CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – Preparations for fun, food and a carnival are in full swing at Arena Park.

Managers would like to inform you that some things will be done a little differently at the SEMO District Fair this year to ensure the safety of attendees.

Darrell Aufdenberg is one of the directors of the fair committee and he has been out here for hours making sure security tents are set up and security guards can do their jobs all week.

“Given the current situation in our country, we felt that we needed to improve our security for the benefit of everyone so that people feel comfortable visiting the fair.”

Aufdenberg is working with officers from the Cape Police Department to distribute them throughout the fairgrounds, ensuring that those in need are helped at every corner.

“The Cape Girardeau Police Department, some people from the Cape County Sheriff’s Department, we’ll have several different people here to help us with parking and our security,” he said.

It is the 169th anniversary of the SEMO District Fair and Steve Birk has been a board member for years, but this is his first year as president.

He is looking forward to this year’s fair with its new parking regulations and safety improvements, such as a 6-foot-high fence.

“We have erected a 6-foot-high barrier fence around the entire exhibition grounds to prevent people from simply jumping over the fences and coming in,” Birk said. “We have set up scanners so that people can go through the metal detectors.”

The 6-foot-high fence and metal detectors are new additions this year.

Birk is convinced that both will continue to be useful in the coming years.

After all, says Birk, the whole point of the fair is for families to come, relax and have fun.

“We want everyone to feel safe. We don’t want anyone to feel like they can’t come here and have fun because, like I said, the fair is for kids and families and we want everyone to feel safe.”

This weekend kicks off a week of fun and safety at every turn. The fair begins this Saturday with the parade at 9:30 a.m. and runs through next Saturday, September 14th.

Cape Girardeau Police will be here all week to direct traffic and ensure everyone’s safety.

Related pages: Family fun – SEMO FAIR