Family Fridays at the Farm — the event we have all been waiting for — finally made its groundbreaking debut on a sunny and breezy Friday, May 26, at Cultivating Dreams. One might ask, what was the agenda of the day? Olimpia, Cultivating Dreams’ newest farmer, would superbly describe it as “one big party!” 

Olimpia was absolutely correct in her description of the agenda. Adults of of all abilities, their families, and staff spent the day on the 10-acre farm, indulging in an exciting concoction of sports, music, art, and farm-related activities, enjoying great company, yummy food, and the quiet, natural beauty of the farm. 

Hudson Valley InterArts Classes at the Farm

Taylor Martin, the program coordinator of the Hudson Valley InterArts Center and Family Fridays at the Farm, shared how “a good number of people asked me today, ‘why are we doing this? Why are we here?’” and she replied, “Why not! You know? We have this space — this beautiful farm. It’s great watching people let go, relax, and enjoy the day.” 

Drumming Circle

To kickstart the event, friends of all abilities gathered around the firepit and grabbed a colorful drum. The music session commenced when the group and Debbie Major, a CBS music teacher, launched into a series of call and response drumming patterns. After running through a few practice sessions, each drummer acquired the center of the drum circle, ready to lead their very own drum rhythm for the group to mimic. One by one, drummers started off the group rumbling with a countdown, set the volume and pace of the music, and eventually counted out the production back into silence. 

Arts & Crafts, Sports and Gardening

Once it was time for lunch, staff, friends and their family members helped themselves to a delicious assortment of fruits, veggies, and smoothies. As for the remainder of the day, the event participants floated between arts and crafts in the Art Barn, dancing and singing to karaoke in the pavilion, painting a large yellow sunflower mural on a barn, splattering vibrant paint on white t-shirts in the grass alongside InterArts teacher Rene Soto, throwing a football with friends, planting and watering the vegetables, flowers, and fruits in the Sensory Garden, and quietly observing the beauty of nature.

What Did Participants Say?

Christian A., a fellow Fridays at the Farm attendee, shared how he was very excited about planting sunflowers, pumpkins, corn, and berries in the sensory garden, and painting a sunflower mural makes him feel great. 

Tony exclaimed that his favorite part about Fridays at the Farm was the karaoke and dance party. “I like to sing and dance,” he said. “Music makes me feel good.” 

And Erin H., another Friday at the Farm attendee and fellow art mural painter, spoke about how painting “is really good for your stress.” She added her favorite part about Fridays at the Farm is being outside. “It’s so nice out,” she said. 

Many art, farm, music activities and projects dot the Fridays at the Farm horizon, including enjoying a butterfly garden, painting a butterfly mural, unearthing one square foot of soil to examine the critters crawling beneath, and more.

For now, it’s safe to say one of the most popular karaoke hits of the day, “Can’t Stop The Feeling,” (Justin Timberlake) just about sums up the overarching sentiment of the first Family Friday at the Farm. CBS looks forward to hosting many Friday at the Farm events in the future.