RIVERBAT PROMISES TO BE POPULAR ATTRACTION FOR SECOND YEAR

The Spirit of Riverfest riverboat promises to be a highlight of Cape Girardeau's Riverfest for the second year in a row.

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.

The boat will arrive at the Cape Girardeau riverfront this evening.

A cruise from Ste. Genevieve to Cape Girardeau sold out. A "Kids Kruise" Saturday morning is also sold out, but tickets for the other cruises are still available, said Jay Wolz of the Riverfest committee.

Individuals can purchase tickets through Friday morning at Capital Bank locations and at the Show Me Center for a specific cruise.

Tickets will be on sale at the riverfront beginning today at 5 p.m., when the boat arrives. "Last year we had a group of people at the floodwall waiting for the boat to come in," Wolz said. "It was a perfect opportunity to sell tickets."

Beginning Friday afternoon, tickets will be sold exclusively at the ticket office on the riverfront.

Wolz said some tickets will be available for all the one-hour cruises when Riverfest begins. "We are holding some of the tickets to be sold at the riverfest, so none of those cruises will actually sell out in advance."

He said that last year cruises sold out several hours in advance. "We still encourage anyone, if they want a specific cruise, to go ahead and buy their tickets in advance."

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.

"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."

Fifteen one-hour cruises are scheduled during the Friday and Saturday of Riverfest. Four more public cruises are available Sunday afternoon. A seven-hour cruise is also available Monday from Cape Girardeau to Wittenberg.

In addition to the cruise for children, other special cruises are planned, including a riverboat dance for senior citizens Friday from 10 a.m. until noon. The dance is sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department. Senior citizens are encouraged to attend this first-ever dance on the river.

Dancing will take place on the boat deck or, in case of rain, in the riverboat's ballroom.

Limited space is available and advance tickets are recommended. Tickets are $5 per person and can be purchased at the A.C. Brase Arena Building. For more information call the parks department at 335-5421.

The three-decked, Victorian-era sternwheeler can carry in excess of 300 passengers. 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 snack bar and souvenir shop. There will be on-board entertainment in addition to the paddlewheeler's calliope.

For general ticket information, call the Show Me Center ticket office at 651-5000, or Capital Bank at 335-0893 or 243-8441.