A gourd time at Old Colony Fall Family Festival
Kieran Adams gets a harness on before ascending the rock wall. Photos by Mari Huglin
An assortment of carmel apples being sold at the Fall Festival.
Old Colony theater students dress as "Peanuts" characters. (From left to right) Daniel Kane as Charlie Brown, William Kane as Snoopy and Cameron Makuch as Pig-Pen.
Kenna Thompson poses at her table selling handmade prints and stickers. 
Jackson Adams climbs high on the rock wall. 
Kieran Adams on the rock wall being belayed by a Carabiner's Climbing Gym employee.
Maple syrup vendor smiles in front of her display.
A student vendor table selling crocheted items. 
More items being sold by a student vendor.
Kieran Adams gets a harness on before ascending the rock wall. Photos by Mari Huglin
An assortment of carmel apples being sold at the Fall Festival.
Old Colony theater students dress as "Peanuts" characters. (From left to right) Daniel Kane as Charlie Brown, William Kane as Snoopy and Cameron Makuch as Pig-Pen.
Kenna Thompson poses at her table selling handmade prints and stickers.
Jackson Adams climbs high on the rock wall.
Kieran Adams on the rock wall being belayed by a Carabiner's Climbing Gym employee.
Maple syrup vendor smiles in front of her display.
A student vendor table selling crocheted items.
More items being sold by a student vendor.
ROCHESTER — Kids raced from laser tag to a mechanical bull to a towering climbing wall while students and vendors sold handcrafted items from their booths at the fifth annual Old Colony Fall Family Festival.
Debra Quin, the president of the Old Colony Parent Teacher Organization, aims to keep everything at the festival low or no cost.
“We like to have as many things that are free as possible,” she said. “We try to sell our food at a minimum rate so that parents can really come and bring their kids and have a good day.”
Quin explained that this event is not a fundraiser — the goal is “to give people just a fun day.”
“Our goal is to give the community an affordable day to spend out with their family. We started it after COVID to bring people back out and we've just continued to do it,” said Quin.
Kenna Thompson, a junior and graphic design student at Old Colony, was excited to be social and sell her prints and stickers at her first festival.
The best part of Thompson’s day was being “able to talk to everyone and meet new faces and being able to promote [her] art.”
“I've been trying to grow myself online, but it's easier to grow myself when there's people coming over to my table [and] checking out my stuff,” said Thompson.
Jazmin Lacy, a parent, was excited to get involved with the community and sign her sons, Jackson Adams and Kieran Adams up for the boy scouts at the festival.
She wanted to “just be part of the community and see what the vendors have to offer and get [Jackson and Kieran] tired out for the day.”
“I'm actually really happy to see this many people involved,” Lacy said.
She continued, “There's so many different activities...and all different kinds of food. It's way more than I thought there would be.”
Dressed as Pig-Pen, senior and welding students Cameron Makuch and other members of the Old Colony theater program donned costumes from the “Peanuts” comics to entertain guests.
“You get to meet some of the people in the theater club and you get to meet some people in culinary. It’s just time to come together,” said Makuch.
Makuch has been involved with the festival all four years and loves that he and the community can meet other Old Colony students.
Makuch said, “It’s what Old Colony is all about...People coming together to have a fun time.
