Downtown Cape prepares for busy weekend

Downtown Cape Girardeau is prepping for a busier-than-normal weekend, including river activities, history and a flea market.

The Missouri Department of Conservation’s annual Day on the River will open with activities along the riverfront at 9 a.m. Saturday.

“People just want to know more about the Mississippi River, and we’re excited to share it with them,” said MDC naturalist Jordanya Brotoski. “We want to help them experience it.”

Birdwatching, live fish, river trivia and fishing-line casting demonstrations are among the activities on offer.

Aquatic researchers also will conduct boat rides to introduce people to a new perspective of the Mississippi River.

“People walk along [the river], but to be out on it is a whole new experience,” Brotoski said.

The event, in its seventh year, typically draws up to 3,500 attendees and runs until 4 p.m.

Also beginning Saturday will be the second annual Heritage Day, which celebrates area history.

Paul Nenninger, a Red House Interpretive Center board member and Heritage Day organizer, said the event will feature everything from demonstrations to re-enactors.

“There’s close to 200 volunteers involved in some form or fashion,” he said.

Historic sites featured include the Glenn House, Old St. Vincent’s Seminary, Fort D Historic Site, Red House, the River Heritage Museum and the Crisp Museum.

The River Heritage Museum will feature live actors portraying the city’s namesake, the Girardeaus; Willard Vandiver, who dubbed Missouri the “Show-Me State,” and others.

“It’s a tremendous number of events. It’s a great chance for people to come out and see what volunteers help make Cape a really special place,” Nenninger said.

While last year’s Heritage Day celebration was two days, this year’s events will be only from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

On Sunday, the Downtown Merchants Group will host its bi-annual Tailgate Flea Market, which group president and Somewhere in Time Antiques owner Paula Haas said will offer a full slate of vendors.

“More and more vendors are hearing about it from other locations and are calling to sign up,” she said. “The first time we did it, we had 19 vendors between two lots; now we have 155. We’ve been maxed out the last three events. We’ve been turning down people all week.”

From food and music to all manner of items for sale will be offered.

“We have all types of things,” Haas said. “Anything legal.”

The flea market will run from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.

“Our goal is to get shoppers downtown,” Haas said. “Shopping the flea market brings them downtown, but then they also shop the shops and eat in the restaurants.”

tgraef@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3627