Sensory-Friendly

Sensory-Friendly and Low-Sensory
Festival Experiences

The Museums & Cultural Affairs Department (MCAD) is dedicated to creating festival experiences that all attendees can enjoy. After first piloting low-sensory elements for the 2023 festival, Chalk the Block established consistent quiet hours and has continued to build all-abilities programming into the festival schedule. Beginning in 2024, Chalk the Block has also included vertical and/or large-scale chalking opportunities to ensure that community members can add their artwork in easier-to-reach spaces. For an example of typical offerings, check out this video from the 18th Annual festival, created by the City of El Paso.

Alongside our museums and other partners, MCAD is excited to continue this work at our 19th Annual Chalk the Block!

Get Ready to Visit
Chalk the Block!

For families and visitors who might want to prepare before visiting the festival, Chalk the Block provides guides that can be reviewed ahead of time. These guides are also available on-site during the event at the MCAD info tent, located on Franklin Street.

Pre-Visit Guide: A longform guide providing an introduction for first-time visitors, families, and individuals with developmental disabilities. The guide includes information on each area of the festival footprint, with photos and helpful tips.
Download the 2026 Pre-Visit Guide here!

Printable Picture Schedule: A simplified guide to the key sights, sounds, and experiences of Chalk the Block, the picture schedule uses recognizable icons to help attendees visualize the festival environment. The picture schedule is available in English and Spanish, and the document also includes DIY options in both languages, with blank boxes families can fill in together.
Download the 2026 Picture Schedule here!

Special Activities

Festival Quiet Hours

• Enjoy a quieter festival environment with no music on stages and attendees asked to reduce noise (10am to 12pm, Saturday and Sunday)

El Paso Museum of Art

• Polytab kite-making activity (low-sensory activity, 10am to 12pm, Saturday and Sunday)

El Paso Museum of History

• Screenprinting activity with Rotulistas design (low-sensory activity, 10am to 2pm, Saturday and Sunday)
• Chalk the Past with the El Paso Museum of Archaeology (vertical drawing activity, 10am to 10pm, Saturday only)

El Paso Mexican American Cultural Center

• Low-sensory room (low-sensory activity, 10am to 12pm & 1pm to 9pm Saturday; 10am to 12pm & 1pm to 5pm Sunday)

Arts Festival Plaza

• River Memory Wall installation (vertical drawing activity, full festival hours, Saturday and Sunday)

Helpful Tools and Locations

We’re proud that sites on our footprint—including the El Paso Museum of Art, El Paso Museum of History, Mexican American Cultural Center, and El Paso Library Main Branch, are certified with KultureCity. Each of these sites will have quiet spaces available along with full sensory kits including noise dampening headphones, fidget items, and more. Staff at the front desk of each site can assist with lending out these items.

The MCAD information tent, where free chalk is distributed, has chalk holders available for attendees as well as noise dampening headphones. Copies of the visit guides are also available at this tent.

At the site of the Chalk Art Competition on Oregon Street, staff will be happy to provide verbal descriptions of Chalk Art competition pieces.

“Okay to touch” and “please don’t touch” stickers can be found at locations around the footprint to help guide attendees.

The festival family reunification point is located at the Mexican American Cultural Center.

An accessibility drop-off zone is located on Oregon Street between Missouri and Franklin. The spot is designated for five-minute drop offs, allowing attendees to enter the footprint directly.