WILLIE NELSON WILL HEADLINE SEMO FAIR

Country music star Willie Nelson will headline the grandstand entertainment at this year's SEMO District Fair with a performance Sept. 17.

The 143th annual fair runs Sept. 13 to 19 in Cape Girardeau's Arena Park.

Also scheduled to appear are Kenny Chesney Sept. 15 and Lonestar with Brad Hawkins Sept. 16.

Bringing Nelson to the fair took five years of planning, said Pete Poe of the fair association.

"Obviously we are pleased," Poe said. "Timing is everything. Last year at fair time Willie was in California." This year, Nelson will be performing in Tunica, Miss., near fair time.

Nelson, who has been winning awards for his music since 1975, has a string of hits that include "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain," "Georgia On My Mind," "On the Road Again," and "Mama's Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys."

Also on the fair's entertainment wish list was Chesney. "We tried to get him last year and didn't give up. We got him this year."

Chesney was the American Academy of Country's 1998 Top New Male Vocalist of the Year. Recent hits include "All I Need To Know," "When I Close My Eyes," "Chance" and "That's Why I'm Here."

Lonestar, a repeat winner of music awards, headlines Saturday's performance. Opening for Lonestar is newcomer Brad Hawkins. "He is a high-energy performer and a real crowd pleaser," Poe said.

The fair opens with the 10th annual horse show on Sept. 13. This will be the largest horse show in eastern Missouri.

On Monday, the fair parade will travel up Broadway from Capaha Park to the fairgrounds, beginning at 5:30 p.m. At the grandstand, the annual Demolition Derby has become a battle between Illinois and Missouri drivers.

On Tuesday, a tractor pull will take place at the grandstand.

Wednesday brings a truck pull, sponsored by the Bootheel Four-Wheelers Association. A portion of the money raised at the truck pull will be donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Astor Amusements will return with midway and carnival rides, and free circus performances will be held throughout the week.

Tickets for all the grandstand entertainment go on sale at 8:30 a.m. July 15. The fair office inside Cape Girardeau's A.C. Brase Arena Building opens July 6. For ticket information call (573) 334-9250 or 1-800-455-FAIR.

The fair catalogs, which include registration and entry forms for livestock and agriculture exhibitors, will be available July 1.

Last year the fair association erected a billboard at the entrance to Arena Park. "The sign did just what it was supposed to do," Poe said. "We've had a lot of people express interest in the fair, and much earlier than usual."

Concession space inside the arena building is sold out. Requests for outdoor concessions are up from last year. That indicates a great year for the fair, Poe said.

Attendance last year was 100,000. "The weather was perfect," Poe said. "I think we'll top that this year if the weather holds."