A spring festival slated for this weekend has residents and a community college gearing up for some fun and interaction.

Beaufort County Community College will host its second annual Gullfest this weekend, giving residents and guests alike a day of fun, food and activities, as well as a glimpse at what the college has to offer, said Betty Gray, public relations coordinator. In addition to expanded hours on Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the event has added a new event, the inaugural Gull Run, a 5k race through Bath’s historic district, which will commence on Sunday at 2 p.m., Gray said. To participate in the run, a registration fee of $25 is required prior to the event and $30 is required if registering at the event. Those interested in participating can sign up online at www.runtheeast.com. Admission to the festival will cost $2 per person, and children 2 years old and under admitted for free.

The festival, organized by the Student Government Association, is a fund-raising event for the association, a vast spectrum of student clubs, the BCCC Foundation and unmet needs at the college, Gray said. The college hosted the inaugural Gullfest last year as part of a campaign to purchase digital signage. At the festival, various clubs and divisions of the college will be present to offer valuable information on programs like continuing education, the GED program and other resources the college has available to its service area, Gray said.

“The intent of Gullfest is to build good relationships — to bring people to the campus and see that we’re here and enjoy a day of activities at BCCC,” Gray said. “There are people that haven’t been on our campus in a while, if ever. This is a good way to get exposure, and it’s going to be a day of fun-filled activities for the family.”

Sponsored by West Park Motor Company and a list of local businesses and individual contributors, the event will feature live musical entertainment from local acts, a car show, arts and crafts vendors and an appearance by Richard Hurst, the actor who played Deputy Cletus Hogg on the television show Dukes of Hazzard. The event will also feature a Little Gulls Zone, an area that includes bounce castles, homemade paper hats, mascots, arcade games, first responder vehicles, farm equipment and other vehicles for kids to explore and have fun, Gray said.

Gray said teenage attendees will have the chance to participate in a paintball competition and try their hand at a climbing tower, provided by the National Guard. Another recreational resource available for attendees is the college’s new IM FITT trail, a trail circling the campus that includes various exercise equipment. Attendees can also purchase food, including barbecued chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers, fried fish and other items on sale by various clubs and organizations.

For more information about Gull Run, contact Michele Mayo, event chairman, at 252-940-6223. For more information about Gullfest, contact Theresa Edwards, Gullfest chairman, at 252-940-6217. For information about opportunities for craft vendors, contact Jane Alligood at 252-940-6321 or, for food vendors, Morgan Bland at 252-940-6492. For information on Gullfest sponsorships, contact Penelope Radcliffe at 252-940-6325.