Down Syndrome Festival & 5k

The Down Syndrome Festival & 5K, held on a Saturday in September, is a fundraiser for the Down Syndrome Association of Central Oklahoma. The 5K begins at 8 a.m. at Myriad Botanical Gardens in Oklahoma City. This event is a community race day, not solely for competitive runners. The 5-kilometer run is followed by an Awareness Walk and a free public festival held on the Great Lawn and Sheridan Lawn, north of the Crystal Bridge. The 5K and walk both commence and conclude at Myriad Botanical Gardens. The walk route encircles the gardens, with family teams participating to honor loved ones with Down syndrome. Funds generated remain in central Oklahoma to support DSACO programs. These include cooking classes for teens and adults, a computer lab, tutoring services, new parent packets, quarterly workshops, parent support meetings, and scholarships for the National Down Syndrome Congress convention. The event also raises awareness of the 21st chromosome and features named fundraising teams like Gentry's Gems, Abby's Anchors, and The Lions of Judah.