Loud rides, carnival games, live music, braying animals and bright lights — all are common sights and sounds at the LA County Fair.
But for a few hours on Thursday, May 16, the typically boisterous fair will go “quiet” for “Thoughtful Thursday,” creating a “sensory-inclusive” atmosphere for neurodivergent guests, fair organizers said.
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, carnival noise will be reduced and the lights will be turned off or lowered to accommodate those who are neurodivergent, people with special needs, conditions such as autism, or neurological or developmental conditions, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
“We are making clear efforts to make the LA County Fair more inclusive,” Roberto Viramontes, executive director of The Learning Centers at Fairplex, said before the event. “Students and adults (who) may have challenges with sensory inputs — the fair is a place where sometimes it gets a little loud, which can cause a lot of anxiety. We want people to be able to have fun, not be anxious. So we lower the music and the noise level as much as possible, turn down the lights, so that it’s more inclusive to guests who do have sensory-processing challenges.”
It’s the first “Thoughtful Thursday” since the pandemic, Viramontes said. His group’s focus is to expand educational and welcoming programming for all children and visitors to the annual county fair that draws thousands each year.
The Fairplex partnered with nonprofit KultureCity for the event, which trains staff and helps certify venues with sensory-inclusive modifications.
Through its “FairStars” field trip program, Viramonte said thousands of youth have participated in sensory-inclusive programming at the LA County Fair. Events are promoted to local school districts, children with disabilities and special needs, and more throughout the region.
During “Thoughtful Thursday,” the whole fair — vendors, live music and all — aims to minimize sound and noise, especially in the “Kiddie Land” area.
