MISSISSIPPI VALLEY TOUR FEATURES MANY FALL EVENTS

Area residents and tourists have an opportunity to see a number of Southeast Missouri communities decked out in full fall foliage over the next two months.

Visitors can expect to see colorful scenery along a route lined with arts and crafts, festivals, antiques, historic memorabilia and friendly folks during the Mississippi Valley Scenic Fall Drive.

"A number of events have been planned in October and November at several communities along a 131-mile scenic driving tour," said Frank Nickell of the Center for Regional History at Southeast Missouri State University, which is coordinating the fall program. "There is some great beauty in Southeast Missouri during the autumn."

During a recent meeting of the group, which is involved in the annual spring driving tour, a fall drive was suggested, said Nickell. "We decided this year to develop an ongoing tour during the next few weekends.

"This will serve as sort of a trial for a two-day fall weekend tour in early October of 1994," said Nickell. "It was too late this year to establish all of the planned events into one weekend."

About a dozen villages and towns have events scheduled over the next seven weeks that could attract visitors to a self-conducted tour.

The total drive will take visitors through the scenic villages of Southeast Missouri the Saxon Hills to Altenburg, Frohna and Wittenberg; Trail of Tears State Park and Museum; and Sedgewickville, Patton, Marquand and Marble Hill, in the eastern Ozarks.

Also included on the driving tour are the Bollinger Mill, a working mill on the banks of the Whitewater River at Burfordville; the Little Ole Opry at Gordonville; Jackson, home of historic houses and a working steam train; and to Cape Girardeau on the banks of the Mississippi River.

Side trips to Brazeau and Old Appleton also provide a glimpse at Southeast Missouri history. The Black Forest German villages and Tower Rock are considered two beautiful spots in Missouri.

"Participation has been great in our Mississippi River Valley Spring Drive, held in April of each year," said Nickell. "The fall route will follow the same roads."

The first weekend of the tour actually started this weekend, with the focal point at Bollinger Mill State Historic Site at Burfordville. A folk music concert in the park was featured.

Visitors next weekend may want to participate in a portion of the drive, to take part in the East Perry County Fair at Altenburg Friday and Saturday or the annual Marquand Pioneer Days, featuring arts and crafts, ham and beans, and apple butter. The Old Log Cabin and the Reagan Hotel will be open for tours at Marquand Saturday.

Continuing into October, Rocky Holler USA will provide haunted hayrides every Friday and Saturday from 7 p.m to 10 p.m. Rocky Holler, situated near Jackson alongside Interstate 55, will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each Friday and Saturday. Also scheduled the first Saturday (Oct. 2) will be the Good Ol' Days at Jackson, home of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Steam Train and the Oliver House..

The Little Ole Opry Country Music Show near Gordonville is open each Friday and Saturday night.

The weekend of Oct. 9-10 will be a big one. Events on the schedule include a bobbin lace demonstration at Glenn House mansion in Cape Girardeau, a fall festival at Frohna, Oktoberfest at Black Forest German Villages near Cape Girardeau, a living history demonstration at Oak Ridge, and an open house at the historic Hanover Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau.

Another big weekend will be Oct. 23-24, featuring a Civil War Re-enactment at Jackson and the Jackson Heritage Association cruise party with riverboat theme.

"All the various communities of the region invite people to join them as they celebrate fall with good food, demonstrations, open houses, festivals, dancing, and lots more during the next few weeks," said Nickell.

Following is a list of events for October and early November:

Oct. 9-10 Bobbin lace demonstrations at Glenn House mansion in Cape Girardeau.

Oct. 9 Frohna Saxon Lutheran Memorial Fall Festival.

Oct. 9-10 Black Forest annual Oktoberfest.

Oct. 9-10 Jackson Steam Train Murder Mystery.

Oct. 9-10 Old Hanover Lutheran Church open house, Cape Girardeau.

Oct. 9-10 Oak Ridge Living History Demonstrations (soap making, tasting bee, tours of old churches, displays of farm equipment).

Oct. 14-16 Marble Hill Harvest Festival, carnival rides, livestock and business displays, crafts. The Messey Log House will be open for tours.

Oct. 16-17 Jackson, St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Train Hobo Weekend and Fall Foliage Festival.

Oct. 16-17 Daisy, New Salem United Methodist Church annual kettle beef supper.

Oct. 17 Annual pork barbec ue at Brazeau. The Brazeau Museum will be open for tours.

Oct. 23 Jackson Heritage Association cruise party with riverboat theme.

Oct. 23-24 Civil War re-enactment at Jackson.

Oct. 30 Trail of Tears State Park carved pumpkin contest, at visitors gallery.

Oct. 30-31 St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Steam Train Halloween express, Jackson.

Oct. 31 Trail of Tears State Park Halloween costume contest, 2 to 4 p.m., Visitors Center. Rocky Holler USA haunted hayride.

Nov. 6 Apple creek Fall Festival, St. Joseph's Catholic Church.

For more information, call the Center for Regional History at Southeast Missouri State University at (314) 651-2555.