SEMO FAIR BEGINS ITS 140TH EDITION FOR A WEEK OF FUN

The 140th edition of the SEMO District Fair opens tomorrow at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau. It is a massive undertaking, spanning seven days and offering entertainment for the whole family.

The fair represents Cape Girardeau's most popular short-term tourist attraction. More than 90,000 fair-goers are expected to pass through the gates next week. It has earned a stellar statewide reputation as well and is considered the fourth-largest outdoor event in Missouri.

The fair's attraction can be found in its diverse attractions. It truly offers something for everyone. There are colorful carnival rides and tasty fair food to satisfy most every craving.

A gigantic horse show opens the fair each Sunday. A menagerie of other animals can be seen on the fairgrounds. The fair offers city folks a chance to revisit their agricultural roots. Youngsters to adults will covet blue ribbons for the best baked pies, biggest pumpkin, handsomest mule or pluckiest chicken.

A parade will lead fair-goers into the grounds from Capaha Park on Monday, beginning at 5:30 p.m. There are thrills and chills at the grandstand Monday through Wednesday for the demolition derby, a tractor pull and truck pull. The fair draws in well-known country entertainers such as Holly Dunn, Aaron Tippin and Ricky Van Shelton.

And the price is right. Admission remains at $2, with children under 12 admitted free. There is no admission charge tomorrow. There is free entertainment daily at the R&R tent, including cute baby contest, a smile competition and fiddler's duel. Admission is also free to the Paul Bunyan lumberjack show with three performances daily and new war games Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings by the Missouri National Guard. There are many more free exhibits and displays set up throughout the fairgrounds.

The fair operates on a not-for-profit basis, and hundreds of dedicated volunteers work hard to make each year's edition a success. Proceeds from the fair are typically plowed back into fairground improvements.

While the fair typically offers new attractions each year, its ample standard fare offers a yearly reassurance. With the exception of years during the Civil War and the Depression, the fair has been entertaining Southeast Missouri crowds since 1855. It is a tradition worth treasuring.