Recap: World Down Syndrome Day Dress-up & Dance 🎉
GiGi’s Playhouse Portland came alive on March 21st, 2025, as we celebrated World Down Syndrome Day in style! Attendees dressed in their finest to dance, play, and honor our favorite extra chromosome.
Kicking Off the Fun!
The first party, for kids 11 and under, started at 2 PM with the exciting debut of our ball pit and sensory swing—both instant favorites! The sensory swing had everyone feeling like they were flying, and a few creative minds turned the ball pit into a balloon-filled adventure. And the turn-taking? Phenomenal.
The Beaverton Police Department stopped by with badge stickers and big smiles. 😊
Tasty Treats!
A colorful spread of fresh berries (thank you, Rinella Produce!), creamy hummus and baba ganoush (shoutout to World Foods Portland!), and unbelievably good gluten-free cakes from Nothing Bundt Cakes fueled our fun. What makes those gluten-free cakes so good..? 🤔
Time to Shine!
After a quick decor reset, the 12+ crowd arrived at 5 PM, dressed to impress! Nicole made a fabulous entrance, pulling off her fur coat with a vocal “BAM!” to reveal a stunning embroidered dress. Soraya glowed in mint green, and Hasaan’s sharp suit and smolder? Unmatched.
Dinner, generously provided by Raul’s Family Mexican Restaurant, was a hit—especially for Zach, who dramatically announced his starvation to the Site Manager. 😆
Performers on Deck!
Two students from the International School of Beaverton wowed us with a beautiful Indian dance performance.
Then, it was time for karaoke! Zach belted out Lady Gaga’s Hold My Hand, and Shanmaree gave Better Place from Trolls an extra touch of attitude. Soraya crushed P!nk’s Perfect, and Hasan got us all to Move It!
Dance Party Mode: Activated! 💃
As the lights dimmed, the beats turned up! We closed out the night dancing like our pants were on fire to Taylor Swift’s Shake It Off, Lady Gaga’s Born This Way, and ABBA’s Dancing Queen. Want to relive it? Check out the playlist: Tidal Playlist
A HUGE Thank You!
Big thanks to George Benes and Kait Lavo for capturing the night with their photography, and the biggest THANK YOU to Debbie Levy for making this incredible event happen!
And, of course, Soraya left us with a quote for the ages:
“It’s every girl’s dream to fall asleep on the dance floor.”
Do you have photos from World Down Syndrome Day to share? Email Rae at rhofstedt@gigisplayhouse.org to get them featured on our social media!
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