BLACK RIVER FESTIVAL: BLUFF EVENT FEATURES AIR SHOW

POPLAR BLUFF -- A four-day Fourth of July celebration, the Black River Festival in Poplar Bluff, celebrates Butler County's sesquicentennial this year with new events and lots of traditional entertainment.

The celebration will be held Thursday through Sunday. Many events are held along the Black River in downtown Poplar Bluff.

The festival is sponsored by the Poplar Bluff Community Development Corporation.

New to the event is an air show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Vintage airplanes, parachute jumps, airplane rides, aerobatics and a fly-by will be among the day's activities at Poplar Bluff Municipal Airport east of the city on Route B.

Airplane rides will be available from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and from 3 to 5 p.m. Proceeds will be donated to local organizations.

Air show events include a fly-over by the Missouri National Guard's 135th Fighter Wing, and a B-25 bomber will be flown in from St. Louis by the Confederate Air Force.

The air show is dedicated in memory of Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt. David May, a helicopter pilot who was killed May 17 in a crash in downtown Poplar Bluff.

The air show is free. Parking is $3.

Also new is a Bullfest at 7 p.m. Sunday in the 4,000-seat Ray Clinton Park arena. Tickets are $5 for general admission. Children 10 and younger get in free. Gates open at 6 p.m.

Bullfest is the first bull-riding-only rodeo event at the festival. In addition to bull riding, rodeo entertainer John Hayden will perform animal specialty acts and rodeo comedy.

The annual fireworks display is scheduled to begin immediately following the Bullfest. Rodeo spectators may view the fireworks from inside the arena. The fireworks also can be viewed from the downtown park.

An estimated 10,000 people have witnessed the fireworks display that caps the festival.

Another annual attraction is the Black River Festival parade set for 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Last year's parade drew nearly 200 entries.

The top prize for floats has been raised to $1,000, and additional entries are expected. The theme honors the county's sesquicentennial.

On Thursday, the Miss Black River Festival is held. On Friday, barbecue teams will square off at Wiseman Park.

Nearly 20 hours of free, live musical entertainment is planned throughout the weekend.

Saturday a nine-mile canoe race travels the Black River from Hilliard bridge to Wiseman Park. Other sports include beach volleyball, a bicycle race and a 5K run.

Throughout the festival carnival rides, food courts and craft booths will be operating.

Black River Festival

Saturday Air Show Schedule

-- 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. -- Fly-in pancake breakfast at Poplar Bluff Municipal Airport.

-- 9 -- FAA wings seminar with Fred Harmes.

-- 10 to 11:30 -- Airplane rides.

-- 11:30 -- Fly-by of Missouri Air National Guard 135th Fighter Wing.

-- 11:45 -- Bobby Younkin, Beech C185.

-- Noon -- Parachute jump demonstrations.

-- 12:15 p.m. -- Randy Harris, Skybolt.

-- 1:15 -- Bobby Younkin, Samson.

-- 1:45 -- Clint Allen, Citabria.

-- 2:15 -- Randy Harris, Skybolt.

-- 2:45 -- Bobby Younkin, Beech C185.

-- 3 -- Parachute jump demonstrations.

-- 3 to 5 -- Airplane rides.

Other events

-- Fireworks display -- Starts at approximately 9 p.m. Sunday.

-- Bullfest -- 7 p.m. Sunday.

-- Festival parade -- 9 a.m. Saturday.

-- Barbecue Cook-Off -- 4 p.m. Friday.

-- Miss Black River Festival 1999 -- 3 p.m. Thursday.