Carnivale5 and Vaudeville5 are our new twists on Deaf Awareness Day, the annual family-friendly event that takes place the first Saturday of October. Sponsored by Deaf Community Services of San Diego, Carnivale5 and Vaudeville5 are brought to you by e5, an exciting new organization geared to Deaf and Hard of Hearing K-12 students.

What is e5? In a nutshell, e5 = explore.experiment.experience.exercise.excel—all things we want our Deaf and Hard of Hearing youth to do. e5 is led by Erin Oleson, a San Diego native and ASL teacher with 8 years of DHH teaching experience, and Brad Cohen, a scuba and First Aid instructor with a degree in Recreation Administration. Both are long-time members of the Deaf community.

Why is this year different? Carnivale5 and Vaudeville5 replace Deaf Awareness Day. Instead of exhibits, visitors of ALL ages will be treated to carnival-inspired games, arts and crafts, signed performances, and many more attractions. Local organizations are invited to host carnival games, share information and network with those in attendance. Anyone interested in the subject of deafness is invited to share in this VERY special occasion.

e5 will be held in the historic Balboa Park Club where Deaf Awareness Day (DAD) has been celebrated since 1996. Like DAD, the event fosters sensitivity towards the unique and diverse needs of deaf, late-deafened, deaf/blind, and hard of hearing individuals. We welcome everyone! Our event is accessible to all. We provide sign language and trilingual interpreters to ensure that everyone can fully enjoy the festivities. Come to Carnivale5 and Vaudeville5 and witness firsthand the vibrant qualities of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community in San Diego. Be part of the fun on October 6 and join us for an unforgettable day!

If you have questions or comments, please send an email to: info@e5star.org. We look forward to seeing you there!

Directions and Map Balboa Park Club