Scott City's Summerfest starts; new rides this year

The amusement rides have started spinning, and the funnel cakes have been dropped in the fryers: Scott City’s 40th annual Summerfest kicked off Thursday evening with Family Night. Fairgrounds opened at 5 p.m., and the Southern Brothers performed through the evening hours.

Through Sunday, the Scott City Parks and Recreation Department has arranged a variety of events to bring visitors to Scott City Park.

Phyllis Spinks, Scott City parks and recreation manager, said she expects about 1,500 visitors to come to the park Friday and Saturday. Before fairgrounds opened Thursday, she estimated about 600 would attend the alcohol-free Family Night.

Spinks said this year’s event will be a bit different from previous years. Marriott Amusement Rides will provide its services for the first time, which means different rides and games will be available than years past.

The fairgrounds open each day at 5 p.m. On Friday, children’s beauty pageants, a cornhole tournament and karaoke will be the featured attractions. On Saturday, a horseshoe tournament will take place early in the afternoon, with a talent competition and washer contest to follow after the fairgrounds open. Through a donation, the Scott County Sheriff’s Department recently acquired a drone, Spinks said, and its capabilities will be demonstrated to fairgoers at 7 p.m. The band Paragon will perform at 7:30 p.m., followed by a fireworks display at 10 p.m.

Spinks said in addition to the rides and events, food vendors will be on hand to provide traditional fair fare, including funnel cakes, pizza, burgers and barbecue.

“We’ve got a little bit of everything,” Spinks said.

bbrown@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3630

Pertinent address:

Scott City Park, Scott City, Mo.