READY FOR RIVERFEST

After a few shaky weeks of not knowing exactly whether Riverfest would be a reality or not this year, plans for the 21st annual event have been finalized and everything is ready for this weekend.

Music will abound as Riverfest gets under way at 4 p.m. Friday with five bands providing a variety of music from alternative rock to ska to bluegrass.

Friday's bands include Area 51, Cataphasia, Freelance October, Poor Boys Blues, The Ezells, Acme Blues, The All Stars, Papa Aborigine, Salsa Descarga and Funkey Donkey Cheese.

The same bands will be joined on Saturday by the Dixie Daddys, Sky Colors, Rapture and Trademark. ( See schedule)

Plenty of food will be available, everything from cotton candy to bloomin' onions.

Some downtown merchants will extend Friday shopping hours to accommodate those taking in the festivities. Craft booths will offer a variety of merchandise.

The 17th annual Kohlfeld Riverfest Run will begin Friday with walkers leaving at 7 p.m. followed by the runners at 7:30.

Vicky Keller, coordinator for the event, said 65 participants had registered by June 1. "Right now more of the entrants are from out of the area," said Keller. "Local participants usually wait until the last few days to sign up."

Every entrant will receive a T-shirt, and all finishers will be awarded a Kohlfeld Riverfest Run medallion. The event draws all ages. The youngest to be registered so far is a 4-month old who will be accompanying mom and dad on the walk.

This year's race will have a "pulse-kicking start," according to Ron Keller, Vicky Keller's husband. The local National Guard unit will provide something a little different from the ordinary starter's pistol to signal the beginning of the race.

A new T-shirt design, new plaques and over $600 in savings bonds are helping make this year's run special.

The Cape Fear Bicycle Club will help pace runners and make sure everyone stays on course.

The St. Francis Medical Center's Winnebago will be on hand to handle any medical emergencies.

"I can't say enough about the Cape Girardeau Police Department," said Keller. "They've always been just great in their help with this event."

The award ceremony will be at Main and Broadway at 9 p.m.

Saturday's events begin at 11 a.m. with Steve Schaffner strolling the grounds. Included in the activities will be a bicycle stunt show, turtle race, a high energy drumming and fire juggling act by the Fire Gypsy's, a puppet show by Super Saturday and more music.

Festivities will wind down with a fireworks display on the riverfront at 9 p.m.

"I'd like to extend a personal thank-you on behalf of myself and the Riverfest board to everyone who pitched in to keep Riverfest from dying," said Phyllis Lipscomb, president of the Riverfest Association. "It was really great how the community came together."

Riverfest music schedule

Friday

4-7 p.m.

Beer Garden Stage -- Area 51

Port Cape Stage -- Freelance October

Jeremiah's Stage -- Cataphasia

Mudsuckers Stage -- Poor Boys Blues

Family Stage -- The Ezells

8-11 p.m.

Beer Garden Stage -- Papa Aborigine

Mudsuckers Stage -- Salsa Descarga

Jeremiah's Stage -- Funkey Donkey Cheese

Saturday

11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Steve Schaffner strolling the grounds

2-3:30 p.m.

The Dixie Daddys

3-5:30 p.m.

Family Stage -- The Ezells

4-7:30 p.m.

Beer Garden Stage -- Area 51

Jeremiah's Stage -- Funkey Donkey Cheese

Port Cape Stage -- Freelance October

Mudsuckers Stage -- Salsa Descarga

4-9 p.m.

Sky Colors strolling grounds

5-6:30 p.m

Family Stage -- Rapture

7-11 p.m.

Port Cape Stage -- Acme Blues

Family Stage -- The All Stars

8-11 p.m.

Beer Garden Stage -- Papa Aborigine

Jeremiah's Stage -- Cataphasia

Mudsuckers Stage -- Trademark