The fourth annual abilitySTRONG Parade, San Antonio’s annual Disability Pride Celebration, will take place on October 1 from 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. in downtown San Antonio. The abilitySTRONG Parade, presented by Wave Healthcare, LLC, is San Antonio’s only disability pride parade seeking to change the way people think about and define disability. It is presented by disABILITYsa, City of San Antonio’s Disability Access Office and Hemisfair’s Inclusion Programming.
The parade’s theme “Super Heroes: saving the world with unique abilities” will serve as the official kick-off event to the 16th annual AccessAbility fest, an annual free celebration, held in October during Texas Disability Awareness Month.
Currently, one in every seven individuals living in San Antonio has a disability. The parade is a public expression of the belief that disability is a natural and beautiful part of human diversity in which people living with disabilities can take pride.
This year’s motto is “My Ability is Fierce” and leading the parade and march with the parade banner will be the men and women of City Council followed by its 2022 Grand Marshals, Batman of San Antonio and Tommy Flores, 2018 Fiesta Especial King.
Immediately following the parade, the 16th Annual AccessAbility fest<http://www.accessabilityfest.org> will take place at Hemisfair’s Yanaguana Garden and the Magik Theatre parking lot from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. and feature numerous activities and exhibitors with information, products, programs and services that promote independence and inclusion where individuals with disabilities live, work and play. This FREE celebration also features live entertainment including Tejano artist Sunny Sauceda.
The Parade Grand Marshal Batman of San Antonio is Tommy Flores, 2018 Fiesta Especial King; City Council and Civic Members
Downtown – Parade will line up at 7:30 a.m. and stage along Avenue E in front of First Presbyterian Church and the San Antonio Express-News building. The route will step off at Avenue E, heading west on E. Houston Street, South on N. Main Ave, West on E. Commerce Street, South on South Flores St, East on E. Nueva St., South on South Alamo St. and finish at the dismount location. The judges’ stand and VIP seating will be on a East Nueva and South Alamo at Hemisfair. The parade is estimated to last 1.5 hours and will conclude at 10:30 a.m. The parade route is 1.5 miles.
Immediately following the start of the parade, the 16th annual AccessAbility fest takes place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This annual event is a free, family-friendly festival with a tree adoption, information booths, a costume contest, games, health screenings, food concessions, live entertainment, product and program demonstrations and an adaptive climbing wall coming in from No Limits Tahoe. The fest is a gateway to information, resources and opportunities for individuals overcoming barriers to independence and inclusion due to physical, cognitive, sensory and mental health challenges. AccessAbility fest is inclusive of individuals of all backgrounds and diversities.
For more information, go to www.abilitySTRONGParade.org<http://www.abilitystrongparade.org> or www.accessabilityfest.com<http://www.accessabilityfest.com>
