A group of people at Cultivating Dreams Farm Fall Festival stand and sit in front of a red shed with big bright yellow sunflowers painted on it.

Harvesting Happiness: Fall Festival at Cultivating Dreams Farm

As the leaves began to take on their brilliant autumn hues, Cultivating Dreams Farm welcomed the season with open arms at its annual Fall Festival.

CBS Director of Day Programs Betty Rivadeneira and her team organized the October 13th event. Set on 10 acres of rolling hills and rustic charm, the event proved to be a day of pure delight, drawing visitors from CBS and In Flight, Inc. to celebrate the vibrant spirit of fall. “It’s great weather,” said Janie, a visitor from In Flight. “I like seeing my friends and meeting new people.”

Friends from In Flight, Inc., celebrated autumn at Cultivating Dreams during Fall Fest. They are standing in front of the mural they helped to paint.

After a rainy month, the weather couldn’t have been more perfect. A gentle breeze rustled through the trees, as attendees played games, and made music and art under the autumn sun. In addition to pumpkin bowling and spider toss, people lined up to have their faces painted with imaginative designs. 

a young man stands behind a giant game of check 4 on a vibrant green field at Cultivating Dreams Farm
A young man dressed in red and holding a red cell phone, poses with one cheek painted outdoors during the fall festival.
A young man tosses a pumpkin down a lane created by hay bales to knock down pins during the pumpkin bowling game on the farm fields.

Special Guests: 2 x 2 Animal Haven

Fascinating and adorable creatures from the 2 x 2 Animal Petting Zoo were this year’s special guests. A bearded dragon, tortoise, hare, goats, and baby kangaroo engaged with people young and old. They brought out the nurturing side in everyone, providing opportunities for close encounters of the critter kind.

A young man leans over an enclosure to pet two small goats at Cultivating Dreams Farm
A bearded dragon reptile rests in the hands of an animal handler
An animal handler from 2 x 2 Animal Haven holds a baby kangaroo wrapped in a blanket while a man in a black sweatshirt reaches over to pet it. They are both smiling

Harmony and Color: Music and Art at Fall Festival

Since the farm is a satellite location of Hudson Valley InterArts, music and art provided a vibrant backdrop to the Fall Festival. Under the pavilion, guests tapped their toes and swayed to the smooth melodies of Deborah, a professional vocalist and Hudson Valley InterArts instructor. A drum circle led by the talented Ernesto brought out the rhythm in everyone. People gathered in the barn to create a tissue paper collage of pumpkins.

A young woman in a pink ball cap and pink sweatpants holds hands with a young man in jeans and a grey jacket as they dance under a white pavilion at Cultivating Dreams Farm
A drumming circle, led by Ernesto on the bongos, sits around a fire pit while a woman stands in front playing a rythmn instrument.

What’s a fall festival without cider, donuts, and pumpkins? Guests reveled in these seasonal treats, savoring the flavors of fall while visiting the pumpkin patch. Every person could select just the right pumpkin to take home. 

A man with a hat and flannel shirt and a man in a blue shirt holds a large orange pumpkin from the pumkin patch at Cultivating Dreams Farm

At its heart, the Fall Festival offered not only a connection with the changing seasons but with each other as friends, new and old, celebrated together through play, music, art, and dance. Cultivating Dreams Farm, with its dedication to meaningful experiences for people with disabilities, had once again provided an unforgettable experience that nurtured the soul and harvested happiness in abundance. It was a day where the warmth of friendship and the beauty of the season intertwined, leaving lasting memories of inclusivity, togetherness, and fun.

A DSP brings her group to a picnic at Cultivating Dreams Farm

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