The coming of spring is brings one of Toledo’s biggest community events. Led by Project iAm, the 18th annual “Acoustics For Autism” returns to uptown Maumee on Sunday, March 2nd. Sponsors this year include Clearview Tinting, Rehmann, LiUNA! Local 500, and many more. Last year’s event raised around $279,000.
City Paper sat down with Nicole Khoury, Founder and Executive Director of Project iAm, to hear more about Acoustics For Autism 2025.
What takeaways did you have from the 2024 event?
As we were tearing down and cleaning that night, we already were talking about how to make next year bigger and better.
What can people expect from the event this year?
This is absolutely a kid-friendly event. If you have kids who are fine at festivals and being around crowds, the huge tent on Wayne Street, where the kids area is, features live music, crafts and more. If you have a child that perhaps can’t handle the crowd and noise, the Sunshine Art Studio, on the corner of Conant St. and W. Wayne St., will offer sensory-friendly activities. Also, the Maumee Indoor Theater is another sensory-friendly venue where a movie will be shown.
In addition, we’re working towards more shuttle locations, to transport visitors to and from the event, for this year.
How many performers are scheduled this year?
100 acts across 9 stages. We added Uptown Fondue + Wine Bar as a live music location, featuring acts that focus more on original music.
Any first-year performers you’re looking forward to?
We’re really looking forward to having Nikki D & The Sisters Of Thunder (gospel, Silent Auction Stage) at AFA. My band, Arctic Clam, does a tribute set each year that’s a secret until the first note is played.
We love that so many acts want to return every year or want to play for the first time. The only way for acts to be selected is to apply on our website each year.
What else should people know about AFA 2025?
We’ve not only been able to add a 9th stage, but we also have reconfigured part of the layout to add even more coverage, to make it bigger and more comfortable for people.
Everything you need to know is on our website; we work very hard to communicate any and all updates on a daily (sometimes hourly) basis. If there are any questions, feel free to send us an email.
Additionally, we’ve been chosen to be featured on “Viewpoint Project”, hosted by actor Dennis Quaid. We’re really fortunate and we can’t wait to see the kind of attention that will bring on Acoustics For Autism.
Sunday, March 2. 11:45am-2am. Free Admission. All Ages.
300 Block of Conant Street And Surrounding Area.
https://acousticsforautism.com/
