Beautiful weather, live entertainment and good food brought the community together at Beaufort County Community College on Saturday for Gullfest, a festival to raise funds for the school’s digital signage project.

The Flatland Zingers, a local band, played bluegrass and traditional tunes for a crowd of fans, Ben Jones, TV star from the 70s show Dukes of Hazzard, attended to sign autographs and memorabilia for fans, vendors and artisans set up tents to showcase and sell various crafts and items and a car show, featuring dozens of local hot rods and custom rides. The event also featured a Little Gull’s Zone, in which children had the opportunity to enjoy bounce houses, face painting and a fossil dig.

According to Theresa Edwards, chairman of the event and student activities coordinator, a fundraiser geared to have the person who raised the most funds, taped to a wall, was a success, leaving Rick Anderson, vice president of Student Services at BCCC, stuck to the wall.

Another fundraiser, for BCCC’s GED program, in which participants could have a person of their choosing put in a simulated jail, was also called a success.

“We raised over $1000,” said Penelope Radcliffe, basic skills assessment retention specialist at BCCC. “The GED fee went up from $35 to $120 this year. The majority of our students are unemployed so it’s a hard time for them to try and pay and come up with that money. We haven’t had any student in 2014 who has been able to come up with the money and pay the whole GED. This will be enough money for those who are ready but lack the funds.”

“The event has turned out extremely well,” said Betty Gray, public relations coordinator for BCCC. “People are enjoying themselves; it’s a lovely day. We have had a great turnout, from young to old.  We’ve had things that seem to appeal to a variety of people. All the students, faculty and staff have pitched in to try to make this a really good event.”

According to Gray, BCCC hopes to make Gullfest an annual event, this being its first year. Gray said that the event brought people who, normally, would not visit the college.

“This has drawn people to the community college who maybe weren’t even aware that we were here or what we do or that we are here to serve the community,” Gray said.