RIVERFEST '97: RIVERFEST DRAWS HUGE CROWDS

Liesl Schoenberger of Cape Girardeau won the fiddle contest Saturday at Riverfest.

More than 30,000 people visited Riverfest '97 Saturday under sunny skies and steamy temperatures that gave way to a pleasant evening. The weather was much more cooperative than it was Friday night, when rain forced the downtown festival to shut down early.

Laural Akisson, Riverfest co-chairman, said the number of Saturday visitors was up from last year.

Overall, she said the festival was a success.

"We had more visitors today than last year on the second day of Riverfest," Atkisson said Saturday. "But it does not make up for the loss in numbers from the storm Friday night."

She said there was no reported storm damage to Riverfest booths Friday night.

Atkisson said she believes the number of second-day festival-goers increased because of the variety of activities offered this year. It was difficult Saturday evening to walk along Main Street because of the many people. A long line of people waited to tour the Coast Guard cutter SUMAC.

"I don't think it was just the good weather," said Atkisson. "We had a full day of different kinds of events planned."

She said private boaters, jet skiers and an airplane entertained festival visitors all day on the Mississippi riverfront. "There was an unknown friendly pilot who did stunts in his plane overhead all day," said Atkisson.

One of the biggest crowd pleasers was the Mark Twain-style turtle races at the Family Fun Village. Nearly 250 people gathered around a chalk-drawn circle in the middle of the street where 49 children competed.

Aaron McKinney, 6, of Cape Girardeau and his turtle Speedo won a ribbon and a $50 U.S. Savings Bond for having the fastest turtle. McKinney said he went out and found his turtle for the competition.

Many attending the turtle races said they liked coming. Dale and Rene Pingel of Cape Girardeau brought their daughter Lindsey and her turtle Black Jack.

"Lindsey found a black turtle in the driveway this morning," said Dale Pingel. "I thing it's good for the kids. They can just come bring their turtles and get excited over a plain-old turtle," he said.

Crowds also gathered around two Main Street attractions that performed throughout the day.

Hundreds of children, some with bikes, and adults stood in the sun to watch the stunt riding of the Ride-N-Grind bicycle and motorcycle trick team from Chicago. The team has been a Riverfest tradition for three years.

Ride-N-Grind founder Bob Kohl says his team is the world's best stunt-riding team on wheels. "We do 360s, back flips, no-handed riding, and turn-downs," said Kohl.

The team performs jumps over 20 feet high, does daredevil back-flip maneuvers and world-record stunts in every show.

Kohl said the team began as just friends riding bikes together in 1985 as the Too Rad Trick Team.

"At the end of the '80s I made the effort on my own to start things up and form the Ride-N-Grind," he said.

Kohl said although the stunts look like fun they should never be tried by the unexperienced. A year ago he was in a comma for three weeks in Oakland, Calif., from trying a 40 foot-back flip, he said.

"I was in the air halfway upside down trying to go backwards," Kohl said. He suffered numerous broken bones when he fell.

Kolhl said those attempting stunts should always wear helmets and protective gear.

Just a block away from the stunt team large numbers of Riverfest-goers listened to the sounds of the Incas. Runa Pacha, a five-man band from Ecuador, played traditional music from their homeland.

The English speaking member of the group, Mallqui, said this is the first time they have visited the United States.

"We got here two weeks ago," he said. "Our manager has been booking us at festivals and other events."

Mallqui said: "We try to show our culture and our language through our music. We are the teachers of the Inca."

He said the band, which has played together for seven years, enjoys Missouri. "It's a nice place, the people are friendly and we like it," he said.

Other events included the crowning of Larisa Petzoldt of Altenburg as Little Miss Fun in the Sun and entertainment on the main stage throughout the day. A big fireworks display was presented Saturday night.