Cowboy Up! Arts Festival set for Saturday

SIKESTON, Mo. ­-- Sikeston area residents as well as visitors will have plenty to keep them entertained before Saturday night's rodeo.

In celebration of this week's 61st annual Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo, the Cowboy Up! Arts Festival kicks off at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Depot Museum, 116 W. Malone St. in Sikeston.

"It will be a great event for families to come to," said Lynn Lancaster, who is the program director at the Depot Museum. "If some visitors to Sikeston are staying in motels and wanting something to occupy their time until the rodeo that night, this would help them do that."

Other rodeo events

The Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo Parade begins at 10 a.m. on West Salcedo Road and will travel west on to North Kingshighway and then south to downtown Sikeston.

"Meet the Rodeo Clowns" will be from 11 a.m. to noon in Legion Park.

"Everyone enjoys visiting with the rodeo clowns, and it's going to be a good time," Lancaster said. "We've also got a new petting zoo and pony rides vendor."

There will be a trackless train ride for children as well as the SEMO Mobile Museum, Lancaster said.

"It's going to be really good because we have several singing groups all day," Lancaster said.

Performers will be The Big Idea from 9 to 10:30 a.m.; Steve Clinton from 10:30 to 11 a.m.; Anna Catherine DeHart from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Kennedy Frohawk from noon to 12:30 p.m.; Brent and Christy Horton from 1 to 3 p.m.; and Dixie Players from 3 to 4 p.m.

"We have a big group of vendors, too," Lancaster said. "We'll have 20 or more crafts and booths set up."

Pat Nelson of Oran, author of a book series, "The Girl from Ditch Dump Road," will have a book signing beginning at 10 a.m. inside the Depot Museum.

"She has at least three books in that series and written for girls per the 1940s and '50s growing up in rural Missouri," said Shari Bartyzel, administrative director of museum.

The Kids' Art Walk will feature rodeo-themed artwork by children ages 7 through 12. The art will be displayed in several downtown stores and featured at the festival. Bartyzel said most of the artwork submitted was done in marker.

Museum open

Throughout Saturday's festival, which ends at 4 p.m., visitors can also visit the Depot Museum, which has on display authentic rodeo equipment and supplies like chaps, spurs and other items used by cowboys who've performed in rodeos.

"The kids can touch the items and get up close and personal," Lancaster said. A brief history also is provided with the rodeo items.

Lancaster noted festival and museum admissions are free.

"They can spend money, or they don't have to spend money," Lancaster said of the festival. "They can listen to the free music and see all the events."

Lancaster, who also serves as the executive director of Historic Downtown Sikeston, noted Downtown Sikeston's Farmers' Market is from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday.

"The farmers market will start the morning off, and that has been excellent," Lancaster said. "We've had over 20 vendors of fresh vegetables and baked goods."

Bartyzel agreed there are plenty of activities for all ages.

"Families can spend the whole day down here," she said.

For further information, contact the Depot Museum at 573-481-9967.