BUSY WEEKEND IS AHEAD IN CAPE GIRARDEAU

"Van Gogh's Ear," "Snooky Pryor," "The Brown Bagger," "Burlap to Cashmere," Shade Tree Folk," "Puppet Power."

Visitors to downtown Cape Girardeau this weekend will be hearing some different names -- some strange, some familiar -- as musical artists move into the spotlight.

As many as 70 to 75 bands will be performing folk, rock 'n' roll, rhythm and blues, country, Christian rock and bluegrass music.

The annual City of Roses Music Festival, held in conjunction with Southeast Missouri State University's Homecoming, will kick off the entertainment at 6 p.m. Friday and resume at noon Saturday.

Visitors will have a variety of events to pick from, ranging from Homecoming activities, which feature a parade, football game and other events; to skydiving; a gun and knife show; the music festival and an Octoberfest celebration at Black Forest.

That's all in addition to headliners Vince Gill and Jo Dee Messina, who will present a country music concert Friday at the Show Me Center.

"In all my years in the downtown area, I don't recall seeing such a busy schedule," said Evelyn Boardman, who operates Madder Rose Antique Mall.

"There is so much going on -- a visit by the Mississippi Queen, homecoming activities, the music festival, skydiving, the Columbus ship Nina, the gun show," said Boardman. "It's a full weekend."

"It's hard to say how many people will be in town this weekend," said Lin W. Jones, group sales director of the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau. "All of the events draw big."

Restaurant and motels are expecting large crowds.

Not too many rooms are left at the inns in the immediate Cape Girardeau area. One motel operation reported eight empty rooms as of 4 p.m. Tuesday. Another reported no vacancies already.

"This marks the second big weekend of people in Cape Girardeau," said one motel spokesman. Many motels were full last weekend for the annual Family Weekend at the university and the annual CAYSA City of Roses Soccer Tournament.

The weekend schedule:

-- Rose City Music Festival: The downtown Cape Girardeau music festival will feature about 40 bands providing indoor and outdoor music performances. Starting times are 6 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday.

-- Skydiving Boogie: More than 100 skydivers are expected to participate in a skydiving festival, a two-day event at Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. Activity takes place throughout Saturday and Sunday.

-- Homecoming 1999: "Rolling on the River" is the theme for Southeast Missouri State University's Homecoming. It features a parade at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, football game at 1 p.m. Saturday, Copper Dome breakfast Saturday morning and other events.

-- Broadway Mile: This event, between the Copper Dome Breakfast and the Homecoming parade, is sponsored by Wellness Advantage. A run-walk starts about 9:10 a.m. at the intersection of Broadway and West End Boulevard.

-- Vince Gill and Jo Dee Messina: Gill and Messina will present a concert at the Show Me Center Friday. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the concert start at 8 p.m.

-- Mississippi Queen: The Mississippi Queen riverboat will dock along the Mississippi River from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

-- The Nina: A replica of Columbus' favorite ship, the boat is docked along the river in downtown Cape Girardeau until Monday. The boat is open for tours from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day.

-- SEMO Gun Show: The gun and knife show will be held at Cape Girardeau's A.C. Brase Arena in Arena Park Saturday and Sunday.

-- Black Forest Village Octoberfest: Fall harvest festival features craft demonstrations, food and music at Black Forest Villages. Activities start at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.