Progress will be celebrated during Rathdrum Days on Friday and Saturday.

Police Chief Kevin Fuhr, who is in remission with cancer, will be the grand marshal of Saturday's parade at 10 a.m. on Main Street.

Fuhr has assisted with planning for the city's inaugural Relay for Life, an American Cancer Society fundraiser, Aug. 12-13 at Lakeland High.

"It's an honor, but I'm not one for the spotlight," Fuhr said of being selected grand marshal. "I like to be the one moving barricades at the end of the parade, but this year I get to be in it. But I don't want to overshadow the (Relay) event itself."

Fuhr said it will be nice for Rathdrum to have a Relay that it can call its own.

"We're hoping for a successful first year so it continues," Fuhr said.

All cancer survivors are invited to ride the Relay's float in the parade. Those interested should be at the chamber of commerce at the corner of Main and Coeur d'Alene before 10 a.m.

"When you hear the words 'You've got cancer' you start to look at things differently," Fuhr said. "You start to think more about family and friends and less about the petty things."

Another new addition to the area, the Star Discovery Bus, associated with the future Star Science Center north of Rathdrum, was unveiled during a robotics camp at Prairie View Elementary in Post Falls on Tuesday.

The bus, which has hands-on science exhibits and will be at schools and community events, will be at Rathdrum Days along with the nonprofit Discover Technology's robot DiscoTech.

"This is an opportunity I hope you take advantage of," Rathdrum Mayor Vic Holmes told students at the ceremony.

Lorna Finman, Discover Technology president, said the bus is intended to complement schools' science programs.

"We're hoping to get into rural areas with the bus and take field trips to schools," Finman said.

The science center is scheduled to open in fall 2012. A conditional-use permit was granted recently by the county to allow for construction.

"We hope to move some dirt by the end of the month," Finman said.

Rathdrum Days opens at noon on Friday with vendors, a carnival, music, kids' activities and other entertainment at Lakeland High. The festival runs to 8 p.m. A classic car cruise starts at 5 p.m. at Lakeland Junior High.

Saturday's activities also include a pancake breakfast at the Lions Club on Highway 53 at 7 a.m., a fun run at the high school at 8 a.m. and old jail tours and Dutch oven cooking and blacksmithing demos from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

"We will be showcasing the newly paved Second Street in front of the jail along with new sidewalks," said Brett Boyer, city administrator.

Vendor booths open at 10 a.m. at the high school and there will be entertainment from noon until 6 p.m.