FIREWORKS NEAR & FAR

You can gather the family, stuff a picnic basket with goodies, throw in a few lawn chairs and head to the park for an old fashioned Fourth of July in lots of different locales this weekend.

VFW Post 3838 will once again host Cape Girardeau's annual Fourth of July celebration at Arena Park.

The two-day event will kick off with a 4 p.m. parade running from Capaha Park to Arena Park Saturday. U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson will serve as parade marshal and will give the official welcome at 5:30.

Included in the opening ceremonies will be Daniel Dirnberger of Oran. He will deliver his national Voice of Democracy winning speech.

Contestants with decorated bicycles will have their entries judged after completing the parade, and prizes will be awarded at the close of the opening ceremonies.

Bud Hager, chairman for this year's celebration, stresses the family orientation of the picnic. "We want the whole family to come out," he said. A variety of events are scheduled to attract all age groups.

Several events are planned inside the Arena Building. Arts and crafts and antique vendors are invited to display their wares. Mickey Garrett will delight the audience with feats of magic.

Procter & Gamble will sponsor the Bootheel Youth Museum display inside the Arena Building as well.

Many outdoor events have been planned including the controversial milking contest. "We hope we can solve this right side, left side issue this year," Hager said with a grin.

A variety of games including darts, a basketball throw and the "greased" pole contest have been planned. Contestants will vie for prizes such as tickets to the upcoming air show.

Several bands will be performing throughout the two-day event. Check the accompanying schedules of events for exact times and locations.

Fireworks are scheduled for 9 p.m. Sunday.

Ken Parrett, executive director of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce, is excited about this year's July 4 celebration.

"This (the celebration) has traditionally been a Jaycee-run show. This year we have formed a community coalition made up of several civic organizations to organize the events," Parrett said.

"This is a community event, the community needs to be involved," he added.

Jackson festivities begin at 7:30 a.m. Sunday with the Drug Free Council Annual Fun Run.

By 8 a.m., the first of over 40 teams will be ready to begin the mud volleyball tournament. Jackson City Park grounds will be alive with karaoke contests, a variety of music, a tractor pedal pull and a car show featuring antique, hot rod, stock and "plain Jane" cars.

Seasoned fishermen beware as young anglers up to age 15 will test their skills at the fishing rodeo at Rotary Lake.

Available throughout the day will be children's rides, a petting zoo and craft and food stands. The day will draw to a close with a fireworks display at 9:30.

Many other area communities will be hosting their own celebrations.

Knights of Columbus Council 4311 will sponsor a family-style dinner complete with roast beef, fried chicken, dressing, ham, all the trimmings, drinks and desert at its hall at Oran.

The Fourth of July dinner will be served from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and then again from 4 to 7 p.m.

There will be a display of small antique gasoline engines on the grounds, along with Western wagon rides and musical performances preceding the 10:30 p.m. fireworks display.

East Prairie's 25th annual Fourth of July/Sweetcorn Festival which began Wednesday will run through Sunday. Included in the schedule of events is a quilt show, cow patty bingo, a car show, an outhouse race and a performance by the SEMO Area Twirlers.

The fireworks display is scheduled for Sunday at 9 p.m. at the East Prairie High School football field.

The highlight of the New Madrid Fourth of July celebration will be a fireworks display over the Mississippi River at 9 p.m. Added attractions will be the Dixie Players and the Live Wires, who will be performing at Riverfront Park.

Portageville will celebrate the Fourth a day early as its Funfest will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at Meatte Memorial Park.

Keeping the kids occupied will be the Celebration Station, a pint-sized carnival of contests and activities. Craft vendors will be displaying their merchandise throughout the park.

A big attraction throughout the day will be the raffle. Alderman Bob Carter said tickets are sold continually and winning tickets are drawn throughout the day.

"Several thousand dollars worth of merchandise has been donated including barbecue grills, sockets sets, tool boxes, dinners at area restaurants and camping equipment," said Carter.

The last prize to be awarded before the 9 p.m. fireworks will be a Las Vegas vacation.

The Bill Emerson Visitor Center just south of Wappapelo Dam on T Highway will be the site of the Wappapello Fire Department's July 4 celebration.

Schedules of events

Cape Girardeau -- Arena Park

Saturday, July 3

11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. -- Arts, crafts and antiques on display inside A.C. Brase Arena Building

4 p.m. -- Parade from Capaha Park to Arena Park

5:30 p.m. -- Official welcome celebration including remarks by U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson and Voice of Democracy contest winner Daniel Dirnberger

6:30 p.m. -- The country band Crossfire performs

7-9 p.m. -- Outside: air jump room, leap frog game, darts, basketball throw and calf petting area

7-8 p.m. -- Magician Mickey Garrett performs inside the Arena Building

7-8:30 p.m. -- Classy Chassy Country band and karaoke

8:30-9:30 p.m. -- Replica band

9:30-11:30 p.m. -- Crossfire band

Sunday, July 4

11:30 a.m. -- Park opens for community picnic

12-2 p.m. -- Classy Chassy Country band and karaoke

1-2 p.m. -- Watermelon- and pie-eating contests

2-3 p.m. -- Navy eight-piece band (pop-rock)

2-3 p.m. -- Magician Mickey Garrett inside Arena Building

2:30-3 p.m. -- Cow milking contest (front of Arena Building)

3-5 p.m. -- Crossfire band

3-5 p.m. -- "Greased" pole climb for prizes

5-5:30 p.m. -- Nail driving contest

5-6 p.m. -- Replica band

5:30-6 p.m. -- Magician Mickey Garrett inside Arena Building

5:30-6 p.m. -- Tug of war (back of Arena Building)

6-6:30 p.m. -- Class Chassy Country band

6:30-7:30 p.m. -- Navy eight-piece band

7:30-8 p.m. -- Replica band

8-8:45 p.m. -- Crossfire band

8:45-9:15 p.m. -- Replica and Crossfire

9-9:30 p.m. -- Fireworks display

9:30-midnight -- Crossfire

Jackson -- Jackson City Park

Sunday, July 4

7:30 a.m. -- Drug Free Council Annual Fun Run

8 a.m. -- Mud volleyball

9 a.m. -- Car show (judging at 1 p.m., trophies awarded at 3 p.m.)

11:30 a.m. -- Donnie Harris Entertainment System and karaoke on Stage 2

Noon -- official welcome by Mayor Paul Sander

12:15 p.m. -- Time Travel band on Stage 1

2 p.m. -- Fishing rodeo at Rotary Lake for ages up to 15

5 p.m. -- Country Touch band on Stage 1

6 p.m. -- Cape County Young Farmers tractor pedal pull

8 p.m. -- Flag presentation at Muny Band Shell

8:05 p.m. -- Muny Band concert

9:30 p.m. -- Fireworks display

Oran -- Knights of Columbus grounds

Sunday, July 4

11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. -- Family-style dinner (all you can eat, adults $6, 6 to 12 $2.50, under 6 free)

1 p.m. -- Open horseshoe tournament (registration begins at noon)

Noon-6 p.m. -- Western wagon rides

3-6 p.m. -- Niteshift band

6:30-10:30 p.m. -- Rodeo Girls band

8-12 p.m. -- Charlie's Music Revue ($2 charge)

10:30 p.m. -- Fireworks

New Madrid -- Riverfront Park

Sunday, July 4

7:30 p.m. -- Dixie Players and Live Wires sponsored by the Dixie Arts Council

9 p.m. -- Fireworks display over the Mississippi River

Portageville -- Meatte Memorial Park

Saturday, July 3

10 a.m. -- Games, crafts, food booths

10 a.m.-9 p.m. -- Continuous raffle

9 p.m. -- Fireworks display

Lake Wappapello -- Bill Emerson Visitor Center

Friday, July 2

9 a.m. -- Craft/trade/antique/flea market/collectible show booth set ups

7 p.m.-11 p.m. -- Area 51

Saturday, July 3

9 a.m. -- Booths open

7 p.m.-11 p.m. -- KOOL 96.7 live radio remote with DJ

8 p.m. -- Karaoke contest

Sunday, July 4

9 a.m. -- Booths open and car show

6-10 p.m. -- AS IS band

10 p.m. -- Fireworks