Area events abound for celebrating July Fourth

Bicycle parades, mud volleyball tournaments, art shows, balloon releases, remote-control car races, car shows and festive music will all be part of the Fourth of July celebrations in Cape Girardeau and Jackson this year.

Oh yeah, there will be fireworks, too.

All day Friday, folks will flock to Jackson's City Park to partake in the events organized by the Jaycees. In Cape Girardeau, the activities will begin at 5 p.m. with tours of the Glenn House.

Between the Jackson park and the downtown Cape Girardeau riverfront area, approximately 30,000 visitors are expected to celebrate Independence Day.

"I would say this event ranks right up there with Homecomers," said Jackson Chamber of Commerce executive director Ken Parrett. "It's definitely a huge draw. The Jaycees put on a super event, and we support them 100 percent."

There are enough options between the two cities to make it difficult for some people to choose where to go.

Bev Dirnberger, who lives between Jackson and Cape Girardeau, usually attends the Jackson celebration with her family.

But she wasn't aware that Cape Girardeau had a fireworks display over the river. She thought that the City of Roses still shot off the fireworks at Arena Park.

"I didn't know they were going to shoot them over the river," Dirnberger said. "That sounds romantic. We just might try that."

In Cape Girardeau, the Libertyfest -- as the organizing group Old Town Cape has named it -- will feature a bicycle parade, called the Patriots Parade on Wheels.

"The Libertyfest is really a chance to celebrate a lot of patriotism downtown," said Old Town Cape executive director Catherine Dunlap. "With the parade, we're encouraging kids and families to decorate their bikes."

Face painters, clowns and balloon artists will be downtown for the children, the municipal band will play patriotic music and things will conclude with fireworks. Dunlap encourages visitors to bring their radios as Zimmer Broadcasting will play patriotic tunes during the fireworks, which will be fired over the Mississippi River.

Jackson's events

In Jackson, events will be much the same as they have been in recent years. The celebration begins at 7 a.m. with the Drug Free Council Fun Run and will conclude after the fireworks display.

One new feature will be "Art in the Park," sponsored by the Jackson Area Arts Council.

"The intent is to showcase area artists," said city parks director Shane West Anderson. "They'll have some interactive displays for children, and some of the art will be for sale."

The Jackson Jaycees work year-round to put on the all-day event. Donnie Glueck, a Jaycees member who is managing the Fourth celebration, said he's excited about the remote control car races and exhibitions at the little league girls softball field.

"SEMO Scale Racers were here last year, but this year they'll have more exhibitions and show people what radio-control racing is all about," he said.

Glueck also said the car show, which is put on by the Capaha Car Club, is always a big draw. The show starts at 8:30 a.m.

"The car show has turned out to be one of the highlights," he said. "When we first started, the mud volleyball was really the only entertainment, but the cars we've got coming in are better than they've ever been. It's probably the biggest car show in Southeast Missouri."

The volleyball tournament is loaded with 48 teams. With eight members on each team, at least 348 people will participate.

The Jackson Police Department began preparing for the event last week.

"It takes a good day and a part of a second day to get everything prepared for the function," Capt. Bob Bonney said. "Ten of our officers, some volunteers and service workers will be putting up no-parking signs, blocking off areas and putting up barrels on the highway so nobody will park there. We'll start our security bright and early on the Fourth, and we'll be there until the last car leaves the area, which is usually past midnight."

Police will not allow dogs and alcohol into the park this year, due to some altercations that occurred at last year's celebration.

The police department, in conjunction with Prudential Insurance, will be fingerprinting children this year. Any children, regardless of what town they live in, can get their fingerprints made.

bmiller@semissourian.com

243-6635

CAPE GIRARDEAU

"LIBERTYFEST"

5-8 p.m. -- Glenn House tours

6 p.m. -- Patriots' Parade on Wheels; bicycle contest registration at the Brick Street Gallery parking lot

6-9 p.m. -- Face painters, clowns and balloon artists provide free children's entertainment.

6:30 p.m. -- Patriots' parade

7-8 p.m. -- Dixie Land Band Stroll

8:15 p.m. -- Patriotic helium balloon liftoff

8:15-9:05 p.m. -- Municipal band on courthouse steps

9:05-9:20 p.m. -- Mayor Jay Knudtson recognizes Veteran American Legion; VFW presents flags; Southeast Missourian announces Spirit of America winner.

9:15 p.m. -- National anthem

9:20 p.m. -- Fireworks over the river

JACKSON

7 a.m. -- Drug Free Council Fun Run (meet at city pool)

8 a.m. -- Mud volleyball begins

8:30 a.m. -- Capaha Car Club show opens

10 a.m. -- Pony rides (west end of park)

10 a.m.-noon -- Art in the Park (Art show and interactive arts displays for children)

10:30 a.m. -- SEMO Scale Racers (remote control races and exhibitions at the girls little league softball field)

1 p.m. -- Cape Girardeau County Young Farmers tractor pedal pull

8 p.m. -- American Legion presentation of colors at the band shell

8:05 p.m. -- Muny band concert

9:30 p.m. -- Fireworks display