Sun, song and summer fun this weekend in the area

Want to see how Mark Twain lived before he came to Hannibal?
Check out the annual Florida Folklife Festival on Saturday and Sunday.
The tiny community is on Highway 107 between Monroe City and Paris.
You’ll experience skills, music and food of the early 19th century. There’ll also be crafts, games and story-telling. A kids’ corner will be featured in a one-room schoolhouse.
Free tours of the museum at the Mark Twain Birthplace Historic Site will be offered, and you can learn more about blacksmithing, wood carving, soap making, wheat weaving and quilt making.

Greased lightning
All right, it’s sing-a-long time:

Summer lovin’ had me a blast
(Summer lovin’ happened so fast)
I met a girl, crazy for me
(Met a boy, cute as can be)
Summer days driftin’ away, to uh-oh those summer nights
Uh, well-a well-a well-a huh
Tell me more, tell me more
Did you get very far?
Tell me more, tell me more
Like, does he have a car?
Uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh

The Monroe City Community Theater, Missouri Arts Council and UMB Bank are sponsoring the musical “Grease.”
It’s being staged at Monroe City Middle School at 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
The musical is set in the 1950s and revolves around the lives and loves of two gangs of high school students.
The action is set into motion when a greaser’s foreign-exchange summer girlfriend shows up the first day of school.
Tickets are a very affordable $7 each, and will be available at the door.

Nunsense again
Get your bingo cards ready.
The Little Sisters of Hoboken are back.
The hysterical musical comedy “Nunsense II: The Second Coming” plays at The Apple Shed in Clarksville through Sunday.
You’ll marvel at all of the renovations that have been done in the seating area. And you’ll have a good time, too.
The Raintree Arts Council is the sponsor. Shows are at 8 p.m. Saturday, with 2 p.m. matinees Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $12.
The plot revolves around a thank you show the Sisters are staging after the success of their first production.
Chaos breaks out when two Franciscans come for the ditzy Sister Mary Amnesia, who has won a big sweepstakes.
Be ready to play bingo and take part in other gags.
And be on time, or the Sisters will hand out punishment.

Ewing Park Party
Ew’ll have fun Saturday in Ewing.
The fourth annual Park Party begins with a car show at 8 a.m.
There’ll also be a parade, wiffle ball tournament, Little Mr. and Miss competition and other activities.
A hog roast takes place at 4:30 p.m., with free will donations accepted.
The roast will be followed by live entertainment and the band “Heresay” starting at 8 p.m.
The event is a fund-raiser for park maintenance and improvements.

Lightning and thunder
Jeeps from around the Midwest are rolling into Pittsfield, Ill.
It’s the Two Rivers Jeep Club’s annual 4x4 Blast through Saturday.
If you missed the vehicle rodeos Thursday and Friday, check in on the trail rides all day Saturday.
If you’d like a full schedule, log on to www.trjc.com.

Old Settlers
They’ve been doing it for 116 years now.
The Old Settlers Picnic continues through Sunday in Payson, Ill.
Saturday’s activities include a baby contest, parade and entertainment.
A community church service wraps things up Sunday morning.

Heads up
The countdown is on.
The Corn Cob Countdown, that is.
If you love sweet corn, you’ll want to grab your tongs and get the butter ready.
Next week, I’ll tell you where you can get the cream of the crop.
Ab imo pectore (From the bottom of my heart).