Side Attractions

We give a lot of advance coverage to the main events at the SEMO District Fair.

This week's SE Live features two grandstand acts; and next week we'll have a story about David Nail, the grandstand entertainment for Sept. 17.

But there's a smaller venue that deserves some recognition: the activities tent.

This tent, with about 400 seats, a quieter sound system and less glitz, can still be entertaining. Aside from the pageant, the look-a-like contests and the senior activities, it has concerts, trivia and this year an Xbox Kinnect Sports Contest.

Saturday night will allow Heartland Idol hopefuls sing for a spot on the main stage in a Karaoke Contest. After a few contests through the week, it picks back up with music Thursday.

The Kickin' Country Band from Perryville will play from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, almost like an unofficial opening act for George. The straight traditional country group plays at the Jackson American Legion occasionally and has many crowd pleasers.

The tent goes gospel Friday with Ozark Foothills, a country gospel band from Southeast Missouri that will play at 5:45 p.m.

They'll be followed up by a singer/songwriter who appears regularly on Cape Girardeau and Jackson stages when Mark Rees plays.

Saturday, after the day's speech competition and bingo event, the tunes return with Cabin Fever Bluegrass from Marble Hill, Mo., at 3:30 p.m. The band of men and women belt out gospel and bluegrass like nobody's business.

The Punches Family -- a mom, dad, two boys and two girls -- have assigned everyone a different instrument and created a masterful family dynamic.

They'll finish off the activities of the tent Saturday night from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The activities tent is free with fair admission.