FAIR-MINDED FRIENDS: VOLUNTEERS BEGIN WORK TOWARD OPENING DAY OF SEMO DISTRICT FAIR

Gladys Nitsch will be among 80 or so volunteers putting in hours this weekend to prepare for the opening of the SEMO District Fair, which runs Sept. 7 through 13 in Cape Girardeau's Arena Park

"It's kind of like an annual get-together," she said. "You meet a lot of new people and too, people come back year after year."

Pete Poe, president of the fair board, said second- and third-generation volunteers will be on the grounds this weekend putting up fences and ticket booths and cleaning out barns.

"It's a fun family activity," Poe said. "Many of the volunteers have been coming out for 50 years and doing this."

Workers start around 7 a.m. today and continue throughout the day. Work continues Monday.

Late Monday and Tuesday the midway rides begin arriving.

On Tuesday the circus will come in and the tents will be going up.

"By Wednesday, it will look like a fairground," Poe said.

Work on the district fair actually began months ago. Already, grandstand entertainment is scheduled and a number of free activities have been booked.

For example, the fair is offering the George Coronas Circus for the second year. Eleven performances will be free to the public after individuals are on the fairgrounds.

"This is a full circus under a big top," Poe said. "It was very well received last year."

On Sunday afternoon, a free gospel music concert will be held in the Show Tent on the south end of the fairgrounds.

On Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, a U.S. Army Chinook helicopter will be on display.

On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the Anheuser Motor Sports Pavilion will be on display.

On Thursday night, the fair will feature free professional wrestling.

Tickets for grandstand entertainment are available.

Poe said sales have been good but plenty of good seats are available.

In addition to the annual demolition derby, tractor pull and truck pull, grandstand entertainment includes Buffalo Club and Mila Mason Thursday, Sweethearts of the Rodeo and The Statler Brothers Friday, and David Kersh and David Lee Murphy Saturday.

"We've been real pleased with the response to our grandstand entertainment," Poe said.

Upgrades at Arena Park should be evident to those attending the fair. The city is repainting the Arena Building. In addition, the fair board has painted the FFA barn, grandstand bleachers and railing.

Electrical and plumbing upgrades have been made at the southern end of the fairgrounds.

The fair annually puts money into upgrades at the park.

Nitsch was at the fair office Friday helping organize concessions for the fair. The spots inside the Arena Building are filled. Outdoor sites can be expanded, she said.

"We have about 10 new food stands outside," she said. "And most are local like Outback Steakhouse, Jullians and Subway. Plus that, we have many more concessions that are new."

Volunteers are a key to the fair's success Nitsch and Poe agreed. And fair officials count on their help each year.

"We'll be here bright and early in the morning," Nitsch said. "We'll have volunteers here all next week volunteering their time to make sure the fair is a success. You know it's fun or we wouldn't do it."