MANY WEEKEND ATTRACTIONS IN AREA

Few rooms are available at inns throughout Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky this weekend as thousands of people prepare to flock to the area for a full weekend of activities.

Quilts, old and classic vehicles, soccer, a leisurely drive through Southeast Missouri, and, or a look at history are among the weekend attractions.

Quilts will be a big draw.

The American Quilter's Society Quilt Show and Contest kicks off at 9 a.m. today at Carroll Convention Center adjacent to Executive Inn in Paducah, Ky.

"This is a four-day run," said Mary Hammonds, a group travel person for the Paducah-McCracken County Tourist and Convention Commission. "More than 100 activities are on the schedule through 5 p.m. Sunday."

More than 35,000 people are expected for the annual extravaganza, which attracts an international crowd.

"We already have visitors here from Japan, France, Belgium, Holland, Australia, Germany and Russia," said Hammons. "We have utilized every empty hotel and motel room over a 70-mile radius of Paducah."

A large number of quilt enthusiasts usually stay in Cape Girardeau and travel back and forth to Paducah.

Some are here this year, but a couple of Cape Girardeau events have claimed many motel rooms from Perryville through Cape Girardeau and to Sikeston.

The annual City of Roses Soccer Tournament is on schedule in Cape Girardeau Saturday and Sunday, along with the Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation Conference and the annual weekend Mississippi River Valley Scenic Driving Tour. The tour sends visitors to areas throughout Southeast Missouri, from Perryville south to Oak Ridge, Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Commerce and Benton, and to Marble Hill, Sedgewickville, Marquand, Marble Hill and points in between.

Each community has special events along the way.

Included on that list is an auto show in downtown Cape Girardeau Saturday and a tailgate flea market Sunday, both in the parking lots across the street from Madder Rose Antiques Mall and Hutson's Furniture.

The City of Roses Soccer event will include more than 50 teams from a wide area, said Howard Aslinger, tournament director.

"We'll have more than 900 players in town." he said. Parents, relatives and friends will boost the visitor total to more than 3,500 people.

Each soccer team will take 12 to 14 motel rooms.

"This year we had booked teams in Perryville and Sikeston motels," said Aslinger.

Most of the teams are from other areas -- Western Kentucky, Southeast Indiana, Tennessee and the St. Louis area.

The preservation conference to be held here Friday and Saturday will get under way Friday at 7 p.m. with a reception at Longview, in the 1600 block of Whitener.

Keynote speaker will be Pratt Cassity, director of the Office of Preservation Services in the School of Environmental Design at the University of Georgia. Also speaking will be Dr. Arthur Mattingly, who will discuss Southeast Missouri State University's history preservation program.

There are plenty of activities for Civil War and history buffs. Civil War battle re-enactments will be held Friday and Saturday at Bloomfield, a Civil War encampment will be held at Commerce, and a "Living History" weekend will be held at Massac State Park in Metropolis, Ill.

Bloomfield enactments will be held both days. A skirmish between Confederates and Federals wil take place at the Stoddard County Courthouse Saturday at 9 a.m. A second battle will be re-enacted Sunday at 2 p.m. at Bloomfield City Park.

The Commerce Civil War encampment will be a living history weekend, observing the 136th anniversary of Gen. Pope's Army encampment in Commerce during spring 1862.

Other events at Commerce will include tours of St. Paul's Methodist Church built in 1889, the Anderson House and the Commerce Museum. The River Ridge Winery opens at noon Saturday and will be introducing new wines.

The living history weekend at Massac State Park will feature arts and crafts and a historic visit with the Massac Marines. A living history event is held each month at the park.

WEEKEND EVENTS AROUND REGION

Today

American Quilter's Society Quilt Show and Contest, Carroll Convention Center adjacent to Executive Inn, Paducah, Ky. Opens at 9 a.m. More than 100 activities through Sunday.

Arts and Crafts Show, West Park Mall.

Friday

Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation Conference, 7 p.m. Registration and reception at Longview, 1600 block of Whitener.

American Quilter's Society Quilt Show and Contest, Carroll Convention Center, Paducah.

Mid-America Teen Challenge Banquet, Show Me Center, 7 p.m.

Arts and Crafts Show, West Park Mall.

The McKenneys in concert, Holiday Inn Convention Center, Cape Girardeau.

Saturday

Missouri Alliances for Historic Preservation Conference, 9 a.m. Keynote address, Pratt Cassity, University of Georgia, University Center, Southeast Missouri State University. Self-guided and guided tours of university and Cape Girardeau. Reception at 7 p.m. at Kelsen Gallery, 13 S. Spanish.

Eighth annual Mississippi River Valley Scenic Drive across Southeast Missouri,

Transportation display, 10 a.m. Main Street parking lot across from Hutson's Furniture in downtown Cape Girardeau.

Civil War Encampment, Commerce. Tours from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., River Ridge Winery opens at noon.

Civil War re-enactment, 9:30 a.m., Stoddard County Courthouse, Bloomfield, 9:30 a.m..

City of Roses Soccer Tournament, Cape Girardeau. More than 50 teams.

Massac County Living History Weekend, Massac County Park, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

American Quilter's Society Quilt Show and Contest, Carroll Convention Center, Paducah.

Arts and Crafts Show, West Park Mall.

Classic Car display, Marble Hill.

Sunday

Civil War Encampment, Commerce. Tours from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., River Ridge Winery opens at noon.

Civil War re-enactment, 2 p.m., Bloomfield City Park.

Eighth annual Mississippi River Valley Scenic Drive across Southeast Missouri,

Tailgate flea market, parking lot across from Madder Rose Antique Mall, 8 a.m..

City of Roses Soccer Tournament, Cape Girardeau.

Massac County Living History Weekend, Massac County Park, Metropolis, Ill., 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

American Quilter's Society Quilt Show and Contest, Paducah.

Arts and Crafts Show, West Park Mall.

Blessing of the Bike, Bald Knob Cross, near Alto Pass, Ill., 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Free stew. Motorcyclists gather atop Bald Knob Mountain.