A BANG-UP FOURTH: CAPE, JACKSON CELEBRATE INDEPENDENCE DAY

Events in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and the region will keep residents busy over the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

The Mississippi and Delta Queens will challenge each other again in the Great Steamboat Race. The boats will be docked at Cape Girardeau's Riverfront Park from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday.

A winner will be declared when the boats arrive in St. Louis Friday.

Mary Stucker, director of group sales at the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau, said up to 588 passengers and 240 crew members will arrive in Cape during the docking.

"Captain Foghorn's Follies," a talent contest between the passengers of the two boats, will take place at the Courthouse Gazebo at 1:30 p.m. Thursday. Passengers will perform skits, songs, and recite poems for the judges.

Cape Girardeau will go back to the past with an Old Fashioned Fourth of July Community Picnic sponsored by the Cape Girardeau VFW Post 3838.

A Little Miss and Little Mr. Firecracker Pageant for children ages 1-7 will start the festivities today. The pageant will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the VFW Post at 1049 N. Kingshighway.

Children's carnival rides and concessions will open in Arena Park on Wednesday and run through Saturday.

On Friday, a parade will begin at 11:30 a.m. and will travel from Capaha Park to Arena Park.

Area businesses, organizations, veterans, car clubs, Scouts, day care centers and kids on decorated bikes are invited to participate. Prizes will be awarded for the best decorated bikes.

One of featured events of the day will be an address by U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson at 1:30 p.m. in front of the Arena Park Grandstand.

Rodger Brown, committee chairman for the picnic, said the picnic will present lots of music.

Cape Girardeau rock band Papa Aborigine will perform at 2 p.m. Friday at the Arena Park Grandstand followed by the Kansas City rock band House of One.

For baseball fans, the American Legion will play Imperial at 5 p.m. in Capaha Park.

The Compton Heights Band, directed by Dr. Gregory C. Fox, will perform traditional and contemporary music at 7 p.m. Friday at the Arena Grandstand.

The day's events will be topped off by a large fireworks display at 9 p.m. Music will be provided by Zimmer Broadcasting.

Events will continue through Saturday with an antique auto show at 8 a.m. Carnival rides and concessions will operate all day.

The weekend will end with a street dance in the park at 7 p.m. Saturday. The dance is sponsored by K103.

The city of Jackson will have a full day of Fourth of July activities beginning at 7:30 a.m. with a Drug Free Advisory Council Fun/Run. The run will start at the city pool.

The annual Jaycees Mud Volleyball tournament starts at 8 a.m. and will continue throughout the day.

Other activities include a car show, craft show, kids games, and a pie and water melon eating contest.

The day will end with music from the Jackson Muny Band at 8 p.m. followed by a fireworks display.

Regional holiday events are bountiful.

East Prairie's annual Sweetcorn Festival and Fourth of July celebration consist of a long list of activities which started in June and will run through Saturday.

Tammy Carlyle, city administrative assistant, said this year's festival theme is "The Place for Hometown Fun".

The festival and celebration will feature a major event each day along with car shows, street fairs, ice cream social, fish fry, street dance, parades and a fireworks display on Friday.

Carlyle said the festival attracts over 7,000 people during the nine-day event.

"It's better than going to the big city for the Fourth of July," she said.

Regional fun for the Fourth includes a Backyard BBQ in Cobden, Ill. The "Backyard Grand Champion," a cook-off for the best barbecue, will be held downtown.

HOLIDAY EVENTS

Cape Girardeau

July 3: Mississippi and Delta Queens "Great Steamboat Race" from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Riverfront Park. Follies at 1:30 p.m.

July 3 - 5: 4th of July Community Picnic at Arena Park.

July 4 - 11:30 a.m. - Parade from Capaha Park to Arena Park

1:30 p.m. - Congresswoman Emerson to speak

2 p.m. - Papa Aborigine Concert (Rock & Roll)

3 p.m. - House of One Concert (Rock & Roll)

7 p.m. - Compton Heights Band Concert (Municipal Band)

9 p.m. - Fireworks Display

Carnival rides and concessions will operate all day

July 4: At Trail of Tears State Park -- Indian Myths and Legends at 7 p.m.

July 5 - 8 a.m. - Antique Auto Display

7 p.m. - Street Dance (Music provided by Zimmer Broadcasting, Inc.)

Carnival Rides and concessions all day

July 5: At Trail of Tears State Park -- Patriotic Sidewalk art at 9 a.m. and World Bird Sanctuary Live Bird Program at 7 p.m.

July 6: At Trail of Tears State Park -- Stream Diversity program at 9 a.m.

American Queen from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Riverfront Park

Jackson

July 3: Municipal Band at 8 p.m. in the Jackson City Park

July 4: Jackson 4th of July Activities in the Jackson City Park:

7:30 a.m. - Drug Free Advisory Council Fun Run/Walk

8 a.m. - Jackson Jaycees Mud Volleyball Tournament starts at 9 a.m.

9 a.m. - Noon - Car show registration

10 a.m. - Craft Show

10:30 a.m. - Knights of Columbus Horseshoe Tournament

12:30 p.m. Car Show judging

1 p.m. - Kid's Games

2:30 p.m. Pie and Watermelon eating contests

3 p.m. - Car Show trophy presentation

4 p.m. - Adult Games

5 p.m. - Tractor Pull

6 p.m. - The Great Hubble Creek Regatta

7 p.m. - Wal-Mart Raffle drawing

8 p.m. - Muny Band

9:30 p.m. - Fireworks display

July 4: Independence Day Avenue of Flags - Memorial to Veterans of All Wars

Regional 4th of July Activities:

July 4: Fredericktown - Firecracker Fourth in the City Park

Kennett - Fireworks on the Fourth in the Delta Fairgrounds

New Madrid - Riverfront Festival at the Mississippi River Levee

East Prairie - Sweetcorn Festival Car Show at 8 a.m. - Parade at 10 a.m. - Fireworks display at 9 p.m.

St. Genevieve - Annual Fireworks display in the City Park

Oran - July 4th Picnic - North Highway 77

Sikeston - Elks Youth Fishing Derby - North Ingram

July 5:

Cobden, Ill. - Cobden Backyard BBQ - 8 a.m. in downtown Cobden.

July 6: Altenburg - July 4th Supper and Picnic - Trinity Lutheran Picnic Grounds