AREA TOWNS OBSERVE JULY 4 WITH ACTIVITIES

Americans will celebrate the 217th birthday of the United States with traditional holiday activities.

Cape Girardeau Pops

Cape Girardeau will celebrate the Fourth of July with a Bicentennial "Pops Concert" at 7 p.m. July 4 in the A.C. Brase Arena Building. It will feature the Missouri Symphony Society and a program of contemporary and classic show tunes. Free tickets for the 2,500-seat concert are available at all Boatmen's Bank Cape Girardeau locations, Schnucks, the Arena Building, Drury Lodge, and the Arts Council office at Main and Broadway. There is a limit of 10 tickets per person.

Following the concert will be a fireworks display at 9:15 p.m. in front of the Arena grandstand. The fireworks display is coordinated by the Joint Veterans Council of Cape Girardeau County.

Major sponsors for the evening are Boatmen's Bank, Drury Lodge, the Cape Girardeau Bicentennial Commission, the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department, and the Southeast Missouri Council on the Arts.

Glenn House social

The Glenn House in Cape Girardeau will host an ice-cream social from 1-4 p.m. July 4.

Steamboat stop

On Saturday, July 3, the Mississippi Queen and its sister boat, the Delta Queen, will make a brief stop at the Cape Girardeau waterfront from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The stop is in conjunction with the annual Great Steamboat Race from New Orleans to St. Louis.

Jackson Jaycees celebration

The fifth annual Jackson Jaycees July 4 celebration will be held in Jackson City Park, but there are some changes because the holiday falls on a Sunday, said Gary Lange, chairman of the July 4 committee.

"We will not have the July 4 parade because several churches are along the parade route," he said. "We have also scheduled most of the events for later in the day, except those that need to start sooner," he explained.

Lange said the activities will begin at 8 a.m. with the Fun Run sponsored by the Jackson R-2 schools Drug Awareness Council. The run will start at the Jackson swimming pool parking lot.

Mud volleyball competition will begin at about 9 a.m. and continue through the day. Lange said at last count 28 teams were entered and more are expected next week.

Registration for a July 4 car show will start at 10 a.m.

Events this year will include a dunking stand, Big Putt Golf Game, and horse rides by the Tri-State Therapeutic Horsemanship organization.

The children's games, sponsored by the Jackson Noon Optimist Club and the Jackson R-2 schools Drug Awareness Council, will begin at 2 p.m.

The children's games have been moved to the large soccer field on the west side of the park along North Union. The games will include three-legged and relay races, and will be run by age groups, with the youngest groups starting first.

Other games will include a pie- and watermelon-eating contest, plus games for adults that will start at 4 p.m.

One of the most popular events at the celebration is the greased pig race for kids, which starts at 1 p.m. The contest is sponsored by the Cape County Young Farmers Association, which also will sponsor the Kiddie Tractor Pull for children 90 pounds and under at 5:30 p.m.

At 3:30 p.m., a benefit auction will be held for the CAN (Child Abuse Neglect) Council.

Entertainment will be provided by Manasa Sound System. There also will be a kareoke singing contest later in the afternoon. The Jackson Municipal Band will present a concert of patriotic music at 8 p.m., followed by a fireworks display at 9:30 p.m.

Special music will be broadcast during the fireworks display. Fireworks music will be played over two large sound systems.

A first-aid tent will be manned throughout the day by volunteers from St. Francis and Southeast Missouri hospitals.

Concession stands will have lots of food, including, barbecue, polish sausage and cold drinks.

The event is co-sponsored with the Jackson Jaycees by businesses and industries in the area.

Heritage Association pageant

The Jackson Heritage Association will present a "Patriotic Fourth" on the Fourth, featuring a Little Mr. and Miss Firecracker Pageant starting at 1 p.m. at the Courthouse Square gazebo. Judging will be in four categories: 4-6-year-old boys and girls and 7-9-year-old boys and girls. Prizes will be awarded to all participants. The $10 entry fee can be paid at the Jackson Chamber of Commerce office. Deadline to enter is June 30. For more information, contact Vicki Abernathy, 243-0028, or Julia Davis, 335-5352.

Oliver House social

An ice-cream social will be held July 4 at 1:30 p.m. at the Jackson Oliver House. The historic home will be open for free tours and decorated in appropriate July 4 colors. Barbershop singing, historic speeches and other interesting features will be presented. Take a lawn chair.

Oran KC hosts Picnic

Oran Knights of Columbus Council 4311 will present its annual July 4 picnic at Oran KC Hall and grounds. The picnic has been presented each year for over 80 years.

The event will include an all-you-can-eat dinner served family style from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. A family-style supper will be served from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the dinner and supper are $5 for adults, $2.50 for children 6-12; under 6, no charge.

An open horseshoe tournament begins at 1 p.m. under the covered pavilion. Registration is at noon. The entry fee is $5. There will be games for all ages.

From 4 to 7 p.m., Bob Rosenquist will play all-time country favorite hits. From 8:30 to midnight, there will be dancing.

The fireworks display will begin at 10:30 p.m. There's plenty of free parking and no admission charge.

Allenville celebrates

Residents of Allenville will celebrate the Fourth on Saturday, July 3. The Allenville July 4 picnic will be held in the Allenville City Park. There will be a fireworks display after dark.

Wynette performs in Malden

Holiday activities will also be held in other Southeast Missouri communities. On July 2, county music stars Tammy Wynette and Jerry Reed will perform at the Tammy Wynette Fairgrounds in Malden's Industrial Park. Gates open at 5 p.m. and the show starts at 5:30 p.m., There will be fireworks following the show.

The Grand Sweet Corn Festival run from June 28-July 4 is in East Prairie. On July 3-4, special events will include a Saturday parade at 10 a.m. There will also be numerous other activities.