It’s not often that getting dirty — heck, filthy — and getting an education go hand in hand.

But if the organizers behind the Sixth Annual Samish Bay Bivalve Bash and Low Tide Mud Run continue to have their way, that mind-set could change.

On Saturday, July 19, at Taylor Shellfish Farms on the Samish Bay in Bow, up to 200 adults (250 yards) and 100 youths (100 yards) will navigate the muck of the aptly named Mud Run, which will be held at low tide that day, 12:23 p.m. (the kids’ race starts at 11:45 a.m.)

There’s the obvious fun factor of wearing as much of the course as you can but the 250-yard race can be physically strenuous, says Kate McDermott, who has served as race director for all of its six years.

“It’s fun, but it’s not fun,’” McDermott said. “As you can imagine, it’s like running in wet cement; you get heavy feet.”

McDermott said the last thing she wanted to do was to imply the run wasn’t a total hoot — “It’s an opportunity for adults and kids to play in the mud — it brings out your inner Pigpen.”

Putting on the Bivalve Bash and Mud Run serves many purposes, said McDermott, who has also been the Bivalve Bash project manager for three years.

“We are seeing this as a wonderful day for clean water awareness programs, education and shoreline restoration,” McDermott said.

“The idea is to have some summer fun on the beach while raising awareness of water quality issues,” Taylor Shellfish Farms President Bill Taylor said in a press release.

Bivalve Bash activities kick off at 10 a.m. with Mud Run registration, the Oyster Shell Sculpture Contest, Mr. Krabby’s Kid Pond and oyster shuffleboard.

The Kid’s Beach will be open throughout the day. Crab races start at 10:30 am and are ongoing. The official mascot of the Puget Sound cleanup effort, the Mud Monster, will also attend the day’s festivities. The Oyster Shell Sculpture Contest begins at 10 a.m., with judging at 2 p.m.; first prize is a cool $350.

New this year is the opportunity to build ferry houses on the beach, and see a lighthouse made entirely of oyster shells.

“That’s kind of a neat thing; it’s probably the only lighthouse put together out of only oyster shells,” McDermott said.

There will be ample food vendors and a beer garden opening at 11 a.m. Bellingham classic-rock band The Atlantics will perform from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., and visitors can treat themselves to a bivalve face painting, oyster shuffleboard, shucking contests and silent auctions.

Don’t forget the element of learning, McDermott said.

“We’ll have lots of educational exhibits — a touch tank and interpretive beach walks,” McDermott said. “There’s great, great food and everything is local.” The Bivalve Bash provides activities for all ages, McDermott said, not the least of which is spending a day at the beach on one of the most glorious parts of Puget Sound.

“It’s an absolutely beautiful location,” McDermott said.