150-foot cake is centerpiece of Sikeston sesquicentennial celebration

SIKESTON, Mo. -- A birthday celebration isn't complete without cake.

On Saturday the city of Sikeston will celebrate its 150th birthday at Malone Park with a 150-foot-long birthday cake, the Sikeston Standard Democrat reported.

It will take 139 9-by-13-inch cakes lined up next to each other to create the big cake, said Brandon Kuehn, executive director of the Historic Midtown Development Group, the sponsor of the 150th birthday bash. Ice cream, donated by Good Humor-Breyers, will also be served, around 11 a.m.

While that sounds like a lot, Kuehn said it wasn't hard to get enough cake once event organizers decided to involve the Sikeston Ministerial Alliance.

"It was really just a matter of getting ahold of all the churches and asking them to each donate 10 cakes," he said. "Each church then designated a contact person."

Judy McConnell is in charge of the donations for the First Baptist Church. She said women from her church are excited about the idea, and have volunteered to bring different types of cake.

"They told us to bring a variety of flavors, so there will be coconut, marble, strawberry and the all-time favorite, chocolate," said McConnell. While some of those who bake cakes will decorate them, others will just spread frosting on top, she said.

Whoever makes the cake will simply put it in a disposable container and label what's in the cake, said McConnell. After the cakes are dropped off at the church, McConnell said she and a few others will take them to Malone Park on Saturday morning to be set up.

According to Kuehn, the cakes will be lined up on the north side of Malone Park. The Rotary Club has volunteered its members to help set up the cakes, as well as serve it to attendees.

"We figured this was an easy task we could help out with -- almost anyone can cut cake," said Sharron Lathum, president of the club.

About 50 members will work in shifts of about a dozen each to set up and serve the cake, said Lathum. More will be on hand if there is a large demand, she added.

Kuehn said the idea of a 150-foot birthday cake has gone over well, and he's heard a lot of buzz about it.

McConnell agreed, and said when she first heard about the concept of a 150-foot cake, she thought it was "a great idea."

Latham added: "It's kind of unusual and a really neat idea."

Christy McDowell, a member of Tanner Street Church of God, who is baking two cakes, said she's really excited just to see what all the cakes will look like lined up.

"I think it's really neat that Sikeston is doing this," she said. "Someone should do some sort of an aerial shot."

The large cake, in addition to the other activities, should draw many to Malone Park on Saturday, said Latham.

Activities will begin at 8 a.m., as the birthday celebration is being held in conjunction with HMDG's annual "Back to the '50s Car Show." There will be a classic car show through the day, a mayor's welcome at 10:30 a.m., and a 150-balloon release, hula hoop and bubble gum contests, dunking booth, concessions and face painting through the day. Additionally, eight boards will be lined up in the park with stories about Sikeston's history, for the "Sikeston History Trail."

"There are so many things going on," said Latham. "I think the cake will really add to people wanting to come down and see everything."

There is a chance of isolated thunderstorms on Saturday, although Kuehn said he and other organizers are keeping their fingers crossed for good weather.

"But we do have a plan in case of foul weather," he said. "If it is too hot or raining, we have tents available to us."