The 11th annual American Cancer Society Plymouth County Relay For Life is set for Friday and Saturday, June 1 and 2, at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds in Le Mars beginning at 6 p.m. Friday and ending at 8 a.m. Saturday. The location is a change from the planned Jim Lorenzen Field due to the street construction project around the football field and track.

"Safety for all participants was our concern in changing the location," said Relay For Life co-chairs Michelle DeLarm and Cathy DeBoer.

Activities will be held outdoors at the fairgrounds with the luminaria bags outlining the walking area for participants. A concession stand with hot sandwiches, snacks and beverage will be available.

Opening ceremonies are at 6 p.m., with a survivors lap at 6:30 p.m., honoring Plymouth County cancer survivors.

Activities from 6 to 9 p.m. include vintage fire truck rides, "Mickey's Corner" with kids games, and raffle ticket sales. Luminaria bags will be on sale from 6 to 8 p.m.

Area residents are encouraged to attend the activities throughout the evening. Square dancers will perform at 7 p.m., and the Christian rock band Grindstone will perform from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The "Shaving for A Cure" head shaving contest will come to an end at 8:30 p.m. as the winner will be announced and will have his head shaved. Donations are used to vote for one of six contestants: Lenny Flack, police officer with the Le Mars Police Department; Jim Miller, branch manager of American Bank in Remsen; Dr. Scott Ihrke, optometrist with Le Mars Optometric Clinic; Todd Anderson, hair stylist at the Mantrap in Le Mars; Dr. Paul Parmelee, physician with Medical Associates and Jeff Kelly, vice president marketing at Harker's Distribution, Inc. Donation containers are located throughout Plymouth County and will be available until 8 p.m. Friday at the Relay.

The Luminaria ceremony begins at 10 p.m., when the hundreds of decorated luminaria bags will be lit and the names of those honored and remembered will be read.

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Area residents may purchase their luminaria bags at the following locations around the county:

* Le Mars -- N.W. Iowa Credit Union, Craft Den, Floyd Valley Hospital, Medical Associates, American Bank, Primebank, First Federal Bank, First National Bank (downtown location), Kingsley State Bank, Nilles Chiropractic, The Living Center and Computer Crossings.

* Akron -- Dirks Hardware, Akron People's Bank, Akron Public Library.

* Kingsley -- Kingsley State Bank, Kingsley Building Center, Kingsley Mercy Medical Center, American National Bank.

* Remsen -- Mrs. B's Convenience Store and American Bank.

* Brunsville -- Corner Cafe and Iowa Prairie Bank.

* Merrill -- Plymouth Feeds

The $5 donation per bag is part of the fundraising effort of the Relay For Life for the American Cancer Society. Decorated bags may be turned in to the businesses where purchased or brought to the track the night of Relay For Life.

Cathy DeBoer, who is also serving as team recruitment chair, said nearly 40 teams have been collecting donations and holding fundraisers for the American Cancer Society.

"We're excited about the number of teams and encourage everyone to come out and enjoy the activities, celebrate our cancer survivors and raise money for this important cause," DeBoer said.

Following the luminaria ceremony, Dave DeWitt and Friends Band will perform.

Team "Wacky Walks" with Disney-related themes begin at midnight and continue until the closing ceremony at 7 a.m. Saturday morning.

All funds raised at the Plymouth County Relay for Life will be used by the American Cancer Society to provide needed services for cancer patients and their families in Plymouth County, educate people about cancer prevention and early detection, promote advocacy in government and award funding for research to find a cure for this disease, including universities in Iowa which have strong cancer research projects.