Relay for Life schedule listed

The Jefferson County Relay for Life, a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, will be held from noon until midnight Saturday at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds.

Organizer Kourtney Heald said this year?s relay, with the theme ?Relay the American Way,? will include several special fundraising events, such as a pie and basket auction and a Relay Idol contest.

Entries for the Relay Idol contest are due no later than 7 p.m. in the Activity Building. The entry fee is $10. The contest will be at 9:30 p.m. in the show arena. A $25 cash prize will be awarded to the winner in each of the two age groups.

Heald said the day will actually begin at 8 a.m. with committee members setting up the grounds.

Registration for Relay Idol, Locks of Love, children-calling contest, musical chairs and other events will begin at 10 a.m.

The FFA food booth opens at 11 a.m., and the relay begins at noon, with the opening ceremony at 12:30 p.m.

The ceremony will include recognition of sponsors, special music by Bill Hornback and the National Anthem performed by Dale Sue Glass and Joe Garretson. National Guard members will present the Colors and lead the first official lap of the relay ? the American Lap.

At 1 p.m., a bounce house opens, games for children and adults are planned.

A Kids? Carnival is open from 2-4 p.m. A $5 wrist band will let children enjoy the fun.

Also at 2 p.m., Barnyard Billy will entertain with clown humor and balloon animals; games and races, like a three-legged race, are planned; the silent auction begins for the baskets assembled and donated by the relay teams. The silent auction ends at 7:30 p.m., with the winners being announced at 8 p.m.

The judging of the relay teams? campsites is set for 3 p.m.

At 4 p.m., Sarah Coffin and Scott Cox will perform a vocal duet, followed by a ?good ole-fashioned pie auction? in the show arena. The pies were made and donated by the relay teams as a fundraiser.

The Survivor Meal is set for 5 p.m. in the Activity Building. The Survivor Ceremony will be at 6 p.m., followed by a reception after the survivor/caregiver lap.

Any cancer survivor who wanted to participate in the Relay for Life survivor activities should have already preregistered.

Also at 5 p.m., the children-calling contest will be held in the show arena, and there will be a prize drawing for carnival participants ? must be present to win ? followed by the Kids? Lap and Minute To Win It Games.

Caregiver recognition is set for 6 p.m., with a special song for caregivers presented by Shawna Applegate.

That recognition is followed by the Survivor Ceremony and Survivor Lap and Caregiver Lap.

Those who registered before 4 p.m. for Locks of Love will have their hair cut at 7 p.m.

During the 8 p.m. hour, musical chairs for children and adults and more Minute To Win It Games are planned.

The Luminaria Ceremony andMemory Walk is set for 9 p.m.

The Relay Idol contest is at 9:30 p.m.

The quilt raffle winner will be announced at 10 p.m., and after the announcement, the Relay Idol, if not completed earlier, will continue.

The J Roland Band will entertain after the idol contest.

The closing ceremony will be at 11:30 p.m., followed by the final relay lap at midnight.

Heald said several theme laps are planned throughout the relay: Mardi Gras, Christmas Time, Luau, Glow In The Dark, Kids?, Relay Spirit, Iowa College Spirit, St Patty?s Day, Limbo Lap, Red Light, Green Light, American and Country Cowboy. The exact times for each special lap will be posted Saturday at the fairgrounds.

?If you want to participate in these laps as a team or individually, be sure you come prepared,? said Heald. ?There will be a few items to share with participants to help spread the spirit of each theme laps, but items will be limited.?

For more information or to register for Relay Idol or Locks of Love contact Heald at 319-695-3820 or kortney@iowatelecom.net.