CAIRO PLANS FOUR-DAY RIVERBOAT CELEBRATION

CAIRO, Ill. -- Cairo Riverboat Days, which started 10 years ago as a one-day event, will open today for a four-day run.

The festival started in July 1990 and featured a competition between the crews of the Mississippi Queen and Delta Queen steamboats, which docked at Cairo during the annual New Orleans-to-St. Louis "Race of the Queens."

The Queens changed their scheduling in 1993, and Cairo changed its Riverboat Days format from July to October. The highlight event is the annual Riverboat Ball, to be held at the Cairo Armory Saturday at 7:30 p.m., where 14 young contestants vie for the title of Miss Riverboat Queen.

A lot of activities are on the schedule between tonight's 7 p.m. concert by the Southern Illinois University-Carbondale choir and the Sunday evening Jerry Ford Jazz Band concert.

The big paddle wheelers won't be here, but the annual event is expected to attract some large crowds, said Cairo Mayor James Wilson.

The theme of the 10th extravaganza is "Let's Go To The Movies," which will be reflected by the yard decorations and Saturday parade.

Wilson said the second big event will also be held this weekend: a bluegrass festival at Ft. Defiance Park, at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Cairo, a town of about 4,500 residents, is situated near the site where the two rivers meet.

The bluegrass groups will hold jam sessions Friday and Saturday from noon to 11 p.m.

The Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Symphony Orchestra, will kick off the event by presenting a concert Thursday at twilight at the historic pavilion in St. Mary's Park.

Following the concert, people can drive around the St. Mary's Park residential area, where residents will display flickering luminary displays and yard decorations. During the concert, winners of a "Yard Decorating Contest" will be announced and awards presented for "full-yard" and "small display" categories.

Highlights of the weekend include a 1:30 p.m. Saturday Kim Shrine/Riverboat Days parade, starting at 20th and Commercial streets and marching to Washington and continuing to downtown; a Little Miss Riverboat pageant at St. Joseph school at 6:30 p.m. Friday; Beanie Baby Show and Sale during the day Saturday and a citywide Saturday yard sale; the Riverboat Ball Saturday evening and a historic church tour Sunday.

The schedule also includes the Downtown Carnival Friday evening with entertainment by the Rip Lee Blues Band and Deana's Dancers; and more entertainment Saturday.

Cairo Riverboat Days

Today

7 p.m.

Southern Illinois University Concert, St. Mary's Park Pavilion.

Yard decorating contests winners to be announced, St. Mary's Park Pavilion.

7:30 to 10 p.m.

Autumn luminary tour.

Friday

6:30 p.m.

Little Miss Riverboat Pageant, St. Joseph School Gymnasium.

8 to 10 p.m.

Downtown festivities, entertainment. Deana's Dancers, magician Darren Davis and Rip Lee Blues Band.

Noon to 11 p.m.

Bluegrass festival, Ft. Defiance park.

5 to 8 p.m.

Crafts, food and novelty vendors.

Saturday

7 a.m.

Citywide yard sale.

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Beanie Baby Show and Sell, Cairo Elks Club.

Noon to 11 p.m.

Bluegrass festival, Ft. Defiance park.

1:30 p.m.

Riverboat-KIM Shrine Parade starts at 20th & Washington streets.

8 p.m.

Riverboat Ball and Queen Coronation, Cairo Armory.

Sunday

1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Tour of historic churches.

Dusk: Jerry Ford Jazz Band concert.