Restless Heart, Aaron Tippin and Janie Fricke will lend a decidedly country flavor to musical entertainment at the 139th SEMO District Fair Sept. 11-17 at Arena Park.

The carnival midway will open early this year on Saturday, Sept. 10, making the SEMO District Fair an eight-day event.

Members of the fair's Board of Directors announced plans for the annual exposition at a news conference Friday. The district fair is the fourth-largest outdoor event in Missouri.

Fair board member Pete Poe said, "We definitely have a country flavor this year." He said a recent National Endowment for the Arts survey showed that 52 percent of people with a preference listened to country music.

Restless Heart will appear Thursday, Janie Fricke on Friday and Aaron Tippin on Saturday. Tickets go on sale Aug. 3. The fair office in the A.C. Brase Arena Building opens Tuesday.

Restless Heart was selected as the 1990 Academy of Country Music's Vocal Group of the Year. Gold albums for the band include "Wheels," "Big Dreams in a Small Town," and "Fast Movin' Train." Other popular songs are "Bluest Eyes in Texas," "Mending Fences," "When She Cried," and "Why Does It Have To Be (Wrong or Right.)"

Fricke, featured regularly on "The Statler Brothers Show," has been named Country Music Award Vocalist of the Year for two consecutive years and Top Female Vocalist by the Academy of Country Music. Her hits include "Don't Worry 'Bout Me Baby," "He's a Heartache (Looking for a Place to Happen," and "She's Single Again."

Singer and songwriter Tippin hit the charts with songs "You've Got To stand For Something," "I Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way," "There Ain't Nothin' Wrong With the Radio," and "My Blue Angel."

Other grandstand entertainment includes a demolition derby on Monday, tractor pull on Tuesday and Big Bull Chute-Out on Wednesday.

Last year the fair board brought in a new carnival company, Astro Amusements. The company returns this year.

"They brought about one-half to three-quarters of the carnival," fair board member Steve Engels said. "This year they are bringing their whole midway."

In response to requests from fairgoers and the carnival company, the fair board decided to open the fairgrounds one day early. Only the carnival will be operating on Sept. 10.

"I think this is one of the greatest carnivals in the Midwest," said Bob Nitsch, serving his second term as president of the fair. "They bring rides -- what the kids really want."

The fair officially opens Sunday with a horse show and free admission to the fairgrounds.

"We have one of the greatest livestock shows in the Midwest," Nitsch said. "It seems that's what makes our fair so great."

Popular baby beauty contests and Miss and Mrs. SEMO District Fair pageants are returning.

Poe said other entertainment includes Professor Farquar and Curlie Dimple, billed as the last American minstrel show, and Sparkle the magical goose. Sparkle will be making appearances at local schools during fair week.

"We have evolved with our public," said Engels, advertising chairman for the fair. "If we stayed the same we would be a dull and poorly-attended fair. We change."

As a result, 80,000 to 100,000 people attend the fair annually.

Corporate sponsors are Astro Amusements, Zimmer Broadcasting, Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Schaper's IGA, Save-A-Lot stores, Cybertel Cellular, KBSI-TV 23, and the Southeast Missourian-Concord Printing Services.

Poe said support from corporate sponsors has allowed the fair to grow. "Without them it would be a whole lot different fair," he said. "We do have a financial base going in, which makes it a whole lot easier to get things done."

Schedule of fair events

Saturday, Sept. 10

Carnival opens from 5-11 p.m. with wristband special.

Sunday, Sept. 11

Admission is free all day. Horse show begins at 1:30 p.m. and carnival offers wristband special from noon to 5 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 12

Demolition derby.

Tuesday, Sept. 13

Tractor pull and carnival wristband special from 5 to 11 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 14

Big Bull Chute-Out rodeo event and carnival wristband special from 5 to 11 p.m..

Thursday, Sept. 15

Restless Heart and carnival wristband special from noon to 5 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 16

Janie Fricke

Saturday, Sept. 17

Aaron Tippin

Tickets go on sale Aug. 3

For information, call the fair office after July 12 at 334-9250 or 1-800-455-FAIR.