2025 Fraser Festival, presented by Central Roofing Company

May 03, 2025 — 09:00 AM-01:00 PM— Saint Paul RiverCentre — MAP

A little girl dances happily while wearing a set of glowing headphones. A boy peers curiously into the eyes of a star mascot. A young man grins from ear to ear while playing mini golf. A teen sinks their fingers into the fluffy, and surprisingly soft, fur of a therapy alpaca.

Words sometimes fail to describe the joy that fills the air at the Fraser Festival, presented by Central Roofing Company. But if you’ve attended before, you’ve experienced it. You see it in the tapping of a little girl’s feet, the look of wonder on a young boy’s face, and the wide smile of a young man.

And it’s because there are no other events like the Fraser Festival, presented by Central Roofing Company.

It’s a sensory-friendly, community event, created for people with sensory processing differences. It’s both a celebration of neurodiversity and a judgment-free zone for people of all ages, abilities, neurodiversities, cultures, and backgrounds to be themselves and have fun. And it’s free.

Want to experience this one-of-a-kind event? Join us for the Fraser Festival, presented by Central Roofing Company, on Sat., May 3, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Saint Paul RiverCentre in downtown St. Paul.

The event features music, movement, games, food, and entertainment in zones that engage each of the body’s eight senses. You’re probably familiar with the five senses — taste, smell, hear, touch, and see, but we actually have at least eight senses, including proprioception (coordination), vestibular (balance/movement), and interoception (feeling).

To keep the event truly inclusive, it also offers accommodations — like a calming space and Fraser Sensory Support volunteers — for those with sensory differences. These individuals experience discomfort from sensory input like loud noises, bright lights, strong smells, and crowds. Sensory differences are common for people with autism and disabilities. The accommodations ensure everyone in the community can enjoy the festivities.

Your support ensures that the festival remains a free and inclusive experience for all.

While attendance is free, the festival is supported by the generosity of fundraising teams, individual donors, sponsors, and sales of festival mascot plushies. Every dollar raised helps cover event costs and supports individuals with autism and disabilities in our community. Sponsorships fund the event. If you’re interested in becoming an event sponsor, please email rose.rosario@fraser.org. Sponsors are also entitled to a variety of marketing and promotional opportunities. If you’d like to volunteer at the festival, email hannah.watson@fraser.org.

Come see, feel, and taste the fun you can have stimulating your senses!

Our festival plush toys exclusively designed by Christopher Straub, Dolly, Fidget, or Tito are also still available for purchase from the Fraser Store.

Purchase a Fraser Festival Plushie