Feeling festive: 7 fairs and festivals to put on your calendar

Most communities in Southeast Missouri have at least one celebration a year with carnival rides, fair food and good times with friends and family. Each offers something that makes it special, especially to the town's residents. You can read more about those in the calendar on Page 51.

Here we take at look at some of the biggest festivals in Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky. Each has something different to offer and has become a regional destination.

Dogwood Azalea Festival

When: April 19 to 22 | Where: Charleston, Mo.

More info: www.charlestonmo.org/festival

What to expect: The small town of Charleston blooms on the third weekend in April for the annual Dogwood Azalea Festival.

The festival, in its 44th year, is a true community event and has been since its inception.

"The festival is one of Southeast Missouri's premiere springtime events because of its rich history and the unique way the festival was born," says Karen Teeters, executive director of the Charleston Chamber of Commerce, which coordinates the festival. According to Teeters, about 50 years ago members of Charleston's garden club visited Natchez, Miss., and were enchanted by the town's dogwoods and azaleas. When they returned home, they set out to transform their own town. The result: Dogwoods line the streets, and azaleas bring splashes of color to the front of nearly every home in town.

This year's festival takes on special significance as Charleston celebrates a milestone: Its 175th birthday.

Crowds come from near and far to tour the six-mile Dogwood Trail, admire the town's stately homes, browse the arts and crafts bazaar and feast on classic festival food.

Other highlights of the event are a beauty pageant, a Saturday morning parade, a plant sale, art shows, carnival rides, an ice cream social, fish fry, piano concert and a quilt show.

On Saturday evening, Charleston residents line the route of the Dogwood Trail with luminarias for the Candlelight Walk with live music at various points along the route.

Lower Town Arts and Music Festival

When: May 18 to 20

Where: Lower Town neighborhood (Seventh and Madison streets) in Paducah, Ky.

What to expect: Art, live music, more art and more live music. Oh, and some good food, too. That's what Paducah's annual festival is all about.

Paducah's Lower Town has become an artists' enclave since the city started its Artists Relocation Program in August 2000. The annual festival celebrates all that the neighborhood has to offer.

Three years ago the Lower Town Neighborhood Association and the artists themselves took over organizing the festival, giving it a "fresh start."

"We took over the festival simply because we felt like it was a better fit," says Stefanie Graves, one of the festival's co-directors. "The city had asked (the neighborhood association) to get more involved. Myself and Michael Terra became co-directors, and rolled up our sleeves and got to work."

Since taking the reins of the festival three years ago, Graves says attendance has grown each year, from 13,000 in 2010 to more than 15,000 last year.

She says the neighborhood association has focused on spotlighting regional talent. They only seek artists and musicians from within 350 miles of Paducah. "We want to highlight and showcase what we have here and get people excited," Graves says.

Visitors can expect lots "quality fine art work and varied music," Graves says. The music ranges from bluegrass and rockabilly to gospel. In addition to the main stage, there will also be two satellite stages set up for smaller acts.

Organizers have also increased the number of artists who will be on the street to about 50, up from 30 last year. And if you work up an appetite, the Taste of Paducah will be offering free samples from local restaurants.

More info: www.lowertownamf.com

Superman Celebration

When: June 7 to 10

Where: Metropolis, Ill.

What to expect: As the official home of Superman, Metropolis throws a party every year for its favorite son. "1972 is when Metropolis became known as the hometown of Superman," says Carla Ogle, co-chair of the Superman Celebration. "Metropolis has always been Superman's home in the comic books, but little did they know it was an actual town."

Actually, there are two towns named Metropolis in the United States. The other is in Nevada, and "it's a ghost town. Nobody lives there," Ogle says. When a Metropolis, Ill., resident made that discovery, the town wrote to DC Comics and received permission to be known as the hometown of The Man of Steel. That was followed up by a proclamation from the Illinois Legislature.

The Superman Celebration was born in 1979, the year "Superman" starring Christopher Reeve hit theaters and was a box office hit. It's been growing ever since.

"The celebration has built over the last several years and now we have four full days of events and live entertainment," Ogle says.

Some of the highlights are autograph sessions with celebrities from the Superman universe -- Brandon Routh, star of "Superman Returns," made an appearance in 2011 -- and comic book writers and artists, a fan film competition and costume contest. George Perez, who created "The New Teen Titans," will be the featured guest this year at Artists Alley and Writers Way. The Artists Alley and Writers Way panels, which last about 45 minutes each, feature the men and women who give comics life. Other celebrities and guests will be announced in the weeks and months leading up to this year's celebration.

Throughout the celebration, Fan Films from this year's and previous years' Fan Film Competition will be shown at the Celebration Theater.

"Everybody loves Superman," Ogle says. "He's the No. 1 superhero."

More info: www.supermancelebration.net

Homecomers

When: July 24 to 28 | Where: Uptown Jackson

More info: www.jacksonhomecomers.com

What to expect: For more than 100 years, Jackson residents have come together to celebrate their town. Homecomers is part carnival, part reunion and all fun. Jackson Mayor Barbara Lohr kicks things off during an opening ceremony that is followed by a performance by the Jackson Municipal Band.

"I've always said it's fun, food and fellowship," Lohr says.

Local talent is on display throughout the week, as performers take the stage for a talent show and singing competitions. Live music is scheduled for every night of the event and carnival rides provide fun for all ages.

Months of planning go into making sure each night is staffed with volunteers who can handle crowds numbering in the thousands and nightly stage events.

"It's such a tradition here in Jackson," Lohr says. "People gather round that grandstand by the courthouse every night, and they're doing it to see the show but at the same they're having a wonderful time visiting with all the people."

SEMO District Fair

When: Sept. 8 to 15

Where: Arena Park in Cape Girardeau

What to expect: The SEMO District Fair is the biggest, by far, in Southeast Missouri. For eight days in September, Arena Park becomes a mecca for people in search of a corndog, saltwater taffy, dizzying carnival rides, concerts, demolition derbies and livestock contests. The sights, sounds and smells from the fair carry far beyond the confines of the fairgrounds.

"We provide to the fairgoing public something for everyone, something for all ages," says Pete Poe, president of the SEMO District Fair Board. "We have free activities for the smallest youngsters to paid entertainment for adults."

About 90,000 people attended the 2011 fair, which was plagued with rainy weather. According to a Southeast Missourian story, for the six full days without rain, the 2011 numbers were ahead of 2010.

There's entertainment every night at the grandstand, whether it's a demolition derby or Nashville recording artists like George Jones or David Nail (last year's headliners).

Fairgoers can stroll through the livestock barns to see all manner of farm animals on display. The area's 4-H members bring their biggest and best to compete for blue ribbons at the fair. Inside the Arena Building, homemade wares are displayed. Everything from jam to flower arrangements will be judged during the course of the fair.

More info: http: www.semofair.com

East Perry Community Fair

When: Sept. 21 and 22

Where: Fairgrounds in Altenburg

What to expect: Dubbed "the best little fair in the land," the East Perry Community Fair delivers on its promise. Events include 4-H exhibits, livestock judging, crafts, horse show, rides, local foods and live entertainment. Though the fair is really known for is its jumping mules competition, a four-wheel drive truck pull draws some of the biggest crowds.

"The fair offers something for everyone including rides and games for the kids, food and drink of all kinds, and commercial exhibits featuring many products and services for the farm and home," fair official Fred Eggers wrote in a 2011 submitted story to semissourian.com.

A party kicks everything off on Friday afternoon, and the fun continues until Saturday night.

And though the standard carnival food is available, the East Perry Fair is known for its special offerings, including fried fish sandwiches and homemade grilled cheese sandwiches.

Admission and parking are also free.

More info: perrycountymo.us

Cotton Carnival

When: Sept. 25 to 29 | Where: Sikeston rodeo grounds

More info: www.sikestonamericanlegion.com

What to expect: After World War II, soldiers returning to Sikeston wanted some sort of homecoming. "From that desire evolved the Cotton Carnival parade," says Blair Morhan, one of the carnival's organizers.

Sixty-eight years later, the parade is a culmination of the Cotton Carnival, a five-day celebration presented by American Legion Post 114 and its Ladies Auxiliary.

"It is one of the largest parades in the state," Morhan says. "It's quite a tradition in Sikeston."

He says about 12,000 people line the route to see floats, local high school bands and, this being an election year, politicians. Morhan says prizes are offered for adult and student floats, giving businesses, churches and organizations incentive to get involved. And, carrying on its traditions of honoring soldiers, each year a patriotic theme is chosen for the floats to be based on.

As for the carnival itself, rides and food stands are set up at Sikeston's rodeo grounds. The Sons of the American Legion will serve french fries, barbecue sandwiches, hot wings and chili cheese fries. But it's the carnival's famous fried fish sandwiches that satisfy most appetites. The Shriners and Ladies Auxiliary will also set up food stands. All money raised from the Cotton Carnival is donated back to community charities.