DISTRICT FAIR FEATURES RISING STARS

PIRATES OF THE MISSISSIPPI

The SEMO District Fair will have three nights of live music in the grandstands this year, featuring some established stars in country music.

Neal McCoy, Billy Dean and the Pirates of the Mississippi have been booked to perform this year.

"I think all three acts will appeal to a wide variety of people, the young folks as well as the old," said Pete Poe, District Fair Board president.

McCoy is back for a second time to the fair, which is scheduled Sept. 13-19. McCoy performs Sept. 17, followed by Pirates of the Mississippi on Sept. 18 and Dean on Sept. 19. All shows start at 7:30 p.m. in the grandstands at Arena Park.

McCoy requested to come back this year to the fair, after having performed an incredibly well-received show last year, Poe said.

Tickets for the shows are already on sale, and Poe said sales are selling faster than last year, when there were four nights of live musical entertainment.

A Big Bull Chute Out is scheduled for the Wednesday night of the fair. It's the first time such an event has been included in the fair. Poe said he expects the event to be popular with spectators.

"At a rodeo, bull riding is always the most popular event," he said. "That's what people go to see."

The show includes an hour and 45 minutes of rodeo clowns and bull fighters.

Tickets for grandstand entertainment are available by calling the fair office at 334-9250 or 1-800-455-Fair.

Other entertainment events at the fair still need participants. The Old Time Fiddler's Contest will the held Sept. 17 at 2 p.m., and more entrants are needed. the Fiddler's Contest has become a tradition at the fair.

Contestants will play one waltz, a hoe down and one tune of their choice, and may bring one backup musician.

Registration is free and begins at noon on the day of the event. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place.

Another popular contest at the fair is the baby contest for ages newborn to 17 months old.

The contest has become so popular it is now a two-day event. The baby contest for girls will be held Sept. 15 at 4:30 p.m. and the baby contest for boys will be held Sept. 16 at 5 p.m.

Both will be held in the R & R tent. Registration deadline for both contests is Saturday and can be made by calling the fair office.