Although the rodeo may be the main attraction, that's not all that's happening the week of the rodeo. Several other activities, including a 5K Walk/Run and downtown festival will be offered to entertain residents and visitors.
The Rodeo Run, a 5K run/walk for adults and a one-mile fun run for kids, is a new event the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring this year. "The response has been very positive," said Missy Marshall, executive director. "We're getting a lot of first-time runners and walkers."
A portion of the proceeds from the run will be donated to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund. The race will begin and end at the Sikeston Sports Complex, Pavilion No. 1 on Campanella Street at 7:30 a.m. Aug. 5. Participants can submit their registration or wait until the morning of the run, Marshall said. The run is the same day of the rodeo parade, which will allow participants to stick around for the parade at 10 a.m., Marshall added.
Following the parade, the Jaycees will sponsor Family Day at the Rodeo grounds, which includes a petting zoo, jumping space and food.
The Cowboy Up! Arts Festival will be held for the second year. Art festival booths and displays, food booths, plus pony rides, a petting zoo, Jump-in-
Space, mini-basketball, duck pond and battle toss will be offered at the American Legion Park in downtown Sikeston.
There will also be musical entertainment and cowboy poets and comedians featured during the three-day festival. Three major art displays will be open at the Depot Museum, too.
The festival will be from 1 to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Balloons, face painting and lunch with the rodeo clowns will also be offered on Saturday.
The downtown merchants and city of Sikeston also have a hand in the festival, which has received financial assistance from the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
The final day of the rodeo the Chamber will be kidnapping a family traveling through the area, which will be treated to lodging, a meal and box seats for Saturday's performance, plus attend the downtown CowboyUp Festival. The family will also receive a gift basket, filled with donations from local businesses.
The Chamber will be selling rodeo T-shirts as usual this year, which should be available at the end of next week.