Music festival, SEMO District Fair combine for busy weekend

Scattered showers may have slowed down some of the crowds on what was slated to be a jam-packed weekend for fun seekers in Cape Girardeau, but all of the events managed to stay afloat, with a few minor adjustments.

The River City Music Festival got underway an hour later than its scheduled 3 p.m. start, and had to relocate the seven bands playing on the Broadway stage to Buckner Brewing.

Still, the dreary weather didn't stop those in attendance from swaying to the beat of bands like Blue, of Jackson, on the stage set up at Themis and Water streets. The Independence Street stage also opened just after 5 p.m., following a rain delay.

The turnout may not have been as strong as the 2,500 that attended last year because some people may have been dissuaded by the weather, said Casey Wakefield, volunteer coordinator for the event.

Fair also draws crowds

Across town at the SEMO District Fair, a much larger crowd strolled the somewhat muddy midway and fairgrounds at Arena Park, undeterred by the clouds overhead.

The rain did, however, cause a few glitches in the fair schedule.

"We had to cancel a couple of events," said Pete Poe, fair spokesman.

The Antique Tractor Pull, scheduled for 8:30 a.m. at the grandstand, was postponed until Saturday.

The inflation of the Brain Balloon, a brain-shaped hot-air balloon that expands to over 10 stories tall, sponsored by Southeast Missouri Hospital, was canceled.

Riders alternately screamed and smiled while on the "Full Tilt" Saturday, one of the rides at SEMO District Fair.KIT DOYLEkdoyle@semissourian.com

"There is a crowd that anticipates and looks forward to every event, so we hope we wouldn't have to cancel anything. But when you wake up to rain, you have to face reality," Poe said.

Other events scheduled for Saturday, like the boar and goat show at the Livestock Arena, and the Kid Zone, where children could indulge in free, farm-themed activities like veggie bingo, were not affected by the rain.

Neither was the food.

The key words when sampling fair goodies seemed to be "giant" and "fried." Some standouts were "King's Taters, sliced "oh-solo-o-thin, deep fried to a golden brown, and piled high," giant tenderloin sandwiches, sticky candy apples by the "bagful," and footlong hand-dipped corn dogs.

"If you can eat it in one bite, your second one is free," said vendor Stevie B. Allen, of Louisville, Ky.

For healthier fare, Allen said he recommends the chicken-in-a-pita.

A little bit of everything

Poe said he advises starting at one end of the fair and eating your way through to the other, sampling a bit of everything.

It was sound advice to keep in mind for exploring the exhibits as well.

Visitors to the fair can pose for pictures with Petito and Gizmo, male and female Capuchin monkeys dressed to the nines at Harold Payne's "Monkeyshines" booth.

Petito, who is seven years old, offered each visitor to the booth a toothy grin, a delicate handshake and a tip of his newsies cap.

In the activities tent, karaoke contestants belted out the lyrics to country songs, though the turnout for the junior division was much less than previous years, said Dale Steffens, activities tent chairman.

In 2006, 19 juniors and 27 seniors entered the competition, and this year, there were only four juniors and 22 seniors.

Caudine Murray of Sikeston, Mo., walked away with the $50 first prize in the junior competition for her performance of the song "Tim McGraw."

Brooke Hyslip, of Lilbourn, Mo., took second with "Something To Talk About," and Anne Ayers of Chaffee, Mo., came in third for her rendition of "Do it Anyway."

The fair was expected to draw about 35,000 before the week's end. Crowds were anticipated for the REO Speedwagon show Friday, and the Dual Demolition Derby always packs the house, Poe said.

Everything seemed to be running smooth so far, Hovis said.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 245