Sixth annual block party in Cape to be held Saturday

Neighborhood Connections will hold its sixth annual block party Saturday, and organizers say it will be the biggest one yet.

"Everybody is invited," said Joan Jones, Neighborhood Connections' public relations chairwoman. "You don't have to live in the neighborhood."

The block party will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at May Greene Park on Fountain Street. The street will be closed between Broadway and Themis Street.

New this year will be free face painting, pony rides, a petting zoo and a clown. Also new will be a chalk drawing contest and an array of arts and crafts. There will be free food and drinks, including hot dogs and lemonade. Some downtown restaurants will donate food, including Social's, Broussard's, Cup 'N' Cork and Port Cape. The Corner Store will bring out its bubble machine.

No alcohol will be sold. Jones describes the event as a "family atmosphere," full of "good, clean fun."

"It has grown into a tradition," said the Rev. Bob Towner of Christ Episcopal Church. "I have a feeling that this going to be a good one. We really knocked ourselves out."

Appearances by the police and fire departments have been an integral part of the event in the past. This year, the police department will celebrate its 150th anniversary at the Cape River Heritage Museum from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The fire department will hold its firetruck rally at Capaha Park at 11 a.m.

Jones and Towner said they view the scheduling as an opportunity for people to experience the three events as one big celebration of Cape Girardeau.

Neighborhood Connections came from a group of people determined to make the neighborhood a safer, friendlier place to be, and to form a neighborhood watch.

"About six years ago we formed a non-religion-based neighborhood group, and the idea of having a party took root. We were encouraged by the city," Towner said. "We have a wide cross-section of people. The block party is an opportunity to discover what being a neighbor is."