c/o Jem Shin, Executive Editor
The Office of Student Involvement (OSI) held the first Fall Fest, which incorporated Long Lane Farm’s Pumpkin Fest, on Friday, Oct. 28 and Saturday, Oct. 29. Events included a performance by Prometheus, hot cider and burgers along with performances and vendors at Long Lane Farm, and a concert headlined by Young Wabo.
Fall Fest was planned through the combined efforts of the OSI, Prometheus, Long Lane Farm, the College of the Environment, Bon Appétit, and the Concert Committee. While many of these events were initially planned separately, they all were eventually planned together into one, weekend-long festival.
“We began planning over the summer,” Student Involvement Director Joanne Rafferty wrote in an email to The Argus. “We knew we wanted to have a Fall Concert and that takes a couple of months to finalize.”
Fall Fest began with a Halloween Fire Show by Prometheus, which began at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and lasted for about an hour. The OSI provided free churros, apple pie empanadas, cider, and hot cocoa at the event, and attendees sat on Foss Hill on the grass, on sheets, and in lawn chairs to watch Prometheus members bring the heat on a cold night.
“It was a lot of fun,” Thomas Lyons ’26 said. “I think Wesleyan is one of those cool places where, if I just saw someone throwing around balls of fire in the park I’d be concerned, but on campus, it’s great.”
The next day, Long Lane Farm hosted the 18th annual Pumpkin Fest from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. The event, the main part of Fall Fest, was open to both the Wesleyan community and Middletown residents and included musical performances from student groups and outside artists along with free veggie burgers and hot cider provided by Bon Appétit. Vendors, student groups, and Middletown organizations ran tables at Pumpkin Fest. Additionally, there was an arts and crafts station, which included clay pumpkin decorating and face painting, attracting many local children.
“Beautiful weather, I like the energy that’s been brought onstage,” Richard Bennet ’23 said. “I’ve been seeing a few friends, so it’s nice…. [It’s] a little different from the usual campus experience…just the music, the vibe of the place.”
According to Long Lane Farm Pumpkin Fest Subcommittee member and Prometheus performer Isaac Moss ’25, Pumpkin Fest is intended as a space for the wider Middletown community beyond Wesleyan.
“Pumpkin Fest is fun, first of all, because it’s Long Lane Farm’s big event,” Moss said. “It’s not as similar to the Wesleyan events which are very much specifically for the students. We try to have an open space for vendors and Wesleyan students because the farm really tries to bill itself as for the Middletown community, not just for Wesleyan students.”
The Pumpkin Fest subcommittee started planning in August, working with the College of the Environment. Because Long Lane Farm is student run, the subcommittee had to ensure that there would be power and running water at the event.
“It’s really ramped up through the month, through October,” Moss said. “We’ve really dedicated ourselves.”
Fall Fest ended with the Fall Concert, presented by the Concert Committee, and took place on Saturday night from 8 p.m. to about 9 p.m. in Beckham Hall. FXT Dance opened, followed by rappers LorWood and DBA before Young Wabo took the stage for about half an hour.
“I think that Young Wabo had some good music and stage presence,” said Adrian Peoples ’26.
Overall, Fall Fest and Pumpkin Fest were marked by good food, drink, music, and performances in beautiful Connecticut autumn weather.
“[Fall Fest allows people to] have fun and appreciate our beautiful surroundings,” Rafferty wrote. “I think Fall in New England is a special time of year.”
Spencer Landers can be reached at sklanders@wesleyan.edu.