Great American Fourth of July Celebration Cape Girardeau 2021

Brooke Holford ~ Southeast Missourian & Sarah Yenesel ~ Southeast Missourian

Monday, July 5, 2021

The Great American Fourth of July celebration was held at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, July 4, 2021. The all-day event included food trucks, bicentennial murals on display inside the A.C. Brase Arena, chalk art with the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri and free t-shirts. The Missouri Bicentennial mural reveal was also included in the annual celebration. Special guests and dignitaries discussed the history of Missouri and the celebration of the state’s bicentennial, including Frank Nickell, who gave a speech on “why Missouri matters.” Following a performance of patriotic music by the Cape Girardeau Municipal Band in the evening, the Southeast Missourian presented the 19th Spirit of America Award to Stephen Limbaugh Sr. The event concluded with a fireworks display at 9 p.m.

The National Anthem is performed in the Arena Park grandstand in Cape Girardeau on Sunday, July 4, 2021, during the Great American Fourth of July Celebration. (Brooke Holford ~ Southeast Missourian)
Spectators watch fireworks at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau on Sunday July 4, 2021, during the Great American Fourth of July Celebration. (Sarah Yenesel ~ Southeast Missourian)
Stephen Limbaugh Sr. delivers a speech in the Arena Park grandstand in Cape Girardeau on Sunday, July 4, 2021, upon receiving the 19th Southeast Missourian Spirit of America Award during the Great American Fourth of July Celebration. (Brooke Holford ~ Southeast Missourian)
The Cape Girardeau Municipal Band performs in the Arena Park grandstand in Cape Girardeau on Sunday, July 4, 2021, during the Great American Fourth of July Celebration. (Brooke Holford ~ Southeast Missourian)

A spectator enjoys music performed by the Cape Girardeau Municipal Band in the Arena Park grandstand in Cape Girardeau on Sunday, July 4, 2021, during the Great American Fourth of July Celebration. (Brooke Holford ~ Southeast Missourian)
Cape Girardeau Mayor Bob Fox, left, puts his arm around Stephen Limbaugh Sr. and shakes his hand after Limbaugh delivered his speech for the Spirit of America Award in the Arena Park grandstand in Cape Girardeau on Sunday, July 4, 2021, during the Great American Fourth of July Celebration. (Brooke Holford ~ Southeast Missourian)
Attendees stop at the City of Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreations Department booth for free beaded necklaces and handheld American Flags in the Arena Park grandstand in Cape Girardeau on Sunday, July 4, 2021, during the Great American Fourth of July Celebration. (Brooke Holford ~ Southeast Missourian)
Spectators watch fireworks at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau on Sunday July 4, 2021 , during the Great American Fourth of July Celebration. (Sarah Yenesel ~ Southeast Missourian)
A spectator takes photos of the Bicentenniel mural in the A.C. Brase Arena at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau on Sunday, July 4, 2021, during the Great American Fourth of July Celebration. (Brooke Holford ~ Southeast Missourian)

Stephen Limbaugh Sr. is patted on the back by his family members after delivering his speech for the Spirit of America Award in the Arena Park grandstand in Cape Girardeau on Sunday, July 4, 2021, during the Great American Fourth of July Celebration. (Brooke Holford ~ Southeast Missourian)
Spectators clap for the Cape Girardeau Municipal Band in the Arena Park grandstand in Cape Girardeau on Sunday, July 4, 2021, during the Great American Fourth of July Celebration. (Brooke Holford ~ Southeast Missourian)
Southeast Missourian assistant publisher Lucas Presson delivers opening remarks for the Spirit of America Award ceremony in the Arena Park grandstand in Cape Girardeau on Sunday, July 4, 2021, during the Great American Fourth of July Celebration. (Brooke Holford ~ Southeast Missourian)
Spectators enjoy the fireworks show in the Arena Park grandstand in Cape Girardeau on Sunday, July 4, 2021, during the Great American Fourth of July Celebration. (Brooke Holford ~ Southeast Missourian)
Stephen Limbaugh Jr. delivers a speech on Missouri in the A.C. Brase Arena at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau on Sunday, July 4, 2021, for the Bicentenniel mural reveal during the Great American Fourth of July Celebration. (Brooke Holford ~ Southeast Missourian)
A young girl enjoys the fireworks show in the Arena Park grandstand in Cape Girardeau on Sunday, July 4, 2021, during the Great American Fourth of July Celebration. (Brooke Holford ~ Southeast Missourian)
An American Flag is seen in front of a large display of fireworks in the Arena Park grandstand in Cape Girardeau on Sunday, July 4, 2021, during the Great American Fourth of July Celebration. (Brooke Holford ~ Southeast Missourian)
A spectator enjoys music performed by the Cape Girardeau Municipal Band in the Arena Park grandstand in Cape Girardeau on Sunday, July 4, 2021, during the Great American Fourth of July Celebration. (Brooke Holford ~ Southeast Missourian)
Attendees play a game of 'Uno' in the grass of the Arena Park grandstand in Cape Girardeau on Sunday, July 4, 2021, during the Great American Fourth of July Celebration. (Brooke Holford ~ Southeast Missourian)
Frank Nickell gives a speech on "why Missouri matters" in the A.C. Brase Arena at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau on Sunday, July 4, 2021, for the Bicentenniel mural reveal during the Great American Fourth of July Celebration. (Brooke Holford ~ Southeast Missourian)
Spectators take pictures and enjoy the fireworks show in the Arena Park grandstand in Cape Girardeau on Sunday, July 4, 2021, during the Great American Fourth of July Celebration. (Brooke Holford ~ Southeast Missourian)
Stephen Limbaugh Sr. poses for a photo with his family following the Spirit of America Award ceremony in the Arena Park grandstand in Cape Girardeau on Sunday, July 4, 2021, during the Great American Fourth of July Celebration. (Brooke Holford ~ Southeast Missourian)
Stephen Limbaugh Sr., left, poses for a photo with Southeast Missourian assistant publisher Lucas Presson in the Arena Park grandstand in Cape Girardeau on Sunday, July 4, 2021, during the Great American Fourth of July Celebration. (Brooke Holford ~ Southeast Missourian)
Stephen Limbaugh Sr. poses for photos with his grandchildren following the fireworks show in the Arena Park grandstand in Cape Girardeau on Sunday, July 4, 2021, during the Great American Fourth of July Celebration. (Brooke Holford ~ Southeast Missourian)