the Fourth.

My advice is this: If you plan on attending Libertyfest, even if it's just for the fireworks, head downtown a little early this year. If not, you'll be lost in the crowd before you even get anywhere near the vicinity of Old Town. And if you feel the least bit frightened by crowds, don't even bother. All you'll do is hate it the whole time.

Or you can always do what my friends and I used to do: Find a friend with a house in the country, fire up the grill and let the bottle rocket wars begin. Sure, some people say it's dangerous, but isn't anything fun? That includes Libertyfest.

Dangerous, maybe. But Cape has the best fireworks display in the area. Maybe the trouble is worth it, but this year I'll try a new approach.

Happy Fourth!

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182