SEMO District Fair includes Sept. 11 tribute

The SEMO District Fair will commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks Sunday. It will do so by holding a ceremony at the grandstand at 3 p.m.

Capt. Shawn Morris organized the ceremony and said that all of the area fire departments are invited to the event. In addition to the fire departments, area police departments and armed forces are expected to be at the event.

"Everyone will be in the same place, so we can have one big remembrance," Morris said.

Fire chief Rick Ennis and police chief Carl Kinnison will speak at the event.

Fair board president Pete Poe said the fair held similar ceremonies last year and on the first anniversary of the attacks.

According to Poe, the fair remained open on the day of the attacks 10 years ago but it was "quiet, to say the least."

In addition to the remembrance ceremony, fairgoers can also expect the usual attractions such as livestock, carnival rides and the parade.

Poe said the fair attendance last year was around 100,000. He said he hopes to exceed last year's numbers.

"The weather has been very favorable," Poe said.

Daily admission will be $4 for adults and children over 12; weekly passes can be purchased for $25. Admission gates will be open 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 1 to 10:30 p.m. Monday to Sept. 16 and 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sept. 17.

There will also be several family-oriented events taking place throughout the week, including a trivia contest Monday, a mother/daughter look-alike contest Tuesday, a father/son look-alike contest Wednesday and a pedal tractor pull Sept. 17. For more information, visit semofair.com.

Lowery Carnival armbands will be available for purchase at the Lowery Carnival Co. ticket booths on the carnival midway. These armbands will allow the wearer to ride carnival rides during the specified times without having to buy individual tickets.

"There will be several new carnival rides," Poe said.

The SEMO District Fair parade will be Monday. The parade will begin at 5:30 p.m. and run from Capaha Park to the fairgrounds in Arena Park.

Poe said those wishing to participate in the parade must register by Sunday. Registration forms are available at semofair.com or the fair office at 410 Kiwanis Drive, Suite 200, in Cape Girardeau.

The Cape Girardeau Police Department has made special traffic arrangements for the smooth traffic flow into and out of Arena Park. Signs will be placed in Arena Park to restrict parking. They will become effective at 10 a.m. Saturday.

The police department also said several streets will be closed before, during and after the parade.

West End Boulevard will be closed between Broadway and Normal Avenue starting at 4 p.m. to allow the parade to form. Broadway west of West End Boulevard and Kingshighway between Broadway and Cape Rock Drive will be closed during the parade. Broadview Street will be closed from Spartech Drive north to the entrance of Arena Park during and shortly after the parade.

For more information on parking and traffic arrangements, call Sgt. Kevin Orr at 335-6621, extension 1060.

Pertinent address:

Arena Park, Cape Girardeau, MO