Art, Music Highlight 24-Hour Relay For Life

While more than two dozen teams send at last one representative along the perimeter of to raise funds today and Sunday for the American Cancer Society, other activities throughout the 24-hour Relay For Life event will highlight art, music and the fight against cancer.

Fun With Chalk, featuring recreations of the Old Masters created in the parking lot of the Bell Tower Regional Community Center, begins at 10 a.m. and continues through 4 p.m., on both days. The street painting and fine arts festival, in its 13th year, will also include original works. it will also feature an art workshop.

At noon today, Maestro Javier Alvarez Palomar will create a two-fisted art attack piece to be auctioned off. Palomar commonly takes a black canvas and uses orange paint to create portraits of famous people in a couple of minutes. 

Although Palomar and the chalk festival should keep the fine arts crowd happy, music lovers will get their fill, too. Five music acts will participate, including Rancho Santa Margarita's X-Factor contestant, John Lindahl, and childhood cancer survivor Austin Gatus, who has opened for the likes of Bill Cosby and the band America, and performed with Kenny G and Dave Koz, and at venues such as the House of Blues in San Diego.

Gatus, 15, specializes in the saxophone but also plays guitar and piano. He will perform an original song in honor of Jessie Rees, the RSM girl who died earlier this year but was the inspiration behind Joy Jars and Never Ever Give Up.

St. John's Folk Circle, the Satellite Band, and Rocko Beall round out the live performances bill.

There will also be a trampoline performance that includes Olympian Logan Dooley, who will compete later this month in the Summer Games in London.

The event has a definite Olympic edge: Peter Vidmar, who won two gold medals—including the individual medal on the pommel horse—and a silver in the all-around in the 1984 Olympics, will be the keynote speaker at opening ceremonies that begin at 10 a.m.

A number of kids activities will be available, and from 12:30 p.m. to 6:30, kids will have the run of a bounce house zone for $5.

Rick Muchow will lead an interfaith service Sunday, 7 a.m. and Billy Blanks will lead a morning exercise at 8 that precedes the closing ceremonies.

Teams have already raised more than $25,000 in committed funds for the American Cancer Society, which uses the Relay For Life as its biggest fundraiser that is held across towns throughout the nation.

For more information, check out the local Relay For Life website.

The event continues for 24 hours, with the highlight for many being the Luminaria ceremony at 9 p.m., which precedes a candlelight walk.

Here's the schedule:

Relay for Life Schedule for Saturday, July 14

7 a.m. Campsite Set-Up  

8:30 a.m. Registration Opens  

9 a.m. Survivor’s Breakfast – at Survivor’s Tent by Amphitheater Stage

10 a.m. Opening Ceremonies – Olympic Gold Medalist Keynote Speaker, Peter Vidmar

11:30 a.m. Olympic Trampoline Performance by World Elite - at Amphitheater Stage

Noon Maestro Javier Alvarez Palomar's Two-Fisted Art Attack & Live Auction of Painting 

Activities:

• Fun With Chalk Street Painting Festivities at Bell Tower Facility
• Kids Free Crafts & Games: 12:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. at Bell Tower Plaza
• Kids FUN BounceHouse Zone 12:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. $5 wristband donation
• Luminaria Bags Sales -12:30pm-7pm - at Luminaria Tent (by Registration)
• Caregiver’s Corner -12:30pm-7pm - at the Caregiver Tent (by Registration)
• Fight Back Fun & Education -12:30pm-7pm - at the Fight Back Tent “
• Raffle: 1:30pm–6:30pm – at Survivor’s Tent by Amphitheater Stage
• Locks of Love Haircuts–behind Amphitheater Stage by Elsie Adams, Salon Pure

12:30 p.m. DJ Jerry -  at Bell Tower Plaza (on going)  

1 p.m. ZUMBA - at Main Amphitheater Stage  

2 p.m. Music by Rocko Beall - at Main Amphitheater Stage  

3 p.m. Sounds of Satellite Band - at Main Amphitheater Stage  

4 p.m. Songs by John Lindahl, X-Factor Contestant - at Main Amphitheater Stage  

5 p.m. Music by St. John’s Folk Circle - at Main Amphitheater Stage  

6 p.m. Olympic Trampoline Performance by World Elite-at Amphitheater Stage  

6:30 p.m. Raffle Closes & Winners Announced - at Main Amphitheater Stage  

7 p.m. The Crowning of Relay’s King & Queen - at Main Amphitheater Stage  

7:30 p.m. Songs by Austin Gatus - at Main Amphitheater Stage  

8 p.m. DJ JERRY’s Disco DANCING & GAMES   

9 p.m. LUMINARIA Ceremony - at Main Amphitheater Stage

10 p.m. Cars 2 Movie & PJ Party - at Main Amphitheater Stage 

Relay For Life Schedule for Sunday, July 15, 2012  

7 a.m. Interfaith Service by Rick Muchow - at Main Amphitheater Stage  

8 a.m. Fight Cancer Workout with Billy Blanks - at Main Amphitheater Stage  

9 a.m. Closing Ceremony, Awards & Don’t Stop Believing - Amphitheater Stage 10:00a.m.

Relay for Life Ends