PARADE ALONG NEW ROUTE KICKS OFF SEMO DISTRICT FAIR

Nancy Anthony of Advance, Mo., arrived early and parked her pickup truck in a parking spot that backed up to Independence Street just so she could have a good view of the SEMO District Fair.

Anthony said she arrived about 3:45 p.m., well ahead of the 5:30 p.m. start of the parade that officially kicked off the start of the 145th SEMO District Fair.

She and Glenda Hitt of Advance snacked as they relaxed in lawn chairs in the bed of the pickup truck.

Both women said they wouldn't miss the parade. "Everybody loves a parade," said Hitt, holding an umbrella above her head.

A late-afternoon rain didn't deter spectators who crowded along the parade route. A crowd of 7,177 attended the fair Monday.

Even after the rain stopped, Hitt still had her umbrella up. "I am going to keep it up just in case," she said as the parade prepared to start.

Carol Lorenz of Jackson, Mo., wouldn't miss the parade. "We just enjoy all the bands," said Lorenz, whose children formerly played in the Jackson High School band.

Helen Gifford of Oran, Mo., marched in the Oran High School Band about 12 years ago. She said her children like to see the parade and their grandfather, who performs in parades as a Shriner clown.

Gifford said Oran residents love the fair. "You've got to remember the fair is a big deal for all of us. We live in a small town. Everybody comes to the fair," she said.

Dan Phillips' 8 1/2-month-old daughter smiled with delight as area high school bands marched along the street. "It's really neat for kids," said the Cape Girardeau man. "That's what it is all about."

Darla Luhring of Cape Girardeau took her two children to the fair parade. "The kids always want to come," she said as she sat atop her vehicle with her 4-year-old daughter.

A few feet away, her son, Tarl, 8, stood at the edge of the curb so he could collect the candy thrown by participants in the parade. He put the candy in a plastic grocery bag.

Tarl liked more than the candy. "I got to see cool cars," he said.

The parade was rerouted this year because of the construction work on Broadway. But that didn't bother spectators. Several spectators said parking was better along this year's parade route.

Fair spokesman Pete Poe said this year's parade included at least 135 entries, including 16 high school bands.

Poe said this year's parade route involved more twists and turns than the regular parade route to Arena Park. But Poe said the parade went off without a hitch.

Even with a different route and the rainy weather that preceded the parade, people showed up to see the bands, antique cars, horses and other parade entries.

"We were very pleased with the turnout," he said.