Variety of entertainment offered for weekend revelers

Fresh on the heels of one holiday, another one begins. But instead of staying home and opening gifts with the family, the next holiday -- New Year's Eve -- will find many people going out to revel and ring in the new year with both friends and strangers.

Cape Girardeau's downtown will be filled with the sounds of live music Friday night, as musical acts will be playing at numerous bars and restaurants.

Buckner Brewing Co. will host local musician and Real Rock 99.3 disc jockey Mike Renick; The Camp will feature the sounds of alt-rockers Squad Car, Velvet Friend and Steer Jockey; Rude Dog Pub will host The Intention; The River City Yacht Club (above Port Cape) will have the sounds of Eleven Point; and The Melroy's will entertain at Broussard's on both Friday and Saturday night. All shows start at 9 p.m.

But for those seeking an alternative to the alcohol-fueled New Year's Eve party scene, at least one choice is available.

This year the Christian Faith Fellowship church, located at 4250 Route K in Cape Girardeau, will offer those people a New Year's Eve Ball.

"We want to give people a chance to get out and enjoy New Year's Eve without the typical party atmosphere," said the event's organizer, Franci Wild. "Ourselves being people who don't do the party scene or the bar scene, we thought this was an important thing to offer."

Many people who don't drink and party have made it a habit of staying home on New Year's Eve, said Wild, and this event will give them a chance to break that habit and get out to ring in the new year with a sparkling grape juice toast at midnight.

The evening will begin at 8 p.m. with dance lessons in a variety of styles, including the waltz, the fox trot, the two step and the electric slide. And the music will offer the kind of variety to allow attendees to use all the moves they've learned.

"There will be all types of music, from waltzes to slam dancing for the teenagers," said Wild. "We want to mix it up. We'll play a couple of songs of one style, then take a break and play something else."

There will also be activities for people who aren't of the mind to get out on the dance floor, with big screen trivia games similar to those found at sports bars and a "surfing contest" on a homemade surf board balanced like a teeter-totter.

Tickets for the dance can be purchased by calling 339-1811.

Others looking for unique New Year's Eve entertainment might try something with an ethnic flavor, such as the Greek dancing that will be going on at the California Juice Bar.

"Everyone who came last year instantly made reservations to come back this year," said Autumn Demopoulos, who co-owns the Juice Bar with her husband, Kostas. "Everyone who comes is invited to join along in the dancing and be part of the fun."

Events will also be happening in Scott City, Jackson and Fruitland, so people in those towns won't have to travel far to find entertainment.

In Scott City, the International Playboy House of Pancakes Blues Band, a six-piece offering a variety of musical styles, will play the Schock Gallery and Pub at 9 p.m., the American Legion Hall in Jackson will feature the sounds of the Country Touch Band from 7 to 11 p.m. and the Out of Bounds Bar in Fruitland will have a party starting at 9 p.m.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182