Organizers with the American Cancer Society announced today they've reached a deal with the Kern County Fairgrounds...something they've dreamed about for years.
The first relay for life was at Bakersfield College, and then at Garces High School, but the event quickly outgrew those venues. For years it was held on the soccer fields at CSUB, plenty of room there, but their contract expired.
The site north of Meadows Field was big enough, but it was way too dusty.
Finally, Relay For Life has the venue of its dreams...the Kern County fairgrounds.
Sylvia Cariker, a spokeswoman for Relay for Life, said, "the fairgrounds offer more shade, more grass, and that's what our team captains told us they wanted. And of course we have the availability of some of the buildings there, and we have some great ideas to put into those buildings. So we are very, very excited about this."
Sylvia Cariker says the fairgrounds should offer what last year's site did not.
That is, a smoother flow of traffic, easier parking, multiple entrances and exits, more shade, and less dust.
Cariker says they are hoping for a very high attendance next year.
Relay for Life takes place May 2 and 3.