FOLEY — Families and friends gathered at Heritage Park on Saturday for Oct-SHOW-ber Fest, a sensory-friendly fall festival designed to provide an inclusive and engaging environment for …
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FOLEY — Families and friends gathered at Heritage Park on Saturday for Oct-SHOW-ber Fest, a sensory-friendly fall festival designed to provide an inclusive and engaging environment for individuals with special needs.
Hosted by SHOW Baldwin Inc. (Special Humans Outreach & Wellness), the event, held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., offered a wide range of activities and entertainment tailored to be accessible and enjoyable for attendees of all abilities.
The festival featured free games, prizes, inflatable bounce houses, sensory play areas, pumpkin decorating and live sensory-friendly entertainment. Attendees also enjoyed a petting zoo, visits with Cappy the Clown and a variety of concessions available for purchase.
A unique feature of the event was the Squeaky Clean Tent — an accessible privacy tent equipped with a large changing table and stocked with disinfecting supplies, allowing caregivers to tend to loved ones in a safe, private environment. The tent was wheelchair accessible and designed to accommodate all ages.
Booth sponsors, including therapy centers, businesses and families, helped make the event a success by providing activities such as carnival games and sensory-friendly stations. Families and individuals who sponsored booths added a personal touch, including several who dedicated booths in honor of their children. Their support, along with contributions from businesses and community organizations, helped bring SHOW Baldwin's vision of a sensory-friendly fall festival to life.
Local cheerleading teams — the Foley Fireworks and the Elberta Shining Star Warriors — performed, adding energy and excitement to the day. Attendees also had the chance to dance at the Boogie Bonfire.
Volunteers played a crucial role in making Oct-SHOW-ber Fest a success, generously donating their time to run games, activities and sensory-friendly stations throughout the day.
Oct-SHOW-ber Fest offered a day of fun, accessibility and inclusion for Baldwin County's special needs community. For more information on future events and their mission, follow SHOW Baldwin Inc. on Facebook or Instagram.
