Free autism community festival returns to Sacramento for 9th year
WELCOME BACK. THE NINTH ANNUAL AUTISM COMMUNITY FESTIVAL TAKES PLACE IN SACRAMENTO THIS WEEKEND. IT’S A CELEBRATION OF AUTISM ACCEPTANCE MONTH THAT HELPS CONNECT NEURODIVERSE INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH COMMUNITY ADVOCATES AND ESSENTIAL RESOURCES. WE’RE JOINED THIS MORNING BY EVENT ORGANIZER LEAH SCHENK, AND SHE IS HERE TO TALK MORE ABOUT THIS INCREDIBLE EVENT. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. IT’S BEEN NINE YEARS. YES, YES. LET’S GO BACK A LITTLE BIT THOUGH. WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT TO EVEN START THIS EVENT? YES. SO ACTUALLY, IT’S BEEN 14 YEARS THAT I’VE BEEN PROVIDING SERVICES FOR FAMILIES THROUGH IEP MEETINGS AND HELPING SUPPORT THEM NAVIGATE THE WORLD. AS FAR AS THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS GO. BUT NINE YEARS AGO, IT STARTED OFF WITH JUST A COMMUNITY GATHERING, JUST GETTING FOLKS TOGETHER. I’M A MOTHER OF AN AUTISTIC CHILD, AND IT WAS VERY HARD TO TAKE HIM OUT IN PUBLIC OR TAKE HIM IN SPACES. SO I WANTED TO PROVIDE A SPACE WHERE HE WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE. AND SO IT ENDED UP GROWING INTO THE COMMUNITY, STARTED TO COME. AND NOW IT’S A HUGE EVENT THAT WE DO. AND WE’RE AT OUR NINTH ANNUAL. WHAT IS IT THAT YOU HEAR FROM OTHER FAMILIES AGAIN, AS YOU HAVE PUT THIS ON FOR SO MANY YEARS, OTHER PARENTS AND OTHER FAMILIES THAT DO HAVE CHILDREN THAT, YOU KNOW, DEAL WITH AUTISM IN THEIR FAMILIES IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS. WHAT DO THEY TELL YOU ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF THIS? YES. THE BENEFITS ARE, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU RECEIVE A DIAGNOSIS, YOU DON’T GET ALL THE RESOURCES. SO YOU DON’T REALLY KNOW WHO TO CALL AND WHAT TO DO NEXT. AND SO IT’S A VERY LONELY, LOST SORT OF JOURNEY OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO NAVIGATE. LIKE, WHO DO I CALL? WHERE DO I GET SERVICES FROM? HOW DO I DO WHAT’S BEST FOR MY LOVED ONE? RIGHT? SO THIS IS A ONE STOP SHOP WHERE FOLKS CAN COME AND THE RESOURCE SPECIALISTS ARE THERE. SO THAT THERAPEUTIC SERVICES, THE OT, THE SPEECH, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE ENGAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES THAT SPECIALIZE SPECIFICALLY IN AUTISM ARE THERE. SO IT’S A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME AND YOU DON’T HAVE TO GUESS OR WONDER WHAT’S OUT THERE BECAUSE THEY’RE GOING TO BE AT THE FESTIVAL. ONE OF THE THINGS I ALSO READ THAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS IS THAT IT IS IT IS CATERED SPECIFIC TO FAMILIES. SO I MEAN, YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO THERE AND WORRY ABOUT THINGS THAT WOULD CAUSE EVEN MORE PROBLEMS. SO EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT SOMETHING CALLED A FESTIVAL, WHAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY EXPECT. YES. SO THIS IS DEFINITELY GEARED AROUND EVERY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL THAT IS ON THE SPECTRUM, WHICH WE KNOW IS WIDE. SO WE HAVE SENSORY STATIONS SET UP FOR THE SENSORY RIGHT. WE HAVE QUIET SPACES SET UP FOR IF IT’S TOO MUCH STIMULATION OR TOO MUCH NOISE, WE HAVE THAT. IT’S EVERYTHING THAT I MY LIFE HAS ALREADY ENCOMPASSED, RIGHT. MY SON IS 16, SO WE’VE ALREADY HE WAS DIAGNOSED AT 18 MONTHS. SO THIS HAS BEEN OUR LIFE OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHICH RESTAURANTS WE CAN GO TO THAT HAVE A QUIET SPACE. HOW DO WE TRAVEL WITH THE CHILD THAT IS AUTISTIC? AND SO WE DEFINITELY HAVE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. IT’S A FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT. EVERYONE CAN COME. THERE’S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE ON ALL DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE SPECTRUM. AND WHAT’S THE COST? IT’S FREE. IT’S FREE AND OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY. ALL RIGHT. GIVE US SOME DETAILS. WHAT HAPPENS THIS WEEKEND? THIS WEEKEND? YES, YES. LIBERTY TOWERS, COME ON OUT. IT’S 12 TO 3 AND THE VENDORS WILL BE THERE. THERE’S GOING TO BE ACTIVITIES INSIDE AND OUT, RAIN OR SHINE. IT’S AN INDOOR EVENT AND IT’S FREE AND OPEN
Free autism community festival returns to Sacramento for 9th year
Updated: 1:17 PM PDT Apr 16, 2026
Sacramento’s autism community is coming together once again for a day of celebration, connection, and support. EMPACT is hosting its 9th Annual Autism Community Festival on Saturday, April 18, an event that is free and open to the public.Held during Autism Acceptance Month, the sensory-friendly, family-focused festival brings together neurodiverse individuals, families, service providers, and community organizations for an afternoon centered on inclusion and resources.Organizers say the event has grown into a cornerstone for the local autism community over the past nine years. What began as a small gathering is now a widely anticipated celebration designed to create a safe and welcoming space where neurodiverse individuals are not just accommodated but celebrated.EMPACT Founder & CEO Leia Schenk joined KCRA 3 on Thursday morning to discuss the event. Click the video above to watch the full interview.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Sacramento’s autism community is coming together once again for a day of celebration, connection, and support.
EMPACT is hosting its 9th Annual Autism Community Festival on Saturday, April 18, an event that is free and open to the public.
Held during Autism Acceptance Month, the sensory-friendly, family-focused festival brings together neurodiverse individuals, families, service providers, and community organizations for an afternoon centered on inclusion and resources.
Organizers say the event has grown into a cornerstone for the local autism community over the past nine years.
What began as a small gathering is now a widely anticipated celebration designed to create a safe and welcoming space where neurodiverse individuals are not just accommodated but celebrated.
EMPACT Founder & CEO Leia Schenk joined KCRA 3 on Thursday morning to discuss the event.
Click the video above to watch the full interview.
