Celebrating the County's Diversity: Community Invited to 5th Annual Inclusion Festival

Redwood City - The community is invited to celebrate the county's disabled community this week during the 5th Annual Inclusion Festival, a free day of food, fun and music aimed at connecting attendees with vital resources and vendors and with one another.

The festival will be Thursday July 25 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. atRed Morton Park, 1120 Roosevelt Ave. in Redwood City. The park includes the Magical Bridge Playground, one of the first inclusive and open outdoor playgrounds in San Mateo County.

Angela Piazza, a long-time member of the County Commission on Disabilities, emphasized the importance of the festival's location.

"With the event being adjacent to the Redwood City Magical Bridge Playground, an all-inclusive playground, it reinforces the message of barrier-free fun," she said.

The event originated in August 2018 when the commission first hosted the Inclusion Festival as a way for the county's community to engage and learn more about people with disabilities. Originally located at Burton Park in San Carlos, the event received an outpouring of support and attracted over 400 people. In 2023, the festival was moved to July to align with Disability Pride Month and the Americans with Disabilities Act, the first civil rights law protecting people with disabilities.

With a commitment to equity, Board of Supervisors President Warren Slocum has played an active role with the festival for two years and will speak at this year's event for the second time.

"The festival is a time for everyone to come together and celebrate members of our community with disabilities. It's our mission to support and connect all county residents, particularly those with disabilities, to available resources that will enrich their lives," Slocum said.

In addition to hearing from Slocum, attendees can also talk to 47 vendors from County departments, local representatives, disability agencies and nonprofit organizations. Informational booths will include Supervisors Ray Mueller and Noella Corzo, San Mateo County Jobs for Youth, the Department of Rehabilitation, San Mateo County Public Health, Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Victim Services Division and HIP Housing.

The Inclusion Festival is an opportunity to "connect the disabled community to resources they may not have known existed," said Andrew Eng, the County liaison to the commission.

The day also includes boxed lunches with sandwiches, chips, cookies and water that will be served by San Mateo County's Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) to the first 450 attendees. Not only can attendees mingle, celebrate and support San Mateo County's disabled community but they can also enjoy family-friendly music by a DJ while kids receive and play with free balloon animals.

"This festival not only offers a day filled with music, food and entertainment but also stands as a testament to the values of inclusivity, especially during Disability Pride Month ... It's a place where everyone, regardless of ability, can enjoy the festivities and learn about the resources available in San Mateo County," Piazza said.

Michelle Durand

Chief Communications Officer

[email protected]