RIVERFEST FUTURE UNCERTAIN

The fate of Riverfest in Cape Girardeau remains uncertain.

The outdoor festival likely will be canceled for a lack of interest and planning, but no one with the Riverfest Association would confirm such reports Thursday.

Reports abound about the status of the annual festival, which offers strolling bands, food, crafts and a carnival. Riverfest has been an annual tradition in Cape Girardeau for 21 years.

A lack of funding in 1999 also caused concern about whether the event would be held. Organizers finally collected enough donations to put together a scaled-back version of the festival at a cost of $55,000 but relied heavily on public pleas.

In an article published May 27, 1999, in the Southeast Missourian, Phyllis Lipscomb, then-president of the Riverfest Association, said the group was already working to prevent Riverfest from being canceled in 2000.

The association had hoped to increase sponsorships and volunteers to offset costs, she said. Typically Riverfest costs between $75,000 and $80,000 for the weekend event.

Telephone calls to the Riverfest Association's office Thursday afternoon were initially met with busy signals for more than an hour. After getting through, a message left on the recorder was not returned to the Southeast Missourian.

Calls to board members, including several 1999 officers, also went unanswered Thursday.

Typically Riverfest organizers announce the theme and entertainment during mid-March. Last year the group had a shaky start and scrambled to get sponsors and volunteers for the event.

Early March is also the time the Riverfest Association contacts the Cape Girardeau Police Department for help with patrolling the downtown area and making plans for street closures.

But Capt. Steve Strong of the department said he hasn't heard from anyone about Riverfest. "We haven't been contacted yet," he said.

However, Strong said he had heard unofficially that Riverfest was being canceled.

An announcement made during a recent Old Town Cape meeting also confirmed that Riverfest was canceled. However, downtown merchant Judith Ann Lang said she was trying to set up a meeting with the Riverfest board "to find out what they're doing."

Riverfest reflected on its 21-year history with a look at "Then and Now" during the 1999 festival.

But some significant changes have been made over the past few years. Organizers had chosen to provide several stages for entertainment instead of a single act. Having several stages allowed more local bands to play, they said.

Riverfest has continually faced problems with uncertain weather. Heavy rains and thunderstorms typically threaten during the June weekend and sometimes delay the event.