“Celebrate, remember and fight back” is the focus of this year’s Relay for Life event.

Activities begin Friday night at 6 with a reception for cancer survivors at Clemson Extension, sponsored by Hospice Care of South Carolina and Augsburg Lutheran Church.

The opening ceremony begins at 7 p.m. at the Union County Fairgrounds. Amy House will sing the national anthem. Cancer survivors will make the first lap around the track. The Riding for Mike team (named in memory of Mike Cogdill) will then present the celebrity starter with the scissiors used to cut the ribbon.

Afterwards, teams will take the track to display their theme banners. During the team lap, the 100-Man Team, which Inman and Gary Lindner formed in 2008, will be greeted by the ‘Dancing Grannies.’

“Last year it was the Carolina Panther cheerleaders, this year it’s the ‘Dancing Grannies.” said Relay co-chair Torance Inman with a laugh.

Entertainment will follow the team lap. Some of the scheduled performers include Pat Phillips and Guy Harris, known as “Not Even Brothers,” and the group “High Cotton.”

“Serenity” will perform during the luminary service, accompanied by a bagpipe player.

“We will recognize family members who have lost a loved one to cancer this year,” Inman said. Others attending will circle the track, symbolizing a circle of hope around the families.

Fireworks will follow the luminary service and then Union native D.C. Riggs (Donnie Cohen) will take the stage.

Next, teams will perform in a comedy hour.

The closing ceremony takes place at 7 a.m. Saturday. Team awards will be presented. A children’s four-wheeler donated by Owens Lawn and Garden and an acoustic guitar donated by Music Avenue will be raffled.

Barbecue, hot dogs, burgers, funnel cakes and other foods will be sold during Relay.

There will be a kids zone with activities for children. Youth Leadership Union County, whose theme is “Buzz Off Cancer” will provide photo opportunities with Buzz, the Union County High School mascot.

Nationally, this is the 25th anniversary of Relay for Life. Inman said the overall theme nationally is “25 Years of Hope.”

“We will have the three components of Relay — celebrate, remember and fight back,” Inman said. “There will be a lot of celebration, a lot of remembrance, a lot of fun. It’s open to everyone who wants to come. Teams will walk the track all night long to symbolize the fight against cancer — cancer never sleeps.”