Southeast Missouri towns plan fall festivals for next two weekends

Southeast Missourians that didn't get their fill of carnival rides, fried food or mule jumping's at the SEMO District Fair or the East Perry County Fair will have three more opportunities the next two weekends.

The Bollinger County Fall Festival and Heritage Days and the Commerce Floodfest are this weekend, and the Morley Fall Festival is October 4 through 6.

All will feature community celebrations, homestyle food and plenty of music.

"It is down-home, good, honest, family fun," said Bollinger County resident and city assessor Carla Watt. "We look at our past and we look at today and the future."

She said the historic events include a tractor pull and lumberjack competition, while the festival will also feature more modern events such as a Puttin' on the Hits musical pantomime contest.

There will be carnival rides Thursday and a concert by Desert Rain at 6 p.m. Friday Events on Saturday include a parade, duck races, a magic house, a pie and cake auction, a washer tournament, farm games, and a concert by Southern Brothers at 6 p.m.

The Commerce Floodfest, so named for the village's frequency of floods along the Mississippi River, is in its 11th year. Yard sales, a car show, a hula hoop and karaoke contest, and a chicken and dumpling dinner await visitors. Commerce is in Scott County.

Organizer Dixie Johnston said the mule jump, 1 p.m. Saturday, and the lawnmower race, 1:30 p.m. Sunday, are expected to attract the most people.

In Morley, about 25 miles south of Cape Girardeau, visitors to the Fall Festival can listen to praise music, watch the Miss Morley pageant, run in a 5K or participate in an auction. There will also be a truck show, a tractor chain pull, and a parade.

lbavolek@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123