UPFAD’s disability festival returns to Columbus July 12

Unlimited Possibilities for All Disabilities will host the 12th Annual All Disabilities Festival on July 12 at Dorrian Green Park in downtown Columbus, with free admission, live entertainment, accessible activities and a new companion care restroom. The event is designed to bring together people with disabilities, families, caregivers, veterans and seniors for a day centered on inclusion and community support. Why it matters: - The free festival is built to make a public event more accessible for people with disabilities, seniors, veterans and families with mobility or support needs. - The event pairs entertainment with practical resources, which can help more attendees participate comfortably in a community setting. - The addition of a companion care restroom addresses a common accessibility gap at outdoor events. What happened: - Unlimited Possibilities for All Disabilities will hold the 12th Annual All Disabilities Festival on Sunday, July 12, 2026, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. - The festival will take place at Dorrian Green Park in front of COSI at 50 S. Belle Street in downtown Columbus. - Admission is free. - The 2026 theme is “Christmas in July.” - Presenting sponsor De La Ke’s Fruit of the Spirit Body Oils is backing the event. - The festival will also feature Reclaim the Carnival, a partnership with the Center for Disability Empowerment Youth Team. The details: - Festival activities will include live entertainment, carnival games, community resources, face painting, food vendors, interactive activities and toy giveaways. - The event will include ASL interpreters, sensory-friendly spaces and accessible gaming experiences for individuals who are blind or visually impaired. - Attendees are encouraged, but not required, to bring a non-perishable food item or hygiene product for local organizations serving people in need. - The Momentum Refresh Accessible Restroom and Companion Care Unit will be on site. - Momentum Refresh is described as the nation’s first universally designed ADA-compliant mobile restroom experience. - The unit includes a powered height-adjustable adult changing table, a ceiling hoist system, a powered height-adjustable sink, adjustable grab bars, a toilet with bidet and professional attendants. - The restroom unit is intended for individuals with disabilities, seniors, veterans, families with young children and others with mobility limitations. - UPFAD lists support from Franklin County Board of Commissioners Economic Engagement & Community Development, Rhema Christian Center, Keys To Black Wealth, Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities, The Center for Disability Empowerment, UARC, Boundless, Easterseals Central & Southeast Ohio, ADAMH Board of Franklin County, CareSource, City of Columbus Recreation and Parks, Ohio Sickle Cell and Health Association, COSI, Ohio Department of Veterans Services, KidsLinked, Xoomia, Paulette’s Passion, Paulette Princess Parties, Blessed Men Walking, Gather Love Spreading Ur Wings and Legacy First Funeral Services. Between the lines: - Nicole Carter, founder of UPFAD, said accessibility means more than ramps and parking spaces. - The festival’s focus suggests a broader push to make public recreation spaces work for people with complex support needs, not just basic mobility access. - The companion care unit signals that organizers are trying to remove a barrier that often keeps people from staying longer at public events. What’s next: - UPFAD says more information is available at the organization’s website . - Organizers are positioning the festival as a community gathering that will continue to blend entertainment, services and accessibility on July 12. The bottom line: - UPFAD is trying to make inclusive access visible, practical and family-friendly in the middle of downtown Columbus.