The Relay For Life could only succeed if all the participants can rock around the clock.
Canada's only 24-hour relay for the Canadian Cancer Society, and one of the nation's biggest single fundraisers for cancer causes, gets a leg up thanks to many of the region's performing artists who volunteer their time and talents to help pass the time and boost the atmosphere as people make their way around the Masich Stadium track.
The entertainment begins almost from the starting gun at 10 a.m. Saturday.
There is an array of children's activities (bubbles, clowns, games, play dough, etc.) all the way until 7 p.m., and teen activities (face painting, giant Jenga, tug-of-war, etc.) until 9 p.m. The Rhythm & Sound Photo Booth is available until 6 p.m., and there are activity "pit stops" intermittently from beginning til end.
Synergy Health & Wellness will also have a massage station until 6 p.m.
All of these are there on a drop-in basis for anyone who is at the stadium.
The scheduled performers begin at noon, starting with the highland dancers of Dance Your Hart Out who put on a performance lasting about an hour.
At 1 p.m., Movement-Group Fit takes the stage to energize the afternoon.
Huggleberry The Clown takes over at 2 p.m. for a magic show and balloon creations.
A special band performance happens at 2:30 p.m. when Moonshine & Music plays a set. This band features Aaron Trenholm, aka Captain Cure, one of the event's most prominent fundraisers, holding high-profile money collection events throughout the year to donate to the Relay For Life.
At 3 p.m. there will be a helicopter fly-over and a ground demonstration by NLCC 142 Aurora Navy League Cadets doing drills and first aid showcases.
The local bands Burn It Down (3:45 p.m.) and Miss Guided (5 p.m.) take their turns on the stage next.
That leads to one of the event's headliners. Recording artist Rick Stavely, one of northern B.C.'s top country music singer-songwriters, performs at 6:30 p.m.
Following Stavely, up-and-coming folk-rocker Jack Van Somer performs at 8 p.m. and he comes back for an encore after the Luminary Ceremony and Mass Lap goes ahead at 10 p.m.
The 10:30 p.m. performance showcase goes to Audio Union and taking the action to the midnight hour is another of the events star attractions, pop-rock recording artists Bright City Heights beginning at 11:45 p.m.
There will also be an array of deejays and emcees keeping the flow going for the entire 24 hours with Doug Jones Darren Coogan, Juliette Nunes, and Ron Polillo. The overnight deejay will be Kyle Sampson.
The final mainstage live musicians to take the stage are set for their gig at 9 a.m. Sunday when the duo of Paige & Cameron brings the entertainment to a finish. The show closes with major announcements and grand finales when the clock strikes 10 a.m. and the official final lap is completed.
