On Thursday, April 9, we gathered at Fiesta Gardens to celebrate something remarkable: 30 years of Art in the Park! In partnership with McBeth Recreation Center and Austin Parks and Recreation, Art Spark Texas' Art in the Park has centered performers with disabilities while opening the door for children and adults of all abilities to make, explore, and experience art in the park in a welcoming and accessible environment. What began as a simple idea has grown into a beloved Austin tradition where inclusion isn’t a feature, it’s the foundation.
This year’s event brought Fiesta Gardens to life with music, food pop-ups, and dozens of hands-on art and ecology activities. Local schools and day programs arrived by the busload. Artists, volunteers, classrooms, and neighbors filled the park with art, music and joy.
This kind of gathering is built through steady partnership, care, and a shared belief that access to the arts matters. It reflects the work of educators, artists, volunteers, and community members who continue to show up so that art in Austin is truly for everyone. Thirty years in, Art in the Park continues to show what’s possible when access leads, and creativity belongs to us all.
Special thanks to all the musicians and performers including Jonah Dillon's live wheelchair painting and Glass Half Full Theatre's Serpent Performance - and to Circle of Fifths Music Institute who partnered with us on this year's lineup of talent.
This year, we expanded the event with a dedicated ecology activity area, supported by the Texas Commission on the Arts. Local partners including the Austin Parks Foundation, the Lyndon B. Johnson Library, Birdability, and the Capital Area Master Naturalists led hands-on learning that invited participants to identify birds, explore local flora and fauna, and better understand the natural habitats around them.
We also grew our therapist-run sensory retreat booth, creating more space for regulation and rest. This area was guided by the expertise of Austin-based nonprofit Unboredroom, whose work in therapy and inclusive events helped shape a welcoming environment for anyone who needed a quiet moment during the day.
Special thanks to our sponsors and volunteers! We couldn't continue this inclusive Austin legacy event without your support. Art in the Park ensures children and adults of all ages and abilities are able to engage and participate in the arts, see themselves on stage, and engage with a supportive community. Art in the Park 2027 will take place the second week of April - stay tuned for details!
