OPENING DAY FEATURES FREE FAIR ADMISSION; PET PARADE, HORSE SHOW HIGHLIGHT sUNDAY START

Sunday, Sept. 8, will provide area residents an opportunity to see a "sneak preview" of what the SEMO District Fair has to offer.

Again this year there will be no admission charge to the fairgrounds on Sunday, there will be discounts on rides, and several free activities, including a large horse show in front of the grandstand, will be held.

The gates will open at 11 a.m. and the Midway will be providing discount-ride arm bands from 1-6 p.m. for $7.

Although there is free admission to the fairgrounds, there will be a $2 parking charge for the preview.

At 1 p.m., 30 minutes before the horse show begins, there will be a pet parade for children 12 and under and seniors ages 60 and over. Any pet except burros or horses may be entered.

There is no entry fee, costumes are optional, and the entries will be judged in various fun categories.

The horse show at 1:30 p.m. will have over 200 entries and 19 classes with separate judges for gaited and western.

During the break in the horse show, there will be a special "stick horse class" competition for children ages 8 and under. Children may bring their own stick horse or purchase one at the fairgrounds. The entry fee for the event is $1.

Ivan Duvall of Perryville, one of the horse show organizers, said this is the third year for the show and he expects it to be larger than the previous two. He said he also anticipates another large crowd, possibly a full house.

"Last year we had 210 entries and will probably have a few more this year," said Duvall.

Duvall said this type of show is a good one for spectators and one that all ages should enjoy.

A new class this year is the light shod plantation pleasure class for trail-riding horses.

The show has classes for youths as well as adults, including a lead-line class for children ages 6 and under. There are youth categories for ages 12 and under and ages 15 and under.

Entries will be from a 100-mile radius of Cape Girardeau, Duvall said.

More information on the horse show or pet parade is available by calling the SEMO District Fair office at 334-9250.