NCC Plans Activities for Blue Fest Saturday, May 7, 2016
The community is invited Saturday, May 7, 2016 to experience Blue Fest at Nash Community College. The campus’ inaugural festival will combine two annual events and additional short activities tied to College programs. Also included is an exhibition of academic work well done. Blue Fest is for the entire family and there will be activities of interest for everyone.
At 8:30 a.m., the Second Annual Run for Knowledge 5K and one-mile event will begin and end at the NCC Continuing Education and Public Services Building. Runners and walkers of all skill levels are invited to register to enjoy a morning of fun as they take off for the trees in a race featuring a combination of road and trail with some of the best views in Nash County. Each Run for Knowledge participant will receive breakfast, lunch, a race bib and runner bag featuring local foods, specialty race items and a few surprises to take home. Proceeds from the Run for Knowledge benefit the Nash Community College Foundation and Student Government Association. To register, visit www.nashcc.edu/run.
Participants in the Ninth Annual Jack Laughery Ride for Knowledge will register for the motorcycle ride at 9:30 a.m. May 7th at Rocky Mount Harley-Davidson departing at 11:30 a.m. for an hour-long ride through western Nash County escorted by Nash County Sheriff’s Office. The ride will end at Blue Fest on the Nash Community College campus. The Ride for Knowledge is a tribute to Jack Laughery, former Hardee’s CEO and chairman, and his wife, Helen. All proceeds from the motorcycle ride benefit the Helen and Jack Laughery Honorary Scholarship Fund at Nash Community College which assists non-traditional students annually.
Live music at Blue Fest will feature the Carolina Tradition bluegrass band and a folk/acoustic rock band, The Family, along with NCC’s own student-run radio station, Big Bang Radio WNIA 89.1 FM broadcasting live from the Myrtle Carter Henry Amphitheater near the campus pond. While taking in the sights, sounds and experiences of Blue Fest, attendees may enjoy the best of craft beers brewed on campus by NCC Brewing, Distillation and Fermentation students, and sample Midway Café’s homemade ice cream and fare provided by NCC Culinary Arts students on the Tuscan Patio.
Blue Fest will feature free family-friendly and dog-friendly activities throughout the day. With hands on, real world demonstrations participants will have an opportunity to experience the latest in occupational training. This includes an Electric Line Construction Pole Climb activity where guests will suit up in safety gear and see what it is like to be a utility worker. Bee keeping, pizza making and a disc golf how-to demonstration will be fun for the entire family.
At the Blue Fest Financial Literacy Fair, NCC math students will demonstrate their interpretation of what it means to be financially literate in 30-minute sessions. An advanced manufacturing demonstration will introduce festival-goers to robotics, automation, 3-D printer prototyping and more… all techniques taught in the College’s Zifferer Family Advanced Manufacturing Lab and applied in local manufacturing settings.
Other activities include a truck driving simulator, drone demonstrations, wellness screening, blacksmithing, face painting, forensics lab tour, guided trail walks on the LiveWell and Learn Trail and more.
Finally, sit down for lunch and relax or “grab and go” at the food pavilion. Foodies will have a variety from which to choose, including local fare and healthy options.
For information call 252-451-8235 or visit www.nashcc.edu/bluefest. All events are rain or shine.
