MUSIC HELPS BOOST FAIR TICKET SALES

Waylon Jennings, Billy Ray Cyrus and Terri Clark won't perform in Cape Girardeau until next month, but they are already helping boost ticket sales to the SEMO District Fair.

The trio of country singers will be the grandstand entertainment at the fair during its last three days with Clark performing Sept. 16, Cyrus Sept. 17 and Jennings Sept. 18. Their performances are helping fuel advance ticket sales to the fair, said Pete Poe, president of the Southeast Missouri District Fair Association.

"At this time Waylon Jennings is selling the best, but the others are close behind," Poe said.

He said trying to get good seats to see a particular entertainer is usually the reason people buy advance tickets. So far advance ticket sales, which began July 14, have been going "very well," Poe said.

"There's always a rush when they go on sale. Then there will be a couple of peaks between then and fair time." He noted that sales are in a peak period now. "The fair is getting closer, and people are beginning to make plans for it," he said.

Tickets for each performance Sept. 16-18 are $17.50 for reserved orchestra seats, $15 for reserved chair seats, $15 for reserved grandstand seats and $15 for unreserved bleacher seats. Gate admission is free with advanced ticket purchase.

Other grandstand entertainment for which advance tickets are available are the Demolition Derby Sept. 13, Tractor Pull Sept. 14 and Truck Pull Sept. 15; all seats to each event are $8.

Tickets are available by calling 334-9250 or (800) 455-FAIR or at the SEMO District Fair ticket office at the south end of the arena building.