‘Miracle on 23rd Street’ brings vacation enjoyable with a concentrate on inclusion

It is the time of 12 months for Christmas festivals the place households collect to drink sizzling chocolate, try presents from native artisans and, in fact, get an opportunity to place the youngsters on Santa’s lap.

On Friday, Christmas competition with a concentrate on inclusivity for these with disabilities will take over a number of blocks in Arlington, Virginia, to carry on the vacation enjoyable.

Melwood has been internet hosting “Miracle on 23rd Street” for round 40 years, and whereas the occasion options the standard vacation market you might even see wherever else, this competition pays specific consideration to youngsters and adults with disabilities, corresponding to mobility and sensory points, in addition to those that are deaf or blind.

The occasion features a quiet sensory room crammed with good furnishings for attendees who could also be overly stimulated by the dwell music and enormous crowds.

“They will be able to go to what we’re calling a sensory friendly room where they have downtime,” mentioned Marchesa Whittington, director of public engagement with Melwood. “They can relax. They can get back to baseline.”

One occasion positive to have all the youngsters excited is an indoor snowball combat referred to as the Snowball Blizzard. Whittington mentioned anybody with a wheelchair will nonetheless be capable to take part within the winter enjoyable, and they’re going to even have an on-site interpreter for teenagers and fogeys with listening to points or who’re deaf.

“We are ready for battle,” Whittington mentioned. “It’s going to be a snowball fight indoors, under a tent, no heaters, so it will feel like a winter wonderland.”

Whittington informed WTOP the response Melwood receives from households with disabilities is overwhelmingly constructive.

“We’ve had events where parents have traveled over two hours to come because it is an accessible event,” Whittington mentioned. “They are very much appreciative of what Melwood does, and the thought and care that we put into events.”

The actual principal attraction for the youngsters, in fact, is Santa and Mrs. Claus, who drive down the road on a fireplace truck at 6:10 p.m.

The group will then mild an out of doors Christmas tree and provide photographs with Santa.

The vendor market will provide distinctive toys and different presents for the family members in your record, all coming from a curated number of native artisans, many with disabilities, in addition to youth entrepreneurs.

Melwood has put out a name for volunteers who’re wanted for setup and day-of occasion duties.

“We cannot execute a successful event without volunteers,” Whittington mentioned

The occasion is free, begins Friday at 5 p.m. and ends at 8 p.m. Registration and extra particulars can be found on Melwood’s website.

Get breaking information and every day headlines delivered to your e-mail inbox by signing up right here.

© 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This web site will not be supposed for customers situated throughout the European Economic Area.