Second Annual Gullfest Schedule Set | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Live bands, a car show, arts and crafts and an appearance by the actor who played Cletus on a popular television show are just some of the events scheduled for Gullfest, a spring festival planned by Beaufort County Community College Saturday and Sunday, April 18 and 19.

    Organized by the BCCC Student Government Association, Gullfest is a fundraising event for the association and the dozen clubs and associations on the college campus and the BCCC Foundation.

    The corporate sponsor for Gullfest 2015 is West Park Motor Co. of Washington. Silver cosponsors are P and G Manufacturing, PotashCorp Aurora and TriCounty Telecom. Morris Insurance Agency is a Bronze cosponsor.

    This year's Gullfest features expanded hours — from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. — and one new event — the inaugural Gull Run to be held Sunday afternoon.

    Named for the BCCC mascot seagull, Gullfest is also intended to "enhance the connection between the college and the community it serves by inviting the public to visit the college campus," according to Student Activities Coordinator Theresa Edwards, chairman of the event.

    The admission fee is $2 per person with children two years old and younger admitted free of charge. The admission fee gains attendees entrance to all areas of Gullfest including the Little Gulls Zone.

    As part of Gullfest, the BCCC Automotive Club is sponsoring a car show that will bring vintage and modern cars, trucks and motorcycles from throughout the Southeast along with Rick Hurst, the actor who played Cletus on the television show Dukes of Hazzard.

    Local musical groups that will appeal to a variety of musical tastes are scheduled to perform beginning at 9 a.m. These include the N.C. National Guard Jazz and Rock and Roll bands, acoustic performers Bob Daw and Justin Casey and Still Water Bluegrass Band. The musicians will perform from a new stage built in the natural amphitheater on the BCCC campus.

    A children's area, dubbed Little Gulls' Zone, will feature the Lowe's Craft Zone, bouncing castles, home-made paper hats, mascots, arcade games and several trucks, first responder vehicles, farm equipment and other vehicles to explore. Admission to the Little Gulls' Zone is included in the admission price to Gullfest.

    Teenagers and adults will enjoy a Paintball competition and climbing tower sponsored by the N.C. National Guard. Admission to both is included in the admission price to Gullfest.

    Throughout the day, Gullfest attendees can enjoy a picnic from the food bazaar that will include barbecued chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers, fried fish and other items on sale by various clubs and organizations.

    Local arts and crafts vendors will have a variety of hand-made and home-grown items for sale including baskets, wooden items, scented candles, quilts, jewelry, stuffed animals, dog toys and a variety of knitted and crocheted items, among others.

    A five kilometer race, the inaugural Gull Run will be 2 p.m. Sunday in Bath. The event is sponsored by the Hildred T. Moore Aquatic and Fitness Center and Gulls on the Run, the BCCC running club. Sheetz of Washington is a co-sponsor of the event. This is a family-friendly race open to runners and walkers are alike. Registrations for the race are available via the Internet at www.runtheeast.com. The registration fee is $25 in advance and $30 the day of the race. For more information about the race, contact Michele Mayo, event chairman, at 252-940-6233.

    The Miss Gullfest pageant, originally scheduled for Saturday night, has been cancelled.

    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.

    Beaufort County Community College is a public comprehensive community college committed to accessible and affordable quality education, effective teaching, relevant training, and lifelong learning opportunities for the people served by the College.


West Park Motor Co. of Washington recently presented a check to Beaufort County Community College to help defray the costs of Gullfest, the annual spring festival at BCCC. West Park Motor Co. is the Presenting Sponsor of the festival, to be held Saturday and Sunday, April 18 and 19, on the college campus and in Historic Bath. Pictured, left to right, West Park Sales and Finance Officer Chris Long and owner Kyle Alligood present the sponsorship check to Penelope Radcliffe, Gullfest fund-raising chairman, while Sales and Finance Manager B.J. Marsh displays a poster of Gullfest events.