Inclusion Festival, billed as the nation’s first and only sensory-friendly music and wellness festival, is an event designed to include and accommodate people of all ages and abilities. Attendees are invited to participate in a variety of educational and wellness workshops, enjoy sensory-friendly live music, engage in mindfulness practices and build supportive connections. The festival will be held August 9 through 11, at Mountain Sky Festival Grounds, in Jermyn, Pennsylvania.

      Music festivals evoke feelings of joy, connection and open-mindedness, and present powerful platforms for inspiring social change. However, large crowds and loud music can limit opportunities and enjoyment for individuals living with sensory-processing issues like autism, ADHD and anxiety. This unique event, developed around the ideas of accessibility, inclusion and compassion, not only benefits those with special needs, but also strengthens the well-being of society by demonstrating what is possible when communities recognize and embrace the potential contribution of all people.

      Amy Pinder, who co-founded the event with Leah Barron, shares, “We all have special gifts and talents, and we all have a purpose. I believe it is our responsibility as a society to support one another (with love, understanding, respect and compassion) along our path to identify, cultivate and actualize our purpose, so that we, individually and collectively, can experience true happiness and be free from fear and anxiety.”

Location: 63 Still Meadow Lane, Jermyn. Tickets, sponsorships, volunteer and vending opportunities are available at InclusionFestival.com. For more information, call 716-204-8881 or email [email protected].