April showers you with fun

Cardinal baseball season has begun. The weather is more summer than spring. It's officially time to get out and have fun, and April offers many opportunities, no matter your entertainment preference.

The music portion kicks off Saturday night with St. Louis nine-piece funk band Fat Pocket at Rhymer's. On April 20, the Bloom Heavy crew presents their Mud Stomp Ball at the Bel Air featuring Mountain Sprout, the Ben Miller Band, the Whistle Pigs, the Big Idea and Mocking Bird. Then, on April 27, the Pink Galleon will host the Well Hungarians, known as one of St. Louis' best country bands.

Interested in a ballet? The Moscow Festival Ballet will perform "Don Quixote" at the Bedell Performance Hall on April 27.

How about an entertainment sensation and one of the world's greatest circuses? Ringling Brothers is a 137-year tradition that combines the classics -- extraordinary animal performances, captivating clown escapades and daring high-wire acts -- with contemporary thrills to make the circus-going experience memorable. You can find them at the Show Me Center April 27-29.

The Cape Girardeau Storytelling Festival will be held April 13, 14 and 15 in downtown Cape Girardeau. Top tale tellers are Sheila Kay Adams, Dan Keding, Jennifer Munro, Kim Weitkamp, Larry Brown and Jessica Carleton.

And with the wonderful weather we've been having, you might want to look into the Great Strides Cystic Fibrosis Walk April 14 at Cape County Park. Or watch as contestants in the Cape Rotary Club's soapbox derby race down Sprigg Street in front of Blanchard Elementary on April 28.

Stay informed of the area's events by following SE Live on twitter, and by checking www.semoevents.com often. But no matter what you do this month, remember to have fun and get the most you can out of our area.