Last year, California State University, Stanislaus drew about 700 members of the community to its first ever StanFest – a family-friendly free event with carnival games and activities for kids.

This year, the college hopes to bring more than 1,000 children and adults on campus to celebrate CSU Stanislaus’ 51st Founders Day.

“The whole point of StanFest is to celebrate our Founders Day,” said Cesar Rumayor, ASI executive director. “We plan on celebrating not only with our students, but also with the community.”

The event, scheduled to run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday in the University Quad, actually comes a week after the college’s Sept. 18 Founders Day. But Rumayor said the week delay was due to a preponderance of other festivals last weekend, leaving the university to schedule Saturday as a more open date.

StanFest will feature a Family Fun Zone, with free face painting, airbrush tattoos, bounce houses and laser tag. Kids may also play carnival games, winning tickets which are redeemable for prizes like Frisbees and bags.

New this year is an arts and crafts zone. Children, with the help of family members, will have the chance to make picture frames, ornaments and other take-home crafts.

Also different from a year ago is a more firm separation between activities aimed at the community and those aimed at students. The student portion of the event – replete with henna tattoos, a dunk tank free food, and a faculty versus students softball game – won’t begin until Saturday evening, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Parking for StanFest is free.

To contact Alex Cantatore, e-mail acantatore@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2005.