Fairly entertaining options

In its 150th year, organizers of the SEMO District Fair are hoping an entertainment schedule featuring variety and a country music headliner will help bring in more people than ever before.

The fair will run from Sept. 10 to 17 at Arena Park. Last year, 97,665 people attended the fair over eight days.

"We always try to have a broad spectrum of entertainment," said fair board president Pete Poe. "This year we've got the two biggest markets covered with musical entertainment. We have southern rock with the Renegades of Southern Rock, a tried-and-true performer in Randy Travis and a high-energy performer in Tracy Byrd."

Country music veteran Travis, a Grammy and Country Music Association award winner leads off the lineup Sept. 15 at 8 p.m. at the fair main stage. Travis has sold over 21 million albums in a career that began in the 1980s.

Poe said the star power Travis carries will make him the biggest performer at the fair this year.

Travis will be followed by Byrd Sept. 16 at 8 p.m. Byrd is a country performer who burst on the scene with the 1995 hit "The Keeper of the Stars." His newest album is "The Truth About Men."

The fair's final night will be dedicated to Southern rock, when the Renegades take the stage at 8 p.m. Sept. 17. The Renegades of Southern Rock is a collection of musicians from famous Southern rock acts like The Marshall Tucker Band, The Allman Brothers and Stevie Ray Vaughan's band. The Renegades' set features songs from many of these famous acts.

Motor sports will also take center stage with the SEMO Fair dual demolition derby Sept. 12 at 7:30 p.m. Tractor pulls will feature super farm, super stock and pro stock classes, and Sept. 13 will feature two-wheel and four-wheel drive trucks along with modified tractors at 7:30 p.m.

Super stocks and pro stocks look like regular tractors, but super stocks have double horsepower with bigger tires and added weight, while pro stocks will have added power in the engine.

Modifieds only resemble farm tractors in the frame, but could have multiple engines, while super farms look like regular tractors but have added horsepower and may run on fuel blends like alcohol or ethanol.

Other featured events at this year's fair will include the Horse Show on Sept. 11 and the Heartland Idol karaoke contest on Sept. 14.

In addition, free events will take place throughout the fair in the activities tent and other sites, including shows by lumberjacks, puppeteers, exotic animals, jugglers and mimes.

And two new special events have been added this year to commemorate the 150th anniversary. On the opening and closing Saturdays, a fireworks show will bring added entertainment at 9:30 p.m.

"Our fairs have improved in the past years in quality and attendance," Poe said. "We think we're ready to put on one of the premier events in the state this year."

Tickets for the shows will go on sale July 13 at the fair ticket office.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 184