FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 21, 2005

CONTACT: Daniel P. Finney, 271-2833 or Daniel.Finney@drake.edu

DRAKE ANNOUNCES RELAYS FESTIVITIES

Drake University will host a variety of festivities in celebration of the 96th annual Drake Relays. Here is a comprehensive list of activities.

FRIDAY, APRIL 22 - SATURDAY, APRIL 23

6 p.m. to 6 a.m. – Relay for Life of Drake University
Site: Drake Fieldhouse, 27th Street and Forest Avenue
Gather friends and co-workers and join together to help in the fight against cancer. Call (515) 271-1946 or (515) 271-3647 to register your team.

SATURDAY, APRIL 23

10 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Drake Relays Parade
Site: 24th Street, University Avenue, 30th Street and Forest Avenue
Come watch the largest student-run parade in the nation. It is now being held in the Drake neighborhood, with a large array of entertainment and fun! This year will feature the Isiserettes Drum & Drill Corps in conjunction with its 25th year anniversary celebration.

1 p.m. to 5 p.m. – Street Painting
Site: Carpenter Avenue from 27th to 28th Streets
Student organizations paint squares depicting the Relay’s theme. The campus unites for the traditional activity on Drake’s painted street.

SUNDAY, APRIL 24

2 p.m. to 5 p.m. – Mud Volleyball Finals
Site: Outdoor Court
The final game of Mud Volleyball played in a huge pit of mud across from Carpenter Hall: a messy, but fun event for all.

MONDAY, APRIL 25

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Beautiful Bulldog Contest
Site: Nollen Plaza
Bulldogs will strut their stuff for the honor of being named the Drake relays most beautiful bulldog. Judges will include Jim Bowermaster, founder of the contest, and Max Rauer, longtime announcer of the event. The judging will start at 11 a.m. and the pageant will begin at noon.
TUESDAY, APRIL 26

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – “Fake Relays”
Site: Nollen Plaza
The afternoon will showcase downtown CEOs, media celebrities and others in races of nontraditional kinds. Presented by IKON and organized by the Young Professionals Connection.

THURSDAY, APRIL 28

Noon to 1 p.m. (downtown) and 5 to 7 p.m. (Prairie Meadows) – Mascot Relays
Site: Downtown near Nollen Plaza
Drake Mascot Spike and his friends will be competing in fun Relays-related races n downtown Des Moines. The finals will take place at Prairie Meadows.

4 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Fun Zone
Site: 28th Street between Clark and Forest
The Fun Zone includes inflatable games for children, a rockslide, wall climb and several other activities.

FRIDAY, APRIL 29

8 a.m. to 6 p.m. – 96th running of the Drake Relays
Site: Drake Stadium, 28th Street and Forest Avenue

8 a.m. to 6 p.m. – Fun Zone
Site: 28th Street between Clark and Forest

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Alumni Tent Lunch
Site: Tent located directly north of the Agora between Herriott Hall and Harvey Ingham Hall.
Alumni can enjoy food and drinks for $6.

6 p.m. to 1 a.m. – Court Avenue Street Celebration
Site: Court Avenue
Bands of different styles will help Des Moines celebrate Relays at nine different venues in the Court Avenue and Fourth Street Area. The event is free to the public.

7 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Alumni Tent
Site: Tent located directly north of the Agora between Herriott Hall and Harvey Ingham.

SATURDAY, APRIL 30

8 a.m. to 6 p.m. – The 96th running of the Drake Relays
Site: Drake Stadium, 28th Street and Forest Avenue

8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. – Pancake Breakfast
Site: Tent located directly north of the Agora between Herriott Hall and Harvey Ingham Hall.
Enjoy a pancake breakfast before the Relays half-marathon race. Tickets for the breakfast cost $3 per person.

11 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Alumni Tent
Site: Tent located directly north of the Agora between Herriott Hall and Harvey Ingham Hall.
Alumni can celebrate the last day of Relays at the Alumni Beer Garden.

10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Alumni Tent Camp DU
Site: Tent located directly north of the Agora between Herriott Hall and Harvey Ingham Hall.
The tent will feature children’s games, activities, face painting and more.

12:30 p.m. – Groundbreaking for the revitalization of Drake Stadium
Site: The infield near the awards stand and shot put area
Drake officials, donors and student athletes will break ground for the multimillion-dollar project.

8 p.m. to 2 a.m. – Step Show
Site: Parents Hall, Olmsted Center, 29th Street and University Avenue
Enjoy the wide variety of talents of students sponsored by the Coalition of Black Students. Cost is $10 for all. Doors open at 7 p.m.

8 a.m. to 6 p.m. – Fun Zone
Site: 28th Street between Clark and Forest

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