Artifacts 8/11/06

Cape Girardeau Eagles to present play

The Cape Girardeau Eagles club will hold a dinner theater to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The performance is called "Murder in Mayberry," produced by a St. Louis outfit called Just Entertainment. "Murder in Mayberry" is a lighthearted mystery farce that includes audience participation. The performance will start with the meal at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 22. For more information, call (573) 979-2218.

Pulaski County Fair kicks off 47th year

PULASKI, Ill. -- The 47th annual Pulaski County Fair begins Monday and lasts through Aug. 19 at the fairgrounds in Pulaski, Ill. A pre-fair gospel music performance will take place at 6 p.m. Sunday. The fair opens at 8 a.m. Monday and features a demolition derby starting at 7 p.m. Other events include tractor pulls and horse shows. For more information, call the Pulaski Fair Office at (618) 342-6212.

Youth music festival in Cairo on Saturday

CAIRO, Ill. -- On Saturday youth in the Cairo area will come together to organize the Cairo Music Festival, an event featuring the history and musical heritage of Cairo. More than 40 youths from Alexander County employed by Delta Center, Inc., are part of organizing the event. The festival will include musical performances from the youths and other artists as well as vendors and booths displaying interpretations of the musical history of the city. The event begins at 6 p.m. at Cairo's Box Field. For more information, call (618) 734-3626.

Cape BBQ festival coming Aug. 25 and 26

The Cape BBQ Fest will return for its 14th year Aug. 25 and 26 at Arena Park. The festival features food and drink from barbecue cooks from around the region. For more information, call the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau at 335-1631.

Mingo Auto Tour open through Sunday

PUXICO, Mo. -- The Mingo National Wildlife Refuge Auto Tour Route will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Sunday. The tour gives visitors a chance to see the swampland habitat of Southeast Missouri and the animals that inhabit it. The refuge is also displaying the winners of the 2006 Mingo Swamp Friends Photo Contest in its Visitor Center, open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call (573) 222-3589.

Wickliffe Mounds offers pottery workshops

WICKLIFFE, Ky. -- Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site in Wickliffe will sponsor workshops on Mississippian-era pottery Saturday. Workshop participants will learn about the uses of Mississippian pottery and how to make it. Sessions are at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. For more information, call the site at (270) 335-3681.

Southeast Public Radio holds benefit chocolate tasting

Southeast Public Radio, 90.9 FM, will hold a benefit chocolate tasting at 3 p.m. Sept. 9 at Susie's Bakery and Restaurant in downtown Sikeston, Mo. Listeners and members of Southeast Public Radio will get to sample and rate chocolates from around the world, washing them down with champagne. For more information, call Amanda Lincoln at 651-5070.

Shawnee Cave holds music festival Aug. 19

MURPHYSBORO, Ill. -- The Shawnee Cave Amphitheatre near Murphysboro will hold a music festival Aug. 19 featuring the band Honkeytonk Homeslice with member Bill Nershi of the String Cheese Incident. Other bands include The Shotgun Brothers Band, The Mayflies, Cornmeal, Alabaster Brown, Leadfoot and Carbondale, Ill., band Defined Perception. For more information, visit www.1912productions.com or www.loyalfamily.com.

St. Louis Art Museum holds concert Aug. 25

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Art Museum will hold a concert by flamenco guitarist Lliam Christy at 6 p.m. Aug. 25 on the Sculpture Terrace. Christy recreates the feel of a Spanish cafe with fast, passionate and articulate guitar rhythm and melodies. The concert is part of the museum's Art After 5 series. For more information, call (314) 721-0072 or visit www.slam.org.

-- From staff reports