Celebrate Autism Acceptance Day at the Philadelphia Zoo!  It’s a super fun, in-person event where everyone is welcome to explore, learn, and celebrate neurodiversity in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Bring your family and friends for a day full of animal adventures and acceptance vibes. You can enjoy an autism resource fair and advocacy area, sensory stations and craft areas, weighted blanked and lap pad demonstrations, quiet areas, giveaways and more, plus all day entertainment and surprise guests.

Save the Date: The Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office hosts the Autism & Neurodiversity Resource Fair & Family Fun Day on Saturday, April 18, 2026, from 10:00am-3:00pm at Friends Hospital, 4641 Roosevelt Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19124.

Huddle Up is going citywide, bringing the experience to four sensory-friendly locations across Philadelphia and New Jersey while creating exciting opportunities for families to gather, explore, and celebrate together. Locations include the Philadelphia Zoo, The Franklin Institute, Please Touch Museum and Adventure Aquarium.

Sensory backpacks are available for check-out at the Ticketing Desk. Each backpack is equipped with sensory guide alerts, noise-reducing headphones, sunglasses, and fidgets. Backpacks are first come, first served. If you find the museum to be too overwhelming and need to leave within 30 minutes of purchasing your ticket, you can stop by the Box Office for a return visit voucher to try again another day.

The Museum offers a Sensory Guide, and noise reducing headphones, available at the Reception Desk and the Battle of Brandywine Theater. The Museum also offers a quiet room giving guests the opportunity to play the Museum’s signature films in a small, private setting. Quarterly, the museum offers Relaxed Experience Mornings where you can visit the galleries in a low-stress and less crowded environment with lower sound effects and higher light levels to create a relaxed sensory experience.