ENTERTAINMENT OFFERS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

Country, blues, rock, gospel and Dixieland are just some of the types of musical entertainment to be found at Riverfest '93.

"I was really wanting a lot of variety in the entertainment this year," said Tracy Childers, Riverfest entertainment committee. "We're trying to have something for everybody. It's nice just to sit on the hill and have a snow cone while watching the entertainment on the main stage, but there will be entertainment other than on the stage."

Friday evening's entertainment includes a strolling performance by Waterstreet Six, a Dixieland band, from 5-6 p.m. Also, there will be performances by the Cape German Band in the food tent from 6-7:30 p.m.; the Bill Barnett Band at 6:30 p.m. in the North Beer Garden; and the Southeast Square Dancers from 7:30-8:45 p.m. in the food tent.

A summertime concert by the Cape Girardeau Municipal Band will be at 8 p.m. on the main stage at the intersection of Themis and Spanish streets at the foot of the Common Pleas Courthouse. It will round out Friday's musical entertainment.

The Muny Band hasn't participated in Riverfest for a number of years, Childers said. "But we're really glad to have them be a part this year."

With the Miss Riverfest Pageant preceding the Muny Band performance, there will be some time needed for a set change, Childers said. "Since there will be a concentration of people in that area, I have a little extra surprise entertainment planned around the main stage area," he said.

Childers said the walk-around entertainment has been a real mainstay at Riverfest. On Saturday, the Waterstreet Six will stroll the streets from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., and again from 4-6 p.m. Entertainers Steve & Stevie will stroll the area from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

At 1 p.m. the main stage will be the setting for a performance of gospel and contemporary Christian music by Witness The Band, followed at 2 p.m. by the original musical sounds of Brave Little Toaster.

"Brave Little Toaster is an urban, alternative, rock music group of local guys who play all-original music," Childers said. "Also look for an added treat in the main stage area on Saturday afternoon while you enjoy the music," he said.

At 3 p.m. the "Perverted Fiddle" will take the main stage. The name speaks for itself," said Childers. "Come and see the `Perverted Fiddler' is all I can say," he said.

This will be followed by the country-contemporary Due West at 3:30 p.m. on the main stage. The band is from the area, and the average age of its members is 15, Childers said.

The evenings's musical program will get under way at 5 p.m. with an "Opry" show on the main stage by the Bob Lewis family. "This is Opry music, bluegrass, country, gospel and cajun," he said. "This band also boasts the Arkansas state fiddler champion," Childers said.

The Cape German Band will do an encore performance in the food tent from 6-7:30 p.m. Also at 6 p.m., on the main stage, Patti and the Hitmen blues band will perform.

At 6:30 p.m., the country band Nite Shift will begin its four-and-a-half-hour performance in the North Beer Garden.

This year's Riverfest headline entertainment, Zaca Creek, will be introduced on the main stage at 7 p.m.

Zaca Creek consists of four brothers who have been singing and playing together since childhood. The country rockers, Gates, James, Scot and Jeff Foss, grew up on a farm in the small town of Santa Ynez, Calif. The group's name Zaca Creek was taken from an underground stream that flows through their hometown.

"Zaca Creek had a brush with recording success a couple of years ago and now they're hitting it again," Childers said. "They are a young country band that is going to break out soon," he said.