SEMO Fair Parade canceled; Day at the River relocated

Major rainfall in the forecast has put the brakes on what was scheduled to be a bustling weekend in Cape Girardeau.

The 163rd SEMO District Fair Parade has been canceled for Saturday, and the annual Day at the River, another popular event, is being moved inside to the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center, 2289 County Park Drive.

Saturday would have been the first nonschool day for the fair, usually a big draw. There will still be some events under roof, but the weather could reduce the crowds. At this time, there is no plan to reschedule the parade.

The weather pattern is thanks to the remnants of Tropical Depression Gordon, which is expected to drop heavy rains across much of the state. Cape Girardeau should expect 3 inches of rain or more over the weekend; other parts of Missouri could see 6 inches.

That forecast is moving the Day at the River event inside, but Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center naturalist Angela Pierce said there will still be fun things to do.

�We won�t be able to do boat rides, obviously, in the rain,� Pierce said, �But we will have some of the informational booths, activities and crafts set up at the Nature Center from 1 to 4 p.m.�

Children�s crafts will also be available Saturday, offering activities focused on learning more about the Mississippi River, animals, plants and surrounding wetlands, she said.

There will also be an exhibit set up with mussels on display, as well as replicas of primitive artifacts humans have made through the years, using mussels, according to Pierce.

Information regarding river fishing will also be available, along with examples of equipment used for commercial fishing, �and for someone who just wants to go fishing down by the river,� Pierce said.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol told The Associated Press flash flooding will be a concern over the weekend. The patrol is urging drivers to avoid flooded roadways, noting even 1 foot of water can move swiftly and prove deadly.

The patrol also is encouraging boaters to take extra precautions because rain-swollen waterways can make for faster currents and unpredictable conditions.

jhartwig@semissourian.com

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