FRENCH HERITAGE FESTIVAL SCHEDULED

If you go to Riverfront Park at noon this Memorial Day, you may just see Don Louis Lorimier arrive by canoe or horseback. He won't be the founder of Cape Girardeau but a close facsimile.

Lorimier's arrival will be just one of the many activities set for a three-day La Fete Francaise Celebration. The first annual French heritage festival will begin in downtown St. Louis on Saturday, May 24, move to Ste. Genevieve on Sunday, May 25, and conclude here with a day of events.

The celebration is presented by Les Amis or The Friends. It was spawned from the Ste. Genevieve flood in 1993. In conjunction with the French government, a group to preserve the French heritage and French structures of the Mississippi River valley formed. The group is continuing its preservation and educational activities.

Dr. Michael Roark, regional author and historian, said the French influence in the area was stronger prior to 1863, but the presence of French culture can still be seen.

"There is a lot of direct French influence here," said Roark. "French Colonial is almost non-existent in Cape Girardeau today but there are buildings here which have strong French influences."

Roark said the Les Amis group has a dream for the creation of a French heritage corridor. The corridor would allow the French heritage of the area to be highlighted internationally. "The United Nations has a special education and culture group (UNESCO) that recognizes a few major cultural sites in the world." Roark said organizers of the La Fete Francaise plan to make the festival an annual event.

The celebration of early French heritage is being marketed and advertised by Southeast tourism students. Students in Dr. Nandini N. Nadkarni's tourism class were given hands-on experience in promoting the celebration. The students worked with the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau, French Colonial Ste. Genevieve, Missouri Arts Council, and the Missouri Division of Tourism to promote the event. Nandini said this was the first joint project between tourism students and the tourism agencies.

The Cape Girardeau festival events include:

-- "The Fleur de Lis," an Iris lecture by O. David Niswonger.

-- A discussion on French colonial history by Dr. Michael Roark.

-- A motor coach tour of area historical attractions.

-- Public tours.

-- French musical entertainment.

Mary Miller, director of the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau, said reservations must be made for the motor coach tour. For more information on the festival, list of events and times, and reservations, call Miller at 335-1631 or 1-800-777-0068.