On October 28, Inland Regional Center (IRC) transformed downtown Riverside into a Halloween-themed street fair for the 2019 IRC Fall Festival. This annual event connects IRC clients and their families with services available to people with developmental disabilities in the Inland Empire.  The addition of shopping vendors and food trucks made this year’s festival an event for the whole community.

This year’s event took place on Main Street in downtown Riverside between 10^th Street and University Avenue. The venue, which features fountains, public art, and the City Hall stage, provided the perfect backdrop for event festivities. CJ Cook, IRC Community Engagement Manager had this to say about the event moving to Riverside this year, “We are so pleased to be partnering with the City of Riverside for the Fall Festival. It gives us the opportunity our clients in the Riverside area. The venue, as well as the assortment of food and shopping booths, allowed us to connect with the Riverside community at large. That helps us spread the message about the work we are doing to serve folks with disabilities in the I.E.”

More than 70 community agencies hosted elaborately decorated exhibitor booths to provide information about their services to festival attendees. Exhibitors also provided Halloween-themed, games, activities, raffles, and giveaways at their booths. Thirty shopping vendors sold an array of items including art, books, jewelry, t-shirts, Christmas ornaments and more. Food offerings included tacos, nachos, bacon-wrapped hot dogs, and shaved ice!

Guests of all ages got into the Halloween spirit dressing as witches, cowboys, princesses, and superheroes. Group costumes were very popular with entire families dressed as Star Wars characters or the cast of The Nightmare Before Christmas.  Festival attendees were also treated to face painting, glitter tattoos, balloons, a photobooth and more.

Daisy Quiroz, IRC’s Event Developer worked hard to ensure that this event was provided to the community free of charge. This year’s festival was presented by Pathway, Inc. with sponsorship from In-Roads Creative Programs, California Mentor, and Creating a Legacy. United Cerebral Palsy of the Inland Empire, Ability Center, and Independent Options.

For more 2019 Fall Festival photos, visit IRC on Facebook at facebook.com/inlandregionalcenter.

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Community Engagement

Inland Regional Center's Community Engagement Unit can be reached at [email protected]