SUNNY SKIES DRAW OUT CRAFTS CROWDS

Lines!

More lines.

Lines everywhere.

Lines were the sign of the times in Cape Girardeau Saturday morning, as thousands of people turned out for arts and crafts shows at a half-dozen sites throughout the city and area.

Sunny skies and warm weather brought shoppers out in droves. More of the same is forecast for today, with windy, yet mild, weather.

As many as 15,000 to 20,000 shoppers were expected to attend the year's biggest crafts extravaganza Saturday and today.

Although Saturday crowd totals were not available, Show Me Center officials said 2,500 people packed into the arena during the first hour of the Christmas Arts and Crafts Bazaar.

The Show Me Center line stretched from the front doors almost to Sprigg Street prior to the 10 a.m. opening.

The Show Me Center was one of two sites being used by the Southeast Missouri Arts Council, sponsor of the 27th annual bazaar. Nearly as many people were also crowding into the Osage Community Centre about the same time.

Parking was at a premium at all six arts and crafts sites. Other arts and crafts fairs include the River Valley Crafts event, with two locations, at A.C. Brase Arena Building and the Holiday Inn Convention Center.

Also on the weekend schedule are the Christmas Craft and Gift Show at Bavarian Halle near Fruitland, and the Holiday Gift and Food Fair at Plaza Community Center at Town Plaza in Cape Girardeau.

For some Cape Girardeau merchants, the weekend provided an early start for the holiday season.

Motels in the area reported as much as 20 to 25 percent increases in room occupancy, and area restaurants were reporting more than the usual activity.

For the public, the weekend offers an opportunity to shop for holiday gifts. Many of the visitors, after several hours at the crafts show, turned to other merchants for additional shopping. Traffic in all shopping areas -- West Park Mall, Cape West Business Park, Town Plaza Shopping Area, and downtown Cape Girardeau -- was heavy.

Having so many craft shows during the same weekend in the same area is not overkill, say vendors. People are attracted to the area.

Vanloads of shoppers come in from the St. Louis area as they looked for something new -- handmade quilts, dolls, stitchery, ceramics, stained-glass windows, floral arrangements, candles, wreaths and much more.

Vernon Kothe, his wife, Kathy, and his mother, Norma, came into Cape Girardeau Saturday from Percy, Ill.

"We came here for two reasons, to attend the craft fairs and visit my wife's mother here," said Vernon Kothe. "I'm always interested in wood working."

Jim Johnson was also in the area visiting relatives.

"I came in from Humboldt, Tenn., to visit a sister in Sikeston, and to take in the craft shows," said Johnson.

Cape Girardeans are also taking advantage of the annual shows.

Janice Friedrich of Cape Girardeau took advantage of the event to purchase some Barbie Doll clothes. Friedrich and friend Cheryl Ellis started the day at the Show Me Center.

"This is the big one," said Freidrich. "We'll go to the others from here."

Jean Rehkop of nearby Patton also likes the Show Me Center show.

Rehkop, one of more than 800 vendors who were in Cape Girardeau Saturday, makes Barbie and Ken doll clothes.

"We've been setting up at the Show Me Center during the past seven or eight years," said Rehkop.

Rehkop specializes in clothing for Barbie.

"I have a number of Barbie Dolls for models," she said. "We offer a variety of clothing."

Included were wedding dresses, gowns, furs and suits for Ken.

This year, anyone purchasing a wedding gown, received some of the wedding accessories -- veil, bouquets, garters and shoes -- free.

Helping Rehkop with the sales duties was her son, T.G. Rehkop, who drove down for the day from Fenton, Ill.

D.C. Jones of Marion, Ill., was busy making coat racks while his wife took care of sales Saturday. Jones uses spent shotgun cartridges, round dowels and rough boards to product his coat racks.

He also makes a number of outdoor items.

"One of my specialities is knives," he said. "I use old diamond-edge concrete saws to make the knife blade and deer antlers for handles."

Today's schedule

Christmas Craft & Gift Show

The Bavarian Halle, I-55 at Fruitland exit, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free admission

River Valley Crafts

A.C. Brase Arena Building, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. $1 admission.

Holiday Inn Convention Center, I-55 at William Street, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. $1 admission.

Holiday Gift and Food Fair

Plaza Community Center, Plaza Way, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission $2.

Arts & Crafts Bazaar

Osage Community Centre, North Kingshighway, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission $2 (good for admission to Show Me Center also). Special opening for senior citizens and disabled people, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Show Me Center, 1333 N. Sprigg, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission $2 (good for admission to Osage Centre also).