Area has full slate of July 4 activities

Fourth of July activities ranging from nighttime fireworks to all-day festivals are planned in the region to celebrate the nation's 237th birthday.

Observances in Cape Girardeau will begin at 9 a.m. with the "Fourth at Fort D" gathering to recognize the holiday and the local Civil War monument. Opening ceremonies for the fireworks display in Arena Park are set for 9 p.m., followed by the presentation of the Spirit of America award to Kenneth Bender and the fireworks display.

"I feel like things have come together for the fireworks show," said Rodger Brown, commander of the Headquarters Chapter of USA Veterans that organized the fireworks event. "The city has been gracious to us, and so have our sponsors."

The fireworks ordinance in Cape Girardeau allows fireworks for personal use to be sold from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. through July 4. Fireworks may be discharged between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. July 3 and between the hours of 10 a.m. and midnight July 4. No bottle rockets or any other "aerial device" that uses a straight and rigid stick attached to it may be sold, distributed, possessed or discharged within city limits.

In Jackson, a full day of activities will begin at 7 a.m. with the Independence Day 5k Walk/Run and Children's Fun Run and ends at 10 p.m. after a fireworks display. In between will be events at the city park such as the Mud Volleyball Tournament and the Patriotic Bicycle Parade. This year, two new events have been added to Jackson's lineup: the Kids Mud Pit and Obstacle Course and the Little Miss Firecracker Pageant.

"We felt that kids shouldn't be left out of playing in the mud if the grown-ups will be doing it during mud volleyball," said Shane Anderson, director of the parks and recreation department. "We expect the pageant to be a popular attraction as well."

Fireworks for personal use in Jackson may be sold from 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. through July 4. Fireworks may be discharged between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. July 3. On July 4, fireworks may be discharged between 10 a.m. and midnight.

A full day of activities also are planned for the Oran Picnic in Oran, Mo. The picnic begins at 11 a.m. with a buffet-style dinner, and events include live music, a horseshoe tournament and a fireworks display.

"The picnic is the same as it was last year," said Terry Seyer, advertising chairman for the Oran Picnic. "We always pull a good crowd, and the buffet is probably the best reason for that."

In Chaffee, Mo., Fourth of July activities are planned at Harmon Field for the first time since the 1970s.

"There were yearly celebrations before then, but nothing has been done since," said Billie Jo Sadler, a co-organizer. "We tried to have fireworks last year, but because of drought conditions, we couldn't."

Sadler said festivities in Chaffee will include the Miss Harmon Field Pageant and fireworks about 9 p.m.

In Marble Hill, Mo., a fireworks display is scheduled for 9:15 p.m. at Marble Hill Ballpark. In Perryville, Mo., a sound system will play music at Perryville City Park beginning at 7 p.m., with fireworks at 9 p.m.

klewis@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent addresses:

Arena Park, Cape Girardeau, MO

Jackson City Park, Jackson, MO

Oran, MO

Chaffee, MO

Marble Hill, MO

Perryville, MO

Fourth of July events in Cape Girardeau:

* "Fourth at Fort D," 9 a.m.

* Old Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration at the Glenn House, 1 to 4 p.m.

* Fireworks in Arena Park, 9 p.m.

Fourth of July events in Jackson (all events in Jackson City Park except where noted):

* Independence Day 5K Walk/Run and Children's Fun Run, 7 a.m. at HealthPoint Jackson.

* Mud Volleyball Tournament, 8 a.m.

* Car show, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

* Little Miss Firecracker Pageant, registration at 9 a.m.; pageant at 10 a.m.

* Kids Mud Pit and Obstacle Course, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

* Patriotic Bicycle Parade, 11 a.m.

* Art in the Park, 11 a.m.

* The Southern Brothers, 7 to 8 p.m.

* Jackson Municipal Band, 8 to 9:30 p.m.

* Fireworks display, 9:30 p.m.

Fourth of July events in Oran (all events at the Knights of Columbus Hall grounds):

* Buffet-style dinner, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

* Western wagon rides, noon to 6 p.m.

* Horeshoe tournament, 1 p.m.

* Classy Chassy Leroy and Becky, 3 to 6 p.m.

* The Caney Creek Band, 7 to 10 p.m.

* Evening bingo for cash, 7 p.m.

* Fireworks display, 10 p.m.

Fourth of July events in Chaffee (all events at Harmon Field):

* Harmon Field Swimming Pool open at 5 p.m.

* Little Mr. and Miss Harmon Field and Miss Harmon Field Pageant, 5 p.m.

* Fireworks display, 9 p.m.

Fourth of July events in Marble Hill:

* Fireworks at the Marble Hill Ballpark, 9:15 p.m.

Fourth of July events in Perryville (all events at City Park):

* JRDigital Sound Machine, 7 p.m.

* Fireworks display, 9 p.m.