{"id":142236,"date":"2026-03-20T13:57:07","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T18:57:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/neworleans\/?p=142236"},"modified":"2026-03-20T14:06:21","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T19:06:21","slug":"celebrating-world-down-syndrome-day-at-gigis-playhouse-new-orleans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/neworleans\/2026\/03\/20\/celebrating-world-down-syndrome-day-at-gigis-playhouse-new-orleans\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating World Down Syndrome Day at GiGi\u2019s Playhouse New Orleans"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/neworleans\/files\/2026\/03\/IMG_6466-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-142241\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/neworleans\/files\/2026\/03\/IMG_6466-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/neworleans\/files\/2026\/03\/IMG_6466-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/neworleans\/files\/2026\/03\/IMG_6466-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/neworleans\/files\/2026\/03\/IMG_6466-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/neworleans\/files\/2026\/03\/IMG_6466.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">World Down Syndrome Day is one of the most meaningful days of the year at GiGi\u2019s Playhouse New Orleans and we are so excited to celebrate with our entire community!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tomorrow, March 21, 2026 we will be hosting our annual World Down Syndrome Day Crawfish Boil in partnership with American Legion Post 350 from 10:00am to 3:00pm. This special day is all about celebrating acceptance, inclusion, and the incredible individuals and families that make up our GiGi\u2019s community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Crawfish will be served starting at 12:00pm, prepared by our incredible partners at Sal\u2019s Riverside Seafood &amp; Catering. We\u2019ll have <strong>500 pounds of crawfish<\/strong> ready to go! Plates will be available for purchase at $20. In addition to crawfish, there will be other food options available thanks to the American Legion Post 350 and the Boy Scouts, along with sweet treats and baked goods from our community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/neworleans\/files\/2026\/03\/3-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-142240\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/neworleans\/files\/2026\/03\/3-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/neworleans\/files\/2026\/03\/3-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/neworleans\/files\/2026\/03\/3-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/neworleans\/files\/2026\/03\/3-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/neworleans\/files\/2026\/03\/3-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This year\u2019s event is made possible thanks to the generous support of our Presenting Sponsor, the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust, and our amazing community partners including Louisiana Blue, DSAGNO, Louisiana Seafood, and Sal\u2019s Riverside Seafood &amp; Catering. In celebration of World Down Syndrome Day, DSAGNO went above and beyond by providing <strong>910 pairs of socks <\/strong>that have been shared throughout our community to help spread awareness and spark conversations about Down syndrome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beyond the food, this day is about coming together and celebrating what makes our community so special. Families can enjoy music, outdoor games, and interactive activities for all ages. Enjoy a variety of yard games for all ages, adding even more fun to the day\u2019s celebration. We\u2019ll have a sock decorating station to celebrate the iconic mismatched socks of World Down Syndrome Day, along with a sensory table designed for hands-on fun and engagement. We are also excited to have LSU School of Dentistry on-site providing free dental screenings for attendees, helping promote healthy habits and access to care.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"522\" height=\"583\" src=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/neworleans\/files\/2026\/03\/Rock-Your-Socks-for-BLOG.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-142238\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/neworleans\/files\/2026\/03\/Rock-Your-Socks-for-BLOG.jpg 522w, https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/neworleans\/files\/2026\/03\/Rock-Your-Socks-for-BLOG-269x300.jpg 269w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 522px) 100vw, 522px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">World Down Syndrome Day is recognized globally on March 21 (3\/21) to represent the triplication of the 21st chromosome. It is a day to raise awareness, celebrate achievements, and advocate for inclusion in all areas of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It truly takes a community to make an event like this possible. We are incredibly grateful to our neighbors, AMA Entertainment and Lucky Coin, for generously allowing us to use additional parking and for supporting us with post-event cleanup. Your partnership and kindness help make this day welcoming and accessible for all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether you come for the crawfish, the activities, or simply to be part of something meaningful, we invite you to join us for a day full of joy, connection, and celebration.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"762\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/neworleans\/files\/2026\/03\/Van-Vrancken-Office-WDSD-Socks-2026-762x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-142239\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/neworleans\/files\/2026\/03\/Van-Vrancken-Office-WDSD-Socks-2026-762x1024.jpeg 762w, https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/neworleans\/files\/2026\/03\/Van-Vrancken-Office-WDSD-Socks-2026-223x300.jpeg 223w, https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/neworleans\/files\/2026\/03\/Van-Vrancken-Office-WDSD-Socks-2026-768x1032.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/neworleans\/files\/2026\/03\/Van-Vrancken-Office-WDSD-Socks-2026-1143x1536.jpeg 1143w, https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/neworleans\/files\/2026\/03\/Van-Vrancken-Office-WDSD-Socks-2026.jpeg 1488w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 762px) 100vw, 762px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We can\u2019t wait to celebrate with you\u2014and don\u2019t forget to wear your mismatched socks! <strong>Be sure to snap a photo and tag @gigisplayhouseneworleans and @DSAGNO on social media. We love seeing your fun and creative socks!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Can\u2019t make it but still want to be part of the impact? Consider making a donation to support our free, life-changing programs for individuals with Down syndrome and their families <a href=\"https:\/\/connect.clickandpledge.com\/w\/Form\/4656b3e1-33a6-4926-bc0c-754c24558c75?_gl=1*7aq3ow*_gcl_au*MTM4OTk0OTg4Ny4xNzcwNzMzNjgx*_ga*MjAzNTAzNTY2NC4xNzIxOTIyOTU3*_ga_CVBL42Z351*czE3NzQwMzI0NDYkbzEwNTMkZzEkdDE3NzQwMzI0NTIkajU0JGwwJGgw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HERE<\/a>. Because of you, all things are possible at GiGi\u2019s. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>World Down Syndrome Day is one of the most meaningful days of the year at GiGi\u2019s Playhouse New Orleans and we are so excited to celebrate with our entire community! Tomorrow, March 21, 2026 we will be hosting our annual World Down Syndrome Day Crawfish Boil in partnership with American Legion Post 350 from 10:00am&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6721,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wpo365_audiences":[],"wpo365_private":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-142236","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/neworleans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/142236","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/neworleans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/neworleans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/neworleans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6721"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/neworleans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=142236"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/neworleans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/142236\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/neworleans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=142236"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/neworleans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=142236"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/neworleans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=142236"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}