LET'S ALL GATHER AT THE RIVER; WEATHER MAY BOOST CROWDS

The 13th annual Riverfest celebration gets under way in downtown Cape Girardeau late this afternoon, with organizers predicting that expected good weather could bring out record crowds.

"Everything is falling into place," Johnny Ray Conklin, general chairman of the two-day festival, said late Thursday night. "The riverboat is here, painters put the final touches on the river-wall mural late Thursday, and the weather man has promised the best weather we've ever had at Riverfest."

The forecast for today is partly sunny, with highs in the lower 80s. For tonight, forecasters say, skies should be clear with lows around 60.

"There's more of the same for Saturday," said Conklin. "Riverfest will be impressive this year."

"We've had big crowds down here tonight," said Don Strohmeyer, who is in charge of grounds during Riverfest. "We'll be here much of the night running water lines, cables and getting everything ready for the 4 p.m. opening."

Conklin said that new rides have been added this year, and the Riverfest grounds expanded.

"In the past, the arts and crafts booths usually consisted of only one block, but this year they're being expanded to include two blocks, all the way to the parking lot where the carnival will be located."

One of the highlights of the 13th Riverfest will be the Spirit of St. Charles riverboat, which has been renamed "Boatmen's Spirit of Riverfest" for its appearance here.

The boat will make a total of 20 cruises on the Mississippi River during the weekend, 15 of them one-hour cruises. Tickets for cruises are available at a booth on the riverfront.

A number of Cape Girardeau residents have already made a cruise on the riverboat, from Ste. Genevieve.

A bus load of Cape Girardeau area passengers traveled to St. Genevieve Thursday morning, where they boarded the paddlewheeler for the trip to Cape Girardeau. The riverboat docked here about 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

"The new mural made an attractive entrance to the city," said Jay Wolz, publicity chairman for Riverfest, who was among those making the river journey to Cape Girardeau Thursday.

Pipe organ and Dixieland music filled the air as the boat pulled up to the riverfront.

Jack Kinder and Virginia Fenimore said there "wasn't one thing we could complain about. The food was delicious, the music was great and the boat's crew treated everybody with the best hospitality. The whole trip was just nice."

Joyce Holloway, Virginia Quinn and Ersie Nichols said that this was the first time they had been on a riverboat.

They said the entire trip was "fabulous."

All three said the price for the trip was a real bargain for everything that they got to do and see.

"I think it was cheaper than staying at home," said Quinn.

John and Velma Crites also took their first riverboat ride Thursday.

"It was a great experience," said John Crites. "What really impressed us was the smoothness of the ride."

Riverfest activities officially kick off at 4 p.m. today with arts and crafts, carnival rides, children's activities and musical entertainment. The ninth annual Kohlfeld Riverfest Run starts at Main and Broadway at 7:30 p.m.

The band, Yesterday, A Tribute to The Beatles, will provide the headline entertainment tonight on the main stage. The free concert begins at 9 p.m.

Riverfest activities resume Saturday at 10 a.m.

The annual turtle race is scheduled for 3 p.m., and the second annual "Mayor's Tall Tale" contest will begin at 4 p.m.

A fireworks display will be held at 9:15 p.m. Saturday.

It will be followed by a concert by John Hartford, a singer and songwriter best known for the song "Gentle On My Mind."

A new policy concerning alcohol consumption will be enforced at Riverfest this year. Alcohol may be consumed in two designated beer gardens only.

Meanwhile, visitors to Riverfest are being urged to use the shuttle to reach the downtown site. Shuttle bus pick-up points will be at West Park Mall, front entrance; Town Plaza Shopping Center in front of Sears; and at the southeast corner of the Show Me Center parking lot.

Shuttle rides start at 1 p.m. today at the Show Me Center, and at 4 p.m. at the other pick-up points.