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That's when Camel Races will take place in an annual benefit for the Family Literacy Center at the Lapeer Center Building. Guests bet on their favorites and awards are given for best dressed camels.

Tickets are going fast and are two for $25 or $15 each. That price includes dinner and a casino-like atmosphere. Dinner starts at 6 p.m. and the races start at 8 p.m.

The event makes generates $9,000-10,000 annually for FLC. Last year, FLC made $12,000 on the fundraiser.

Mary Shelton-Wiese, FLC executive director, said businesses and organizations get a lot out of sponsorships including advertising while knowing they helped promote literacy in Lapeer County.

"Sponsor also donate. We have drawings from losing bet slips. There's many chances to win and a lot of fun," Shelton-Wiese said. "It's a fun night. You get several hours of racing, a meal, BYOB if you want, gambling, a lot of laughs, and fun. People stand on their seats and cheer. Each sponsor brings in money."

This year's meal sponsor is ELGA Credit Union.

"We'll have celebrity dice rollers. Something new this year will be we'll allow people to use bribery to get their camel as best dressed. It's really a fun event," Shelton-Wiese said.

At past races, plywood camels have been made into Jimi Hendrix, a Detroit Tiger, a Detroit Red Wing, and a hospital worker to name a few. A roll of the fuzzy dice determines how many spaces the camels will be able to advance during races with the first one crossing the finish line winning.

The event is built around sponsorships and is like a big party with BYOB, if preferred, and is for ages 18 and up.

"Tickets are available," said Donna Woodward, FLC adult program coordinator. "We'd like you to bring a friend and bet a lot. It's become a bigger party."

For tickets or more information on the Camel Races, call (810) 664-2737.

The Family Literacy Center in Lapeer provides free tutoring to Lapeer County to illiterate adults.

According to the organization's Web site: A functionally illiterate adult earns 42 percent less than a high school graduate; and 27 percent of Army enlistees can't read training manuals written at the seventh grade level. A national study showed 80 percent couldn't read a bus schedule; 73 percent couldn't understand a newspaper story; 63 percent couldn't follow map directions; and 23 percent couldn't locate gross pay amounts on a paycheck stub.

For more information on the Family Literacy Center visit its Web site at www.readlapeer.org.