Plan to do a lot of toe-tapping and down-home dancing at Central Carolina Community College's 50th Anniversary celebration as the FOG Blues and The Souls bands take the stage.

The event runs from 3 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, July 23, at the college's Emergency Services Training Center, 3000 Airport Road, Sanford. In addition to the live bands, there is a full schedule of free, fun family activities, including a cornhole tournament, fireworks, children's arts and crafts, antique vehicle display, martial arts, clowns, music and much more.

The Sanford-based FOG Blues Band lays down the music like few others, playing a blend of Delta, Chicago and Texas blues as well as rhythm and blues and funk in their unique style. The band will be onstage from 7 to 8 p.m. and, following event closing remarks, from 8:30 to 9 p.m.

The four band members are Sanford-area natives. The old friends got together about four years ago at drummer Charles "Charlie Boy" Dycus' taxidermy shop and started playing songs they all knew.

"It just clicked from the very beginning," says Robert "Quick Silver" Watson, who provides lead vocals and lead and rhythm guitar. "We love to play music together, interact with each other and with the crowds, and love to watch their reaction to the music."

Adding their talents to The FOG are Cliff "Odell" Wheeler, who performs lead guitar and lead and backing vocals; and John "Big Dave" Martin, on bass guitar and lead and backing vocals.

Watson added that the band also finds opportunities to use its talents to support its community, such as playing at several fundraisers for tornado victims recently and for Relay for Life several times.

The Souls Band, which plays from 4 to 5:30 p.m., has circled the globe for three decades performing concerts, festivals and other events. They have earned a reputation as one of America's most dynamic bands with their delivery of high-energy rhythm and blues, soul, Motown, classic rock and variety dance music.

Band members are Erin Baker, on vocals, keyboards and percussion; and Tony Baker and Rick Dixon, both doing vocals and keyboards. Baker is considered by many to be a rising star in the Carolina beach music world. She has toured all over the Southeast as well as in Italy.

Dixon, who is a Yamaha-sponsored artist, is considered one of the best musicians in the Southeast. He is a founding member of the Original Carousels and The Souls and has written beach classic songs for both groups.

Tony Baker, who is also a Yamaha performance artist, has toured with some of the biggest stars in the business: The Drifters, The Platters, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Percy Sledge. Tony's original music has been used in national commercials with companies such as Ford Motor Co. and Carl's Jr.

Yamaha Corp., through Buchanan Music, in Sanford, is sponsoring The Souls' appearance at the celebration.

For more information about Central Carolina Community College's 50th anniversary celebration, visit the website www.cccc.edu/50years. For more information on The Souls, visit www.thepoorsouls.com. For more information on The FOG, go to http://southerncommunity.com/fog/.

Katherine McDonald is a marketing writer at Central Carolina Community College.