IS CAPE READY FOR A MAJOR SUMMER FESTIVAL?

In recent days, several things have happened that provide interesting fodder for what could become a broad-based community discussion about special events, tourism and some sort of special event in Cape Girardeau.

For years, the Riverfest organization provided an annual celebration that brought entertainment and a street-fair atmosphere to downtown Cape Girardeau, usually in June. But, for a variety of reasons, the individuals involved in Riverfest have decided to disband the organization. Assets have been turned over to the chamber of commerce in hopes some new event can be put together.

On the Fourth of July this year, a major fireworks display on the riverfront drew thousands of spectators, most of whom left satisfied with the show. The municipal band provided appropriate patriotic music prior to the bombs bursting in air.

The day before, two riverboats made their annual stop on their way north to St. Louis for their traditional race. While here, performers from the boats once again put on a show at the gazebo in the park next to the Common Pleas Courthouse -- a setting that offers plenty of shade and one of the best river views in town.

This past weekend, thousands of fans of flying went to the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport for air festival, which each year becomes a bigger and better event.

When it comes to organizing major events, it's easy to talk about grandiose plans, but it's difficult to find enough money and volunteers to do it right. Just ask the Riverfest folks who worked so hard for so long to put on that annual festival. Just talk to the organizers of the SEMO District Fair, the state's oldest fair, who each year manage to pull off a week of events every September that keep crowds pouring through the turnstiles.

Perhaps Cape Girardeau doesn't need another big festival. Maybe what it needs is coordination and scheduling of events that already have proven their popularity. And with all the separate events that occurred this year around the Fourth of July, maybe what we have is a good festival in place called by a lot of different names.

What if the traditional visit by the steamboats, the riverfront fireworks-music spectacular and the air show were all made into a come-and-go festival that shared promotion, organization and volunteer muscle? The result might be an event that would draw even more thousands of visitors and fun-seekers.

In short, it might turn into a Riverfest bash to end all river celebrations.

There are plenty of people in the trenches already who make these individual events into crowd-pleasing shows. Do they want to join together in some fashion? Do they want more help from the community? Would downtown merchants open their doors to such a festival?

There's plenty to think about. Cape Girardeau has proven it knows how to celebrate Independence Day. What else could it do?