With jugglers, acrobats, face painting, and a barn full of baby animals, Retreat Farm is ready to celebrate the beginning of summer with opening weekend. Kid goats, piglets, lambs, and chicks usually command visitors attention when the farm opens for the season, but this year they will have to share the limelight with an array of performances.

The celebration kicks off Saturday, May 25th as aspiring performers from the internationally recognized New England Center for Circus Arts training program, swing, leap and fly present acrobatics, juggling and aerials. Performances will take place on Saturday at 12 pm, 12:45 pm, 1:30 pm, and 2:15 pm.

On Sunday, the New England Youth Theater will present singers, jugglers, and clowns from 11am to 1pm. These energetic theater students will entertain and delight visitors of all ages. Face painting will also be available from 11am to 1pm on Sunday.

All of the activities on Farmhouse Square are free and open to all thanks to River Valley Credit Union, who is sponsoring the weekend’s festivities.

Retreat Farm will also offer Goat Yoga on Sunday at 9 am. Bring your practice to a whole new level with some curious and friendly assistants. The Farm will also host a Cheesemaking Workshop on Sunday in collaboration with Rebop Farm from 10 am-1:30 pm. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll not only learn the science behind cheese, but you’ll get to make butter, ricotta, & mozzarella and crème fraîche or yogurt if time permits.

The Children’s Farm & Forest will also welcome visitors with a barn full of animals. Lead sheep to pasture, frolic with goats, hold baby chicks, collect eggs, and explore the forest playground and garden. The barn will be open this weekend from 10am to 4pm, including Memorial Day.

To make programming and events accessible, Retreat Farm offers reduced pricing for EBT, Medicaid, and Reduced/Free School Lunch letter or cardholders through the Open Barn program. Open Barn admission is $3 per person or $20 for a year-long membership. Regular admission to the Farm is $8/adult, $6/ children and seniors. Children under 2 are free.

For more information and event registration, visit retreatfarm.org.