RIVERFEST WILL FOCUS ON HISTORY; ANNUAL CELEBRATION IS SET THIS WEEKEND

Two hundred years on the Mississippi will be saluted with activities ranging from a bicentennial parade to the recreation of an 1840s fur trading post when Riverfest '93 begins its annual run Friday.

Entertainment and activities for the entire family are planned Friday from 3-11 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. in downtown Cape Girardeau.

Riverfest is one of the city's biggest events, said Peggy Barringer, president of the Riverfest Board of Directors. "Since Riverfest began, we've watched this event grow from a fairly small riverfront festival to an event that is recognized throughout the Midwest as a quality family festival.

"With the excellent entertainment lineup that we have this year, and our special bicentennial events, we're looking forward to showing even more people a good time along the Mississippi in Cape Girardeau."

She said no river activities have been planned because of the high water and uncertainty about how long flood conditions will linger.

Instead, organizers are focusing on history.

"Everyone's invited to join the fun of our special Bicentennial Riverfest Parade," said Melvin Gateley, who with Martha Bender and Marge Thompson, is spearheading the parade Saturday at 9 a.m.

The parade will go from Capaha Park to Main Street. No entry fee is required for the parade and Gateley encouraged churches, civic and community groups, and businesses to participate.

Also new to Riverfest this year is the American Mountain Men's 1840 Fur Trading Post. The post will be set up at the corner of Spanish and Themis and will feature black powder shooting, primitive fire starting and other activities of the period.

Musical entertainment for Riverfest includes appearances by the Waterstreet Six, a strolling Dixieland band, from 5-6 p.m. Friday. From 6-7:30 that evening, the Cape German Band will oom-pah-pah in the food tent, and the Bill Barnett Band will crank up its country music at 6:30 p.m. in the north beer garden. Southeast square dancers will swing their partners and do-see-do from 7:30-8:45 p.m. in the food tent.

A summertime concert by the Cape Girardeau Municipal Band at 8 p.m. on the main stage, at the foot of the Common Pleas Courthouse, will round out Friday's musical entertainment.

On Saturday, Waterstreet Six will be back from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and again from 4-6 p.m.

At 1 p.m., the main stage will be the setting for a performance of gospel and contemporary music, followed at 2 p.m. by original music by Brave Little Toaster.

At 3 p.m., the "Perverted Fiddle" will take the main stage, followed at 3:30 p.m. by the country-contemporary Due West.

Saturday evening's musical program will get under way at 5 p.m. with an Opry show on the main stage by the Lewis Family. The Cape German Band will do an encore performance in the food tent from 6-7:30 p.m.

Patti and the Hitmen blues band will perform on the main stage at 6 p.m., and at 6:30 p.m. the country band Nite Shift will begin its four- and-a-half-hour stint in the north beer garden.

Headline entertainment for Riverfest is Zaca Creek, on the main stage at 7 p.m. Saturday. The group recently released their first CD, "Broken Heartland." Their video to the title track is playing on TNN and CMT.

In a Riverfest promotion, participants will also have the opportunity to name Girard's girlfriend. Girard, Riverfest's cartoon mascot, has a new Riverfest pal and the family who selects the winning name for his girlfriend will win Riverfest T-shirts and other prizes.

Children's activities are planned around the historic theme also. In addition to arts, crafts and games on the south Common Pleas Courthouse parking lot, storytelling about the bicentennial, a special program about French heritage and the history of Cape Girardeau are planned.

On both days carnival rides will operate at Main and Independence.

The annual Riverfest Turtle Race will be held at 3 p.m. on the south Common Pleas Courthouse parking lot. The Best Dressed Turtle Contest will follow the race at 3:30 p.m.

Arts and crafts vendors and working crafters will exhibit and demonstrate their skills.

The sixth annual Miss Riverfest pageant will be held on the Riverfest main stage at 6 p.m. Friday.

The 11th annual Kohlfeld Riverfest Run for competitive and recreational runners gets under way at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Start and finish point for the run is Boatmen's Bank parking lot at Broadway and Main. In 1992, 381 runners crossed the finish line; organizers hope to top 400 participants this year.

New this year is the Riverfest Midnight Ramble, a bicycling tour scheduled at 12:30 a.m. Saturday. The ramble check-in will begin at 11 p.m. Friday in front of the Show Me Center, the starting point for the ride.

Cyclists have an option of two routes: a six-mile course or a 12-mile course.

Tim Blattner, chairman of the ride, said: "It is not a race; it's a leisurely ride that all participants complete at their own pace."

A fireworks display will be the grand finale for Riverfest '93. The fireworks show is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. Saturday and last about 30 minutes.

Organizers say the pyrotechnics will be visible from anywhere in downtown Cape Girardeau.

Riverfest corporate sponsors are St. Francis Medical Center, Southwestern Bell Telephone, Fox 23 KBSI-TV and Capital Bank.