The 2010 Summer Summary

"Living is easy in the summertime/Everything moves slowly..."

-- "A Little Piece of Earth," by one of Carbondale's greatest bands, the Modern Day Saints.

by Chris Wissmann

Ah, summer. It's our favorite season at Nightlife. The sun heats the air to hellish temperatures, but leaves the water in lakes across Southern Illinois and the shade in our numerous state and national parks and forests a heavenly cool.

And, of course, it's the season of festivals. They come in many forms-- big, small, hip, quaint, generally mellow, and in a succession that makes the party seem almost neverending. Here's why SIU students should stay in Carbondale for the summer, or return as often as possible, and why the rest of the region's population need not leave their own back yard for great excitement.

Obviously, outdoor events take place at the discretion of Mother Nature. Always plan for rain. And the Southern Illinois sun can be brutal-- wear sunscreen and keep replenishing fluids.

So here's our annual list of the biggest events coming up this summer, with brief summaries of these main attractions-- our Summer Summary:

Brown Bag Lunch Concert Series

Hot! Sauce.

Carbondale Main Street, an organization devoted to the city's downtown revitalization, holds various promotions and fundraisers, among which are a series of lunchtime concerts, a Saturday Growers' Market on the Square from May through October, and the Downtown Art and Wine Fair series.

Every summer, Carbondale Main Street also hosts Wednesday afternoon concerts in the Town Square Pavilion. It's dubbed the Brown Bag Lunch Concert series because those who attend frequently pack a lunch or order out and eat to the beat.

The series features local musicians and food by neighboring establishments, so those who forget to pack that lunch can easily pick up something and enjoy a little music with their meals.

The series usually begins in May and takes a break in July to avoid the brutal late-summer, high-noon heat. This year's brown bags, however, will resume in August, and roll right through the Dawg days into the fall.

The schedule opened May 5 with blues young guns of the Ivas John Blues Band, and continued May 12 with the Ole Fishskins. The series continues May 19 with sweet bluegrass group Etherton Switch. Singer/ songwriter Christine Bauer continues the series on May 26.

Moving into the next month, classic rock band the Natives perform June 2, while the Swamp Tigers perform traditional country and rockabilly June 9. Afro-Latin-Cuban jazz band Hot! Sauce plays June 16, singer/ songwriters the Parsley and Sagebrush Band June 23, and blues band the J.W. Brown Trio June 30.

The back two months have announced schedules as well. August 4 features the Blues Bandits, August 11 boasts local legend Martin "Big Larry" Allbritton, August 18 brings Americana songwriter Wil Maring, and August 25 spotlights indie rockers the Black Fortys. September 1 features traditional Irish/ Celtic trio the Dorians, followed by the rustic bluegrass of the Tomcat Hill Social Club September 8. Carter and Connelley play their inspiring environmental folk September 15, newcomer Derren Raser performs September 22, and singer/ songwriter Bill Harper wraps it up September 29.

For more downtown activities, see <http://www.CarbondaleMainStreet.com>.

John A. Logan Days

The 2009 General and Mrs. Logan Civil War Grand Ball.

Murphysboro native and Civil War hero Gen. John A. Logan was definitely a Southerner-- Black Jack, as he was called, was indeed pro-slavery and undeniably racist. But in the end, he believed that preservation of the Union overrode all other issues; when a good chunk of Southern Illinois seriously considered joining the Confederacy, Logan is credited with convincing secessionists to remain true to God and Country, and he distinguished himself in the Civil War in the battle of Fort Donelson as commander of the Thirty-first Regiment Illinois Volunteers. After the Civil War, he was credited with founding the first Memorial Day in Carbondale.

Thus, Murphysboro celebrates its favorite son with a series of educational and entertainment events during Gen. John A. Logan Days, which began May 12 and run through May 31 in downtown Murphysboro, at and near the Logan Museum.

The event features a series of living-history presentations and historical-reenactments to help area schoolchildren learn about Southern Illinois from the frontier days through the Civil War.

The Black Jack Logan Vintage Base Ball Tournament takes place Saturday, May 15 at noon at Longfellow Park on the corner of Twenty-first and Logan Streets.

The General and Mrs. Logan Civil War Grand Ball will provide an opportunity for celebrants to dress in period attire while enjoying music and refreshments Saturday, May 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Murphysboro Event Center. Tickets are $30 in advance at the Logan Museum. Light snacks, lemonade, and water will be served.

Finally, the Memorial Day Observation will take place Monday, May 31 at 10 a.m. at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Carbondale, where Logan inaugurated the holiday in honor of Civil War veterans. The Memorial Day Observation continues at 2 p.m. with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Logan Statue at Murphysboro Middle School.

For more information, including tickets, detailed schedules and updates, call the Gen. John A. Logan Museum at (618) 684-3455, or log on to <http://www.LoganMuseum.org>.

Tunes at Twilight

The Tunes at Twilight series, which takes place Fridays at 7 p.m. at the Common Pleas Courthouse gazebo overlooking Cape Girardeau, Missouri's historic riverfront, is sort of that city's Sunset Concerts. Music generally falls within the Kerrville Folk Festival singer/songwriter or roots/Americana genres, and many of the performers are well-known to patrons of Cousin Andy's Coffeehouse in Carbondale. The series opens May 14 with Doug MacLeod, and continues May 21 with Corrine Chapman and May 28 with the Cantrells. Dennis Stroughmatt (a former Carbondale musician who specializes in Cajun and Creole music) plays June 4, Kevin Gordon on June 11, and Dan Bliss on June 18. The series then takes a break until August 13.

The shows are free and open to the public. For more information, call (573) 334-8085 or visit <http://www.OldTownCape.org>.

Luther F. Carson Four Rivers Center

Just an hour south of Carbondale in the budding arts destination of downtown Paducah, Kentucky, the Luther F. Carson Four Rivers Center opened in 2004. It already has featured acts ranging from B.B. King to George Carlin to Broadway productions like Cats.

Country comedian Ray Stevens will streak through the Carson Center Friday, May 14. A cleaner brand of country-music comedy comes June 18 to the Carson Center, when Tim Hawkins performs.

For tickets, directions, and more information-- the Carson Center is always adding new shows-- log on to <http://www.TheCarsonCenter.org> or call (270) 450-4444.

McLeod Summer Playhouse

Some of the characters will will appear in
the 2010 McLeod Summer Playhouse.

The McLeod Summer Playhouse, one of the most popular ways to beat the Southern Illinois heat, returns with four full-blown productions, one a collaboration with a high-school theater program.

Funding for the summer program, however, is always in short supply, and the Theatre Department needs donors to ensure that the playhouse can operate in the black. Those interested in contributing time, materials, or money should contact either SIU Theater Department chair Mark Varns or McLeod Summer Playhouse artistic director Timothy Fink at (618) 453-5741.

To support the Playhouse in fun fashion, the Friends of the McLeod Summer Playhouse have organized The New Oldywed Game Friday, May 21 at 7:30 p.m. at McLeod. Four couples will compete in an event similar to the old TV show The Newlywed Game. One couple from each category of marriage length will be selected. Free food and drinks will accompany the performance.

Ticket information is forthcoming. Tickets may still be available at the door on the night of the show.

Paul Slade Smith's crime comedy Unnecessary Farce opens the season proper June 17, 19, 25, and 27. In rotation, Rachel Sheinkin and William Finn's musical The Twenty-fifth Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee runs June 18, 20, 24, and 26.

The Drowsy Chaperone, with a story by Bob Martin and Don McKellar and music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison, follows July 9 through July 11 and July 15 through July 18, with a meet-the-cast review on July 15.

Carbondale Community Arts' summer All Southern Illinois High School Musical is a collaboration with the McLeod Summer Playhouse that brings in youth to star in a full-blown production at McLeod. This year's play is the classic The Wizard of Oz, which runs July 29 through July 31 and August 1. Jenny Holcombe will direct.

The box office opens May 17. Season tickets are $67. General-public tickets are $20 for Unnecessary Farce , $23 for The Twenty-fifth Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and $24 for The Drowsy Chaperone. Tickets to these shows are $10 for students. Tickets to The Wizard of Oz are $16, or $8 for students.

For tickets or more information, stop by the theater box office on the south side of the Communications Building, call (618) 453-3001, or visit <http://playhouse.siu.edu>.

Lower Town Art and Music Festival

Paducah, Kentucky's thriving arts colony, nurtured in large part by the city's Artist Relocation Program, has taken root next to the riverfront downtown in the Lower Town district. The area has experienced amazing growth and renewal during the last five years, earning it the title of the Soho of the South.

The city will celebrate with the Lower Town Fine Art and Music Festival, which includes live music, art sales, and gallery exhibits Friday through Sunday, May 21 through May 23. Local culinary artists, meanwhile, will keep the palette happy.

For more information, including the complete schedule, log on to <http://www.LowerTownArtDistrict.com>.

Carbondale Main Street Downtown Art and Wine Fair Part I

Carbondale Main Street's newest regular event is the Downtown Art and Wine Fair series, the first of which took place in 2008. In 2010 the first wine fest is tentatively slated for Saturday, May 22, with a rain date of Sunday, May 23. (Part II is pencilled in for Saturday, October 2, with a rain date of Sunday, October 3.)

The Shawnee Hills Wine Trail membership and independent wineries are growing at an astonishing rate throughout Southern Illinois. The Main Street Downtown Art and Wine Fair is designed to help the wineries work with Carbondale businesses to everyone's mutual benefit. The wineries come to the Town Square, so downtown patrons don't need to travel to remote locations in rural Southern Illinois to sample local wines. The wineries, meanwhile, bring their customers downtown to experience the restaurants, galleries, and nightlife of Carbondale's core. Great local music tops off this evening of award-winning wine and fantastic dining opportunities.

For more information about this and other Main Street activities, call (618) 529-8040 or visit <http://www.CarbondaleMainStreet.com>-- that especially applies to artists who would like to sell their work at the fair.

Three Graces Theatre Company

This troupe, which debuted in fall 2009 with Ismene, a locally written sequel to Oedipus Rex, will perform Marsha Norman's classic play 'night, Mother Saturday, May 22 and Sunday, May 23 at 7 p.m. at the Carbondale Unitarian Fellowship. All proceeds from the $5 tickets will support local Lifesavers groups

For more information, call director Susan Harrocks at (618) 534-4703.

ArtsCape Community Arts Festival

The ArtsCape Community Arts Festival takes place Saturday, May 22 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri's Capaha Park. The fest will feature free performances, artists and crafters, and food and drink vendors.

The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri is sponsoring the festival and is looking for artists to participate. For booth space or more information, call the Arts Council at (573) 334-9233 or visit <http://CapeArts.org>.

Marion Cultural and Civic Center

The Marion Cultural and Civic Center hosts music and comedy shows (often Christian-themed), plays by local and educational troupes, Rotary meetings, and even its own Patron Series.

A show not covered elsewhere in this roundup of seasonal activities, and currently scheduled at the Marion Cultural and Civic Center: Christian radio station WBVN will bring in the sinfully gorgeous trio BarlowGirl Saturday, May 22 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $14.

For tickets, stop by or call the civic center box office at (618) 997-4030 or visit <http://www.MarionCCC.org>. Keep an eye on the website, because the civic center is always adding new events.

HerrinFesta Italiana

Theory of a Deadman.

Large beer tents, a wide variety of music, food, miniscule cover charges, great arts and crafts displays, and a carnival fairway make for HerrinFesta Italiana, a huge celebration that takes place Monday, May 24 through Monday, May 31. Concerts take place on the Piazza Stage, and in the past have featured big names like the Dixie Chicks, Lonnie Brooks, the Georgia Satellites, and Marshall Tucker.

Headliners this year include southern-rock band .38 Special, modern-rock group Theory of a Deadman, and hot-country acts Luke Bryan and Randy Houser.

Other out-of-town acts include Hairbangers Ball and the LoCash Cowboys. Local stars will include Solovus, Emily Riesen, and Wild Horses.

A beauty pageant, talent contest, parade, and art exhibit are also scheduled, along with Italian-themed events like the pasta-eating contests (for which contestants might wish to compensate by entering the Tri-Festa Triathlon or at least the bocce and volleyball tournaments), and more.

For detailed schedules, entry forms, and more information, log on to <http://www.HerrinFesta.com>.

Alto Pass Springfest

Along with Cobden, Alto Pass is the heart of wine country, but so many of the people who travel the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail stop at the wineries without taking a look at their host communities. A good reason to pause in Alto Pass's downtown is Saturday, May 29, when that small village holds their annual Springfest. Flea markets, art vendors, a parade, and live music are all on the schedule.

To get to Alto Pass, head to Murphysboro, then turn south on Route 127. The historic downtown is just south of Von Jakob's Orchard and Alto Vineyards, east off of Route 127.

Artists, vendors, or others who would like to do more than attend should contact Mila Maring at <milakel.sims@gmail.com>.

Shawnee Hills Wine Trail Arts Festival

Vinting, the art of making wine, is one of Southern Illinois's fastest-growing industries. Enough wineries have sprung up in the last decade or so to merit the formation of several wine trails. The closest to Carbondale is the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, which sends wine enthusiasts to more than a dozen wineries nestled in the Shawnee National Forest.

Southern Illinois's Mediterranean climate mirrors that of France or Italy, and the rough topography is perfect for grape cultivation. Jackson County, the location of Carbondale, and Union County to the south, are among the state's biggest grape producers. In addition, the apple and peach orchards and berry farms that produce so much produce often supply delicious raw materials for fermentation into delectable beverages.

Each stop on the wine trail specializes in unique wines and ambience, and many host entertainment or special events on a regular basis.

A good opportunity to try all establishments, however, is Saturday and Sunday, May 29 and 30 at Riverside Park in Murphysboro. Here, at the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail Arts Festival, sponsored by the Friends of Murphysboro, everyone will be in one place at one time-- all the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail wineries will set up booths, offer samples, and sell wine by the glass. This year, Karen Hand of Blue Sky will debut a limited run of Riverside Rosé just for the festival.

Expect catered barbecue by the Seventeenth Street Bar and Grill and Mase's Place, dozens of local artists and artisans, and live music by Homegrown Harmony and the James Barnes Band on Saturday and Michael Jacobs and the Kevin Lucas Orchestra on Sunday.

Here's an interesting twist to the usual Memorial Day weekend softball tournament-- a vintage base ball game will take place at the park. Vintage base ball (two words) takes the game back to its early days, when the players had none of the sissified advantages of this modern age, like steroids, aluminum bats, designated hitters, or even helmets and baseball mitts (though the ball was slightly softer and thus batters couldn't hit it as hard or far). Look for the Murphysboro Clarkes to take on the Saint Louis Perfectos during the tournament.

Admission is $15, which comes with a $5 coupon toward wine purchased at the festival. Those who choose not to drink may enter for $3. Discounted advance tickets are available at any area Old National Bank. Organizers will provide seating, but lawn chairs, blankets, and shade umbrellas are welcome. All proceeds will benefit the Friends of Murphysboro, who enhance and preserve the historic Riverside Park, which turns one-hundred years old in 2010.

In addition, the Friends of Murphysboro will hold a monthly Movies in the Park series this summer featuring four family films on the big screen at Riverside Park's historic bandshell: High School Musical II opened the series on May 8. It continues with Free Willy on June 12, and Dead Poets Society on July 10. Closer to Halloween, Gremlins will screen October 23. Admission is free, films begin at dusk, and glass containers are banned, but concessions will be available.

And Ladies' Night Out takes place Thursday, July 29 at the Murphysboro Event Center, a benefit for the public dog-park project underway in 'Boro City. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door.

For Ladies' Night Out vendor and ticket information, or more about the Wine Fest or the Friends of Murphysboro in general, visit <http://www.FriendsOfMurphysboro.com>.

By the way, many individual local wineries will host big festivals this summer, too. Among the highlights: Kite Hill Vineyards' Kite Festival takes place Saturday, May 22, and Blue Sky Vineyard and Winery's benefit for organizations seeking to cure the deadly Tay-Sachs disease will take place Saturday, June 19.

For more about the wine trail, log on to <http://www.ShawneeWineTrail.com>.

Downtown After Dinner

Every Saturday night from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, Paducah, Kentucky's downtown riverfront hosts street dances with multiple music acts, horsedrawn-carriage rides, vintage car shows, and more. The area is surrounded by outstanding restaurants, and thus the Saturday street dances are dubbed Downtown After Dinner. For more information, call (800) PADUCAH or log on to <http://www.PaducahDowntown.com>. Organizers are always looking for musicians interested in performing; the contact is Jessica Perkins at (270) 444-8649.

Market House Theatre

The Market House Theatre, located on Paducah, Kentucky's downtown riverfront edge, has presented community theater and workshops for more than forty years.

Summer stock includes Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella Enchanted, which runs June 3 through June 6, June 10 through June 13, and June 17 through June 20.

For tickets and more information, call the box office toll-free at (888) MHT-PLAY, or log on to <http://www.MHTPlay.com>.

One-hundred Men Who Cook

The Boys and Girls Club of Carbondale will gather one-hundred local men together Saturday, June 5 at the SIU Ballrooms. These men, from professional chefs to backyard-barbecue masters, will create their favorite dishes in a friendly competition to raise money for the club, which seeks to provide a safe learning and recreational environment for area youth. In addition to food (from appetizers and salads to entrees and desserts), the public is invited to enjoy live music by Storm Limit, an auction, and other entertaining features.

For tickets, contact Jennifer Olson at (618) 457-3758 or <jennifer.olson@OldNational.com>. For more about the club, visit <http://www.bgc-cdale.org>.

River City Players

The Players, the community-theater troupe of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, will present The Ransom of Red Chief-- based on O. Henry's comedy about kidnapping a child who is certainly not worth the trouble-- June 5 and June 10 through June 12 at the Port Cape Girardeau Restaurant. Tana Howard will direct. Tickets are $30 for dinner theater, and $12 for the show only. Call the venue for tickets at (573) 334-0954.

Cobden Summerfest

The annual Coben Summerfest will take place Saturday, June 5 along this historic railroad village's Downtown Park. The event will feature a barbecue cookoff, flea market, live music, and children's activities.

To get there, take U.S. 51 south of Carbondale-- about thirteen miles total-- then start looking for Cobden signs pointing west. The easiest way in is to take Wing Hill Road, but Bell Hill Road, across from Water Valley Road, will also work. For more information, call the village hall at (618) 893-2425.

Southern Illinois Music Festival

The Southern Illinois Music Festival will bring dozens of classical, ballet, jazz, and opera performances to communities all over Southern Illinois, from Cairo to Sesser to Lebanon, but most of it in or near Carbondale.

The festival runs from June 6 to June 27, and will include performances by SIU professors, visiting artists, and music-camp students. This summer's festival is unified by a Romeo and Juliet theme, including a Russian ballet adaptation by Sergei Prokofiev and featuring principal dancers from the Atlanta Ballet and Ballet Austin, a French opera adapted by Charles Gounod, and a symphonic program that includes music from Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story.

Most events are free or carry nominal charges-- for the complete schedule and ticket information, log on to <http://SIFest.com>, call the SIU School of Music at (618) 53-MUSIC, or email director Edward Benyas at <info@SIFest.com>.

Stellaluna Circle Women's Retreat

The Stellaluna Circle will hold a women's retreat Friday, June 4 through Sunday, June 6 at the Green Retreat just east of Murphysboro. The festival will feature a ritual that will explore the journey of Persephone and Demeter as the latter becomes Queen of the Underworld. Workshops and seminars will include working with plant spirits and totems, soap and wood carving, gemstone magic, goddesses in pop culture, and sand mandalas.

Organizers are looking for musicians and vendors for the retreat. Those interested in performing, exhibiting, or retailing may register through Jennifer "Jay" Bull (of Nightlife fame) at (618) 684-6403.

Those interested in attending can find out more at <http://sites.google.com/site/StellalunaCircle>...

Superman Celebration

Metropolis, Illinois, just a little up river from Paducah, Kentucky, has a natural Superman tie-in that the city exploits to the hilt-- a giant Man of Steel statue, an incredible memorabilia shop, and from June 10 to June 13, a festival in the downtown. The latter includes opportunities to display superhuman feats (a Superman road race and bike ride, among other events), plus a car show, craft vendors, live entertainment, film contests and screenings, costume contests, living-history reenactments, and children's activities. Celebrities associated with the Superman franchise, from actors to comic-book artists, often visit; this year's VIPs include Noel Neill (the original Lois Lane, who will see a statue of herself dedicated during the festival), and Smallville actors Laura Vandervoort (who plays Supergirl) and Sam Witwer (Doomsday). All will sign autographs and meet the public.

Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, call (800) 949-5740 or visit <http://www.SupermanCelebration.net>.

Sunset Concert Series

John Primer.

Here's a real reason to stay in Carbondale all summer long, and it's what most readers have been waiting for-- the Sunset Concerts, a mellow, beautiful series of Thursday-evening parties, barbecues, people-watching, and incredible music that kickstarts summer weekends in Little Egypt.

Most of the acts are virtual unknowns, but don't always remain so-- major acts like Train and influential legends like Whiskeytown have graced Sunset stages throughout the years.

Shows take place Thursdays at 7 p.m., with the more musically aggressive acts on the Steps of Shryock Auditorium and the mellower, more traditional bands playing under the Turley Park gazebo.

Shows open June 17 on the Shryock Steps with bluesman John Primer and the Real Deal Blues Band. Heavily influenced by Jimmy Reed, with a little boogie thrown in, Primer played with Muddy Waters's great blues band in the 1970s and went on a long stint with Magic Slim and the Teardrops before beginning a wonderful solo career. Primer's is probably the biggest show of the summer.

New country band the McClymonts move the concerts June 24 to Turley Park before pop / rock band Sleeperstar returns the party July 1 to the Shryock Steps. The Giving Tree play Americana and folk July 8 in Turley Park before a regular musical guest to this city, Shaggy Wonda, returns July 15 to the Shryock Steps (preview this funk-rock outfit Saturday, June 12 at Tres Hombres).

Events wrap up July 22 in Turley Park with Celtic-rock band the Sandcarvers and July 29 on the Shryock Steps with reggae group Seefari.

The Sunset Concerts are sponsored by the City of Carbondale, the Carbondale Park District, Student Center SPACE, and the Student Programming Council. No pets, no glass containers, no kegs, and no underage drinking are allowed at the concerts. As always, future concerts will depend on funding and behavior at this year's events-- be cool, and keep advocating for their perpetuity.

For more information, contact the Student Programming Council at (618) 536-3393 or visit <http://www.spc4fun.com>.

Dance4Grandma Theatricals

This new troupe, specializing in musical theater, debuted in fall 2008. They are planning two large shows this summer, both taking place at John A. Logan College's O'Neil Auditorium.

First up is Jason Robert Brown's ambitious off-Broadway abstract musical Songs for a New World, which runs July 8 through July 10. Tickets are $8.

Then comes the biggest show in Dance4Grandma's history, the Southern Illinois premiere of the rock musical Rent, which takes place July 22 through July 24. The show just closed an astounding Broadway run and found great success in movie theaters in 2005. Tickets are $12.

Tickets go on sale May 17 at the Logan box office at (800) 851-4720 extensions 287 or 369.

For more information, contact Dance4Grandma founder Derek Hamblin at (618) 203-3680. For more information, visit <http://www.D4GTheatricals.com>.

Pyramid Players

Founded in 1977 by Brian Summers and Allan Kimball of Benton, the Pyramid Players have produced dozens of plays, mostly at the Rend Lake College theater in Ina.

The schedule will open July 8, 9, and 10 in the Rend Lake College Theater when a scam artist comes through a small town to sell musical instruments, but soon falls in love with a local girl-- The Music Man, of course.

The musical revue Smokey Joe's Café takes place August 6 and 7 at the Benton Civic Center.

For tickets or more information (including about auditions), log on to <http://www.PyramidPlayers.org>, or call (618) 439-9196 or (618) 439-9692.

Great Egyptian Omnium Bicycle Race

The Great Egyptian Omnium bicycle race will come Saturday and Sunday, July 10 and 11 in Williamson County.

A trifecta of sorts, the event will feature three different races-- a time trial, a one-hundred-mile road race, and a circuit race-- that organizers hope will draw more than one-hundred professional and amateur cyclists.

The circuit race, or criterium, is a spectator-friendly, multi-lap event on a mile-long route with a two-wheeled, pedal-powered NASCAR feel. The road race will take riders through the hills of rural Southern Illinois, a miniature Tour de France. The time trial will consist of short dashes or sprints.

The Southern Illinois Tourism Development Office is putting together the race with help from the Bike Surgeon Cycling Club, the River to River Cycling Club, and the SIU Cycling Club. Those who wish to enter, sponsor, volunteer, or just watch can find out more at (618) 998-1024 or <http://AdventureIllinois.com>.

Show Me Center

About an hour more or less southwest of Carbondale, the Show Me Center arena in Cape Girardeau, Missouri hosts concerts, plays, and special events, as well as Southeast Missouri State University athletics.

Bunches of children's television characters (Dora the Explorer, the Backyardigans, the Wonder Pets) will come to life Sunday, July 18, when the Nickelodeon Storytime enters the Show Me Center.

Order tickets by phone at (573) 651-5000 or online at <http://www.ShowMeCenter.biz>.

Jackson County Stage Company

The Jackson County Stage Company was founded in 1982 and now inhabits the downtown Varsity Center for the Arts. Their summer performances are typically for younger audiences, and often feature children in the cast.

The troupe's summer stock is Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer, as adapted by Christian H. Moe and Cameron Garbutt. Cathy Field will direct. The show will run July 22 through July 25. Ticket information is forthcoming. For more information (including about auditions), contact the box office at (618) 549-5466, or see the Stage Company's website at <http://www.StageCompany.org>.

In addition to donations of labor, money, and materials needed to continue to restore the Varsity, the Stage Company always needs people to help with their productions-- everyone from actors and technical crew to financial contributors. Readers who ever harbored an itch to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune should think about joining this group. See the website for audition and meeting information, newsletters, and more.

Park Avenue Productions

The community-theater troupe in Herrin will hold a summer theater camp for youth ages eight and older. Registration is Friday, May 21 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, May 22 from 9 a.m. to noon, with a $100 fee.

Participants will perform Hairspray Thursday through Saturday, July 22 through July 24-- and organizers expect such a big show that they're moving the performance from their Performing Arts Center in Herrin to the Marion Cultural and Civic Center.

Those interested in the camp and performance should call Kyle Brooks at (618) 727-4166.

For more information, visit <http://www.ParkAvenuePlayers.itgo.com>.

Paducah Summer Festival

Paducah, Kentucky's Summer Festival is perhaps best known for the top-notch mainstream country musicians who have played there-- including Patty Loveless, Vince Gill, John Michael Montgomery, Lee Roy Parnell, and Trace Atkins-- but lately it's branched into other musical offerings, and has always featured the usual summer fare of children's activities, arts-and-crafts displays, and food aplenty.

This year's Summer Fest takes place July 22 through July 24, on and near the city's thriving riverfront downtown. Regular attractions usually include hot-air balloon glows at dusk and dawn on the weekends, Big Wheel races, Oreo-stacking contests, sidewalk-chalk art exhibits, greased-pole competitions, mechanical bulls, climbing walls, fireworks displays, and photography contests.

Music acts and other specifics are to be announced.

For more information, log on to <http://www.PaducahSummerFestival.com>.

Paradise Alley Players

This community theater troupe graces the stages of Williamson County, most often the Marion Cultural and Civic Center. Their summer-lab productions will consist of the winners of their local playwriting competition as well as performances by their summer theater-camp youth. The shows run Friday and Saturday, July 30 and 31 at 7 p.m. at the Marion Cultural and Civic Center. All tickets are $5.

For more information, including about auditions, call Joyce Hope at (618) 993-2225 or log on to <http://www.MarionPAP.itgo.com>.

For tickets, stop by or call the civic center box office at (618) 997-4030 or visit <http://www.MarionCCC.org>.

Cobden Peach Festival

After sampling the wares of Cobden, visitors will find that Georgia's claim as the peach capital of the world is completely undeserved. The Cobden Peach Festival, sponsored by the Lions Club, isn't the best place to prove this, however-- it takes place Friday and Saturday, August 6 and 7, at the end of peach season, rather than at its peak, and the fresh peaches at the fest aren't often for sale, but for raffle. On the other hand, unparalleled peach cobblers and baked peach delights are available for purchase, and on the way home visitors will pass several orchards with fresh fruit for sale; since this is the end of the season, don't miss one of the last chances to dig into bags of the many varieties of peaches that grow here. Plus, there are carnival rides, games, and entertainment galore at the fest proper. A parade takes place Saturday at 4:30 p.m.

The Peach Festival takes place near the old railroad village's historic downtown and high school. To get there, take U.S. 51 south of Carbondale and past Makanda for about ten minutes, then start looking for the "Cobden that-a-way" signs pointing west. For more information, call the village hall at (618) 893-2425.

Saint Andrew School Festival

The annual Saint Andrew School Festival takes place Friday and Saturday, August 13 and 14 at Saint Andrew's Catholic Church in Murphysboro. In addition to a beer tent, games for children of all ages (including raffles, auctions, and bingo), both nights feature all-you-can-eat dinners at 4 p.m and live entertainment at 8 p.m. Dine on pond-raised fried catfish Friday and fried chicken Saturday.

Admission to the fest is free. Dinner tickets will sell for $10 for adults and $5 for children twelve and younger.

For more information, log on to <http://www.SaintAndrew-School.org> and click on the link for the festival.