ACTIVITIES GEARING UP FOR SENIOR FUN FEST; FREE TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE IN THE REGION

CAPE GIRARDEAU - Senior Fun Fest, the annual day of entertainment for the region's elderly adults, will be held at the Show Me Center Saturday, May 4.

Free tickets for the event are available now at locations in area communities.

More than 5,000 people 55 years of age and older are expected to take part in the 1991 festivities, which will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event draws its participants from the counties of Cape, Scott, Bollinger, Perry, and Stoddard in MIssouri, and the Southern Illinois counties of Union and Alexander.

Corporate sponsors for the event which this year is being held during Older Americans Month are Mercantile Bank of Cape Girardeau, Schnucks, the Southeast Missouri Area Agency on Aging, and Southeast Missouri Hospital.

Donna Gerard, an employee at Southeast Missouri Hospital and a Fun Fest steering committee member, said the purpose of the event is "to recognize our area's senior adults."

"These friends and neighbors have invested in the development of the area through career and civic contributions," she said, "and Senior Fun Fest is a way that we can say, `Thanks for those efforts.'"

Event participants, Gerard said, are invited to dance to the big band sounds of the '30s and '40s, play bingo for free prizes, watch performing artists, participate in a dance contest, and enjoy complimentary food and beverages.

The Golden Slippers Band, a popular local group composed of elderly musicians, will be on hand once again this year with its inventory of over 500 songs. The group is a perennial favorite at the event, said Southeast Hospital.

In Cape Girardeau, Senior Fun Fest tickets are available at Schnucks Food & Drug, Mercantile Bank, Boatmen's National Bank, Storey's Food Giant, Del Farm National and the Nutrition Center.

Perryville residents may pick up tickets at Mercantile Bank or the Bank of Perryville. In Sedgewickville, tickets are available at the Country Mall.

The Patton ticket outlet is Security Bank of Bollinger County. Marble Hill residents are invited to get their tickets at Chandler Drug, Twin City Pharmacy, or the Nutrition Center.

Sikeston ticket outlets are located at Mercantile Bank, Piggly Wiggly, and the Heritage House Nutrition Center.

Additional ticket outlets will be announced later.

Gerard said the volunteer efforts of many groups and individuals are required to make Senior Fun Fest the memorable day it is for participants. Groups or individuals who would like to become a part of the event by offering financial assistance, volunteer help, or special entertainment are encouraged to contact Gerard.

She can be reached through the Southeast Missouri Hospital Marketing and Communications Department at 651-5533.