RIVEBOAT SCHEDULE EXPANDED

The Spirit of Riverfest riverboat will offer added excursions when it returns to the annual downtown festival June 12-13.

The boat, officially known at the "Spirit of St. Charles," made its first appearance at the Cape Girardeau riverfront at last year's Riverfest. Because of the good response from festival goers, the boat is returning and the number of outings has increased.

"We had such a great cruise last year. The crew has been bugging us all year long about coming back," said Capt. Greg Bax, in Cape Girardeau Monday to announce the riverboat schedule.

"We thought it was great last year, much better than we expected," Bax said. "One couple rode on the boat then bought tickets for the entire next day."

Riverfest Board of Directors member Tim Blattner, who is coordinating the riverboat's return to Cape Girardeau, said, "We learned a great deal last year about how to do this. That's why we have expanded the schedule this year. We are adding four cruises on Sunday for people who want to ride on the boat but might not want to fight the crowds of Riverfest."

Blattner said that other added cruises will be available this year, including a cruise for senior citizens on Friday morning and a "Kid's Kruise" on Saturday morning.

"The boat was a tremendous success last year and most of our cruises during Riverfest itself sold out," Blattner said, "so the additional cruises are designed to help accommodate the demand for tickets. And we're pleased that Capital Bank has joined us this year to help bring the riverboat back to Riverfest."

The riverboat will arrive at the Cape Girardeau riverfront at about 5 p.m. June 11. Fifteen one-hour cruises are scheduled during the Friday and Saturday of Riverfest, June 12 and 13. Four more public cruises are available Sunday afternoon, June 14.

In addition, two seven-hour cruises are also available, the first on Thursday, June 11, from Ste. Genevieve to Cape Girardeau, and the second on Monday, June 15, from Cape Girardeau to Wittenberg.

Tickets for all cruises are available at Capital Bank's main locations in Cape Girardeau and Jackson and through the Show Me Center's ticket office.

Capital Bank is also offering discount tickets for certain one-hour excursions and Capital Bank's Prime Time members can purchase discount tickets for the two seven-hour cruises as well.

The three-decked, Victorian-era sternwheeler can carry in excess of 300 passengers. However, ticket sales for many of the cruises will be limited to allow plenty of room to move around during each trip. All Cape Girardeau departures will be from the Broadway floodgates.

The boat, which was featured in the recent Disney movie "Back to Hannibal," carries a small snack bar and souvenir shop. There will be on-board entertainment in addition to the paddlewheeler's calliope.

Ticket prices for the one-hour excursions are $6.50 for adults and $4.50 for children aged 12 and under. Tickets for the 2 and 3:30 p.m. trips on June 12 and the noon and 1:30 p.m. cruises on June 13 and 14, are $2 off when purchased in advance through Capital Bank's main locations in Cape Girardeau and Jackson. Lunch is also available on the noon Sunday cruise for $5.50 extra.

Tickets for the Ste. Genevieve to Cape Girardeau on June 11 are $47. Capital Bank Prime Time members can purchase their tickets through Capital Bank for $42. Buses for Ste. Genevieve will leave from Old St. Vincent's Church in downtown Cape Girardeau at 8:30 a.m. The cruise will depart Ste. Genevieve at 10 a.m. and is scheduled to arrive at Cape Girardeau's riverfront at about 5 p.m.

Prices for the Cape Girardeau to Wittenberg cruise on June 15 are $44 for the general public and $39 for Capital Bank Prime Time members. Both of the seven-hour cruises include lunch, entertainment, sight-seeing and a variety of special activities.

Tickets for the fireworks cruise Saturday, June 13, are $12.50 for adults and $10.50 for children.

For general ticket information, call the Show Me Center ticket office at 651-5000, or Capital Bank, 335-0893 or 243-8441. Cruise tickets sold through the Show Me Center may be purchased in person, by phone or through the mail. Credit card phone orders may be placed by calling 651-5000.

Ticket orders through the mail should include a 75-cent per ticket handling charge.

For information about the senior citizen's cruise scheduled for 10 a.m. June 11 contact the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department, 335-5421. To learn more about the Kid's Kruise at 10 a.m. June 12, call Susan Helwege, 335-8380.

In addition to the riverboat cruises, the two-day Riverfest in downtown Cape Girardeau also features arts and crafts displays, working craft demonstrations, professional stage entertainment, strolling entertainers, children's activities, a children's safety parade on Saturday morning, the 10th annual Kohlfeld Riverfest Run, the 5th annual Miss Riverfest pageant, a Little Miss Riverfest pageant, carnival rides, fireworks, food and beverages.

Admission to the grounds is free. Free shuttle bus service will be provided between downtown and several parking areas.

Serving as corporate sponsors for Riverfest again this year are Fox 23 KBSI-TV, St. Francis Medical Center and Southwestern Bell Telephone. A new corporate sponsor for 1992 is Shop 'N Save.